I just got an Art Carr 4L60 for a customers 67 chevelle with a 502, should know how it works in a couple of weeks.
Go back and read what you originally wrote. If you do you will see that you did not mention about a "product development" policy from Summit - you said I bought a bunch of cams, tried them and kept the one I liked and returned all the rest. So you can see how by going what you said it would appear to be something different all together. Lack of communication and making sure that people understand what you are meaning is indeed why we can't get an Election right.
I'm really glad I stumbled across this thread... I've been transmission shopping for a couple months and TCI was on the list, but I think I'm going to stay far away.
G'day, I bought a TCI 4l60/700r4 trans for an ot 4x4 we were building. The transmission lasted about 60 miles before total failure. This was on the highway breaking the engine in so it was being babied. Contacted Summit and they were very hesitant at helping me. They tried the old not installed by a shop thing. When they were told that both my friend and I were ASE Master techs and would they like to try the ND court system they got a little more helpful. They authorized us to take the trans apart and see if it was an easy failure. The core TCI used had been submerged in water and had rust and scoring throughout. Took pictures and sent them to summit and they said to ship it directly back to TCI. When TCI received the trans they claimed it had been damaged in shipping and they would do nothing. Eventually Summit came through with a credit for the trans only. No shipping, fluid, or time. Bought a GM Serta trans and it is still on the road almost 15 years later. I will never buy another TCI product and it was quite a few years before I bought from Summit again. ms
It would seem that Summit disagrees with you. I sent them an email outlining what you had said and here is their response (I removed his name); Dear Don, Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, we do not have any policy for product development. We do not take back used items unless a valid warranty issue exists. What forum were you receiving this information from? Thank you, ******X Summit Racing Equipment
wooooo snap! it would seem to me that if there was a "oroduct development" deal going on that it would be previously agreed upon and likley get something in return (product test results/evaluation....something!)... hotrodron....it didn't feel right to me either.
I called tci again and told them the story again. The guy i talked to told me to pull the pan off and see if there are any metal shavings in the bottom. The whole bottom of the pan was full. I called them back and told them it was full of shavings. I told them i want my money back for the transmission and converter or pay to to have it fixed local. Tci said they will have to go over it and figure out what they want to do and they will get back to me on monday. We'll se how this goes.
I had a tci converter in my custom van back in the early 90s.The splines in the converter finally stripped,making a loud pop and leaving me stranded.
Summit came through and returned my transmission and torque converter. They are paying all the shipping back to them.
I have heard nothing but bad about TCI transmissions. Keep your local trans shop in business. It's a lot easier to bring it back...
Well this thread makes me feel so happy. I had only heard good about TCI, so I had them build a 400 trans special to run behind my Caddy 500. Its still in the box, I can hardly wait to install it now lol.
I going to try and keep this balanced by saying I have been unimpressed with the Bowtie the products they have sold me in pursuit of getting my T700R4 running right. Both kits they have sold me did not fit and were not compatible with the carby even though they asked even for carby serial numbers. Did not even want to provide me with the indent cable angle and swing measurements, which you guys here helped out with in the end. While I am running hot, Allstar Transmissions in Denver CO sold me a late AOD for my F150 and it was great (got what I paid for which is what I am en***led to), yet the T700R4 I have from them is **** and phone calls to them were so well screened I could not get any ***istance (beware they sell on ebay as well). When I did finally corner the owner about 3 weeks ago he told how he had been so sick and his office girl had left him and every pathetic story that did not relate to the work quality in his shop. Short answer is he is doing nothing, but will have his top trans guy call me the next day to sort things out for me. That was 3 weeks ago and so I am still here sitting by the phone waiting for the call... A lot of smoke and mirrors going on with auto ****** stuff at times, kinder makes you wonder why more of us dont just go with stick shifts and be done with it.
Why do people buy a major component like a transmission from Summit or TCI when there are shops in just about all areas that can rebuild them as well if not better than TCI,etc. ?
That's a 'great' question! The power of advertising, the promise of neat sticker for the rear window, it must be better 'cause I seen it in a magazine or on line, giving up the money to a out of state en***y is easier than giving it up to a local guy who couldn't be good 'cause he's in my town. I have pondered this issue for years but haven't stumbled on real solid reason, I suppose there are many. Things to consider about a trans shop: Is it clean? Work benches cluttered? Parts dept. some what organized? DO THEY HAVE A TESTING DYNO??? Are they ASE qualified and are they ATRS members? Biggest reason many local shops won't screw with hot rod/race **** is those customers tend to be cheap and want to do their own install which is a reciepe for major bull ****, particularly when cable throttle valve ***emblies are involved. My shop will abide by the self installer as long as he brings it in for inspection BEFORE the car is placed in service, that means as soon as it's drivable. Trans work as is all car work can be gratifying and it can be torturous.
