Well for the last few nights I've been reading through the archives trying to decide on a tranny builder and a converter company. I've come to the conclusion that it seems like everyone recommends the place they got there tranny from or the place they got there converter from. So I'd like to see some places you wouldn't recommend, or converters you wouldn't recommend. Maybe some stories of supposedly rock solid trannys that blew up, or you had problems with. Or just plain old bad experiences. I've heard plenty of good about just about everyone, now I want to hear the bad side.

If it helps any I'm looking for a solid 700R4 good for 600hp+ that will shift into overdrive WOT. And never break!
Some of the companys I've been considering:
Art Carr
Pro Built
CPT
Rock-on

Fuddle converters

Thanks in advance

 

I'm kinda biased..lol I've seen inside quite a few other transmission companies transmissions. I can tell you that one with the initials MM does not use many of the parts they advertise. They advertise in the back pages of Hot Rod.
I'd avoid Art Carr converters. They don't use a lock-up damper in theirs. This will destroy the input drum in a 700 or 4L60E. I've had a few customers unhappy with TCI converters in an A4. I've seen wayyy too many Yank converters tear the lock-up clutch out with very few miles on them.

Frank

 

Thanks for the honest response.
I'm really considering a tranny from you, I'm just not sure I want to mess with shiping my tranny to you. I guess it's a toss up since everyone elso charges a good size core charge.

 

You're looking at around $125 each way, via DHL. We have several customers in California.

$1300 for a bullet proof transmission + $250 shipping is still only $1550. You won't buy a stronger transmission anywhere else.

Frank
CPT

 

Is it common to see broken input drums on Art carr's trannys?

Anyone had any bad experience with fuddle converters?

 

I hope you're not talking about M&M Transmission in Jeff City MO. You could do a lot worse than have them build a transmission and converter for you.

disclaimer- The preceeding is full of personal bias as they are friends of mine and a Procharger factory sponsored car....and I'm a very happy customer.

 

Nope...Not that one. This one is in Florida.

Frank

 

IMO I might suggest loosing that phrase "never break" and although a very dependable unit for that application is achievable by certain builders, among which one has already posted here, the basic size of the components of the 700, 4l60, 60e, 65e gear train and related parts will be under a good bit of stress for a 600 hp application. I'm not saying it won't take it if built correctly, but breaking is a possibility always just based on the physical size of components used from the originally engineered design.
And one converter brand not to use, IMO, for that HP application if OD will include the TCC being locked, based on my experience is the TCI part # 243106, 10" converter with 12" clutch. In previous years with non lock-up units and high HP applications, I ran a several TCI units with excellent results. But based on my experience with my TCI lock-up unit, I sure wouldn't count on locking it at WOT even with anything close to 600 FWHP.
The bad side you asked for in my response about the TCI 243106 is that the converter clutch only held up to my basically stock LT1 motor with a program flashed to lock the converter at WOT for 3 applies before the clutch failed to hold and I pulled it out an took it back to Ashland for repair {which was free of charge and hassle free}.
If OD will be limited to geartrain ratio only without locking the TCC, then the TCI may hold fine. And I don't want to make it sound like TCI is sub-standard compared to other brands because I doubt any converter will last for long applying the TCC at WOT. IMO, even high $ multi disc converters are in a high stress situation trying to lock the converter with that input power, but I haven't had enough $ to try one of those high priced parts, and likely won't have anytime soon.
Also,
Is the 700 your concrete choice or would you be interested in the advantages that are offered by the 4l60e via programming?

 

LT-x7,

Your right, most people would just advise you to go with the same setup they did, because most people don't want to be wrong about the choices they made specifically when they pay this much money for it...

So here goes why I chose to go with who I did over the other choices.

I actually ranked them in 4 sections, price, feeback, durability, customer service.

Obviously CPT won the Price section, but since then I think a few might have come out to be about competative with them. I think Dana was close at the time I was looking though...

Looking for feedback on this board and others plus at local events were biased like you pointed out, I will just tell you when I looked CPT also won that category, but as you found yourself other people have their own experiances...

Durability was found by looking through posts, and talking to guys at local and regional events, if there was a point when someone stated their XXX tranny broke or anything like that those companies went down on my list. At the time Art Carr and TCI had a few trannys that were failing and board members were upset with thier customer service as well (more about that in the next section), not sure if it has gotten any better it has been over 2 years since I was looking. Nobody really had a tranny from Pro-Built then, or if they did they didn't mention it in either a good or bad way so they were neutral in my book, but they also used a lot of TG parts and from my days growing up with my dad racing and woring at his shop I didn't like TG products, they were too like getting a box of stuff that can fit many applications and nothing that works on one specifc goal. Rock-on wasn't on the boards at the time, or if they were it was quiet so they were not on my list. Locally there were a lot of guys raving about CPT but he wasn't really advertising on the boards then either, yet guys told me Frank's screen name and I looked up his posts (yes, stalker like I know, but I wanted to know about this guys stuff), I'll tell you more about that in the customer service section...

OK for the customer service ranking again most of it came from the posts on boards and at the track. Plus I called a lot of companies to see what they could do for me (yes I know I talked to sales not service) they were sometimes pushy, or cocky stating I didn't need their tranny at my curent level. Plus Art Carr and TCI were getting terrible reviews for customer service. So that plus the stuff above dropped them off my list. Dana and Frank were on the boards giving out free advise and actually trying to help guys with thier problems and this pushed them up on my list. After the purcase, I can say I was absolutly right about Franks customer service attitude...

I did research converters as well, but landed on PI after talking it over with Frank plus my research so that might be biased as well, but remember he sells Pro-Torque. I just didn't know enough about the company and PI had a damn good rep back then, and I think they still do, but others are coming up fast. Fuddle has damn good reviews and a good folling now so that might be a good option for you...

 

What are the advantages of the 4l60e?
I'm open to just about anything really I just already have a 700.

 

In stock form: several upgraded, stronger / better functioning designs as opposed to the 700's and, of course, the PCM control which I value even more-so after having LT1_Edit software to be able to control any of those funtions tailored to my specific car.