What do you think about them?

I have experience with AAMCO. Unless they are under new management and have replaced every single one of their technicians, I would not use them.

They advertise heavily for a reason. If they are spending so much on ads, how much are they spending on training and employee retention?

I use B&M transmission in Indianapolis if I have a problem. Look for someone who works on transmissions, seems to have a lot of customers, and does NOT advertize in the more expensive media, such as television or prime time radio.

Another good way to check is to call some of the ones listed in the Yellow pages and ask for a service slot. If you have to make an appointment, they MAY be good. If they tell you to bring it right on down, I would go on to the next one.

If it is a manual transmission and you are mechanically inclined at all, get the manual and rebuild it yourself. My Dad rebuilt the transmission in his Opel just fine, and sometimes I wonder if he is OK to put his own gas in the car! ;)

Added:

If you have reassembled a TH400, then a manual will be cake. Go for it. Cost of seals will be minor. Total cost of the rebuild will depend on what you have to replace. Could be as little as $50 or as high as $2000 depending on the parts. If you have ground a gear off that needs replaced, look at the high side. If it is a dog or bearing, then you are looking at the low side.

I've never heard anything good about Aamco, and alot of bad things about them. Of course people share bad experiences more often than they do good, and they are still in business. But from what I have read about them it seems their biggest customer base is first time customers who are looking for the cheapest deal.

I personally wouldn't deal with a chain, but then I never would when it comes to automotive services. People think they will get better service, the employees have better education, and they have better protection if something does go wrong because it's a big company. This is rarely the case. Independent shops almost always pay better, and therefore attract better mechanics. And they don't have the advertising of chains, so their reputation is really all they have. Their employees are usually long term employees as well.

Thats my personal opinion... and it will probably be cheaper if you bring it in like that, but you probably wont get much of a warranty

Depends on the trans. Is this a rockcrusher? or just some festiva tranny?

Some Aamco people r good, and some bad for sure. Same deal for the Maaco car paint shops. (people are in business 4 t money & to get your car out asap & your $$ asap)

I would figure about 1/3 for the kit (yes they make them -even semi- truck kits) and 2/3 for the labor, unless you find some reasonable mechanic. make sure you get someone who has an idea how to assemble/time the thing properly

i always wonder why people will go back to a place they thought they had poor service in. you even said urself that it was the worst service ever. so no matter what anyone else thinks of them if ur not happy dont go back....even though them changing ur transmission had nothing at all to do with the cars alignment ( transmission has absolutely nothing to do with alignment) if u already have the transmission out then just purchase a rebuilt one and install it....its cheaper than paying all the parts and labor to rebuild the one you have. try engine world or attarco for the transmission.

I wouldn't trust them or any chain service shop. I would ask around and get a neighborhood mechanic that people have good things to say about.