I have to agree with 48Ford on this one IF it's just your average run of the mill ****** build. However not every area has a ****** shop that can build a "good" performance ******. Many shops out there think or claim they do but when reality sets in these shops don't know **** and nowhere is this more prevalent than in the automatic overdrive segment. That's when you need to do some research and find the shops that actually know their ****.
I can see paying a well known shop like art Carr for a transmission for a special or very high power application, but with ****** shops and car guys in every area o north America I don't know why people act like they can't find a local shop to build a ******...
Mul***ude of reasons really. Local shops that know older transmissions are getting to be harder to find - so many of them do late model stuff, that the kids working in there don't even understand an older trans and how to build it for performance anymore. Yeah, i know there are lots of exceptions. But if you don't have first hand experience with them, it's a **** shoot. I took a C4 to a local shop and the guy at the counter asked what it was! I left. Also quite a few of the shops that I have talked to quoted 3-4 weeks to do a bench build as they were too busy with front driver stuff. I can have a TCI or Hughes or whoever from Summit tomorrow. Maybe I've just been lucky but i have had good luck with TCI trans so far. When I needed something a bit more stout for a street/strip race car, I didn't expect a $700 TCI to be up to the job, so I stepped up for a Hughes - many people just buy the cheapest one and then beat on it and expect miracles. Kind of like buying cheap China stuff and complaining when it's junk - you should have bought the better part to start with!
Transmission shops have a bad rep for ripping people off. Ive been screwed by several. So I went with a known nation wide place this time. Ill have to keep my fingers crossed that it works as planed. And no, I dont give a rats *** about the sticker =)
Add me to the list of ones who did not believe him. Notice how the thief has not returned now that his lies and scams have been revealed.
Why, when you drop the boat in the lake do you immediately head to the other end of the lake to fish?
A few years ago I bought a TCI TH350 trany from Summit for a Tbucket I was building. When it came time to start it up I noticed fluid dripping from the trans. I discovered there was no seal for the manual shift arm. Now this trans had a tag on it with all the pressure data from their dyno run. One would think they would have noticed a leak at that time. I called TCI about the problem and the tech guy said the builder must have just forgotten to install the seal. They did send me a seal. I know this is not a big deal but it does say something about TCI's quality control.
Each one I have bought from them had that very seal or O Ring not installed, and in a little plastic baggie attached to the trans. They said that was so it didn't fallout before the shift lever was installed by the owner.
I have used Lentech Transmissions in Canada for all my Ford AOD and Aode, they build c4 and c6 also. Never had one break. I had a local mechanic build a c6 that I tortured hard with a hi stall converter in a blown car....sold car 14 years ago and the guy is still beating the whee out of it! A good builder is a good builder, doesn't matter where they live, my best advice is to ask around and see what other gear heads locally have done.
I have looked at the TCI trans and thought about buying one too . The reason I didn't was I thought that was awful cheap compared to all the other transmissions I have looked at . When something is a lot cheaper than the others there has to be a reason . That means cheaper parts ! Personally you are way better off to have someone local to build a trans for you . That way you know who build the trans and who is to make good on the trans if something goes wrong ! I would rather give my business to a local shop ! I generally buy from a local business as much as I can instead of the bigger catalog places. The price isn't usually that much different anyway . I also always get much better Customer Service from my local business too ! Just my opinion . Retro Jim
I have a circle track TCI Power Glide no converter with a coupler loads off low gear band to get moving. It has 5 hard seasons on it.. I also keep up a round track Mont Carlo that has a 350 trans that we run in first gear. it has close to one thousand laps and no trouble.. They are very vocal about the brand and type fliud you use.
I used a Lentec in an OT Mustang project. It was a great trans, but then again it was $1800.00 so it should have been.
Summit is not interested in selling a well built transmission because most people just won't spend a reasonable amount to buy a well built product. They will pay not more than $350 for a TH350 wholesale and that ain't gonna get you well built trans. And since they just refer customers back to the manufacturer, it ain't their problem (yet). Times are tough and everybody wants the world for nothing. Maybe I should start a trans business with products built in China - they'll sell like hot cakes! And you can take up your problems with Chinese guy! Ha!
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