zero13

I dont complain about much anymore,but when I get taken for a couple hundred dollars,and not all parts get delivered,and product doesnt do what its supposed to,then I believe I have some ground to stand on..Simple story,facts only...Spoke with PBA about 700r4 issue,claimed he sold a remedy...Ordered on certain date,as car was at trans shop waiting for lift time...Solid week goes by and nothin,no parts delivered...Called PBA(multiple times)..good luck getting return call....and was finally told they happened to be going out that day(coincidence)..Upon arriving at trans shop,incomplete kit was shipped out,therefore had to rely on my shop to find appropriate part to complete job...Upon completion,the remedy didnt fix problem..Put my trans shop in touch with PBA(after multiple attempts of course),and couldnt remedy anything...So now,kit has been installed,and rendered useless,no credit to return on parts,loss of couple hundred(to PBA)..and a loss of $$$(to my trans shop)...Needless to say my trans (700r4) most common trans out there,has baffled "the best".....I cant sit quiet, if someone is on the fence to order from PBA,you are better off dealing locally,PBA doesnt stand behind their products,or outside of state lines.....Lesson learned.....

jokerZ71

Not sure what your problem was or the fix prescribed,but,from the experience me & others I know,we've never had anything but great experiences.Especially customer service.I agree it's hard doin troubleshooting over the phone,especially transmissions.Sometimes it can be how the problem is described or things that can't be seen or known in a phone call.Also when dealing with alotta trans shops,they don't understand or even get involved with upgrade/performance aspect of it.They most often think of performance parts as no more than overpriced imitations that mite cost them a warranty claim.Keep in mind that the 700R4 last saw use in production in 93,so,even the newest are now 21 yrs old.Not doubting you may have had some issues & that can happen with any business,especially someone such Pro Built,but,I don't think it's an everyday deal,especially if you've ever used the infamous "Mad Dog or Monster experience.Now there are some real trans nitemares.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

What's the problem, what was the fix that was sold to you?
Sometimes they are stupid busy and phone calls aren't returned asap.

paulo57509

I ordered a HD rebuild kit for a 4L60E from Pro Built back in January of this year. It took a solid 3 weeks to get the kit. Best $600 I ever spent.

Just from the labels on the parts boxes and bags that I received it was obvious that Pro Built ordered the parts from a third party. Pro Built then boxed and ship them to me. I think this is the reason for the long lead times.

Even with the detailed install/modification instructions, I had to call twice for some tech support during my rebuild. I got answers within 24 hours.

So what was missing from the kit? I too had to purchase some additional hard parts to finish my rebuild.

zero13

Shift kit for 700r4...arrived to me without the vette servo...a fairly integral part when doing an upgrade...left for my shop to locate and install along with PBA kit...so now parts are installed..with no chance to return for credit...since this is a review for consumer awareness i posted my review...some may have had different results(and was my reason for shopping here)...but knowledge is power so use my headaches as a decision tool for yourself....

one92rs

iTrader: (5)

had an issue with prebuilt also. forgot PBA and went with a monster in a box kit. it does not come with a pump bushing. called them to ask. they sent me all bushings for free. great customer service. when I called again with a question I took pics and sent them in. they called SATURDAY morning and answered it. will always use monster in a box from now on.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

I ordered my kit from pro-built. It had a long lead time, around 15 days but Dana talked to me about every part in it and basically walked me through the rebuild of the transmission.

antoine

Alot of the parts you can get yourself from transgo or www.makcotransmissionparts.com

zero13

this explains why he wasnt answering the phone then!!

Zeromitch87

iTrader: (5)

They must be real busy because I have not heard back from them either. Wondering if i should go with the raptor 700r4 instead of his famous rebuilt 700s

zero13

comes a point when ya gotta ask..is this too busy or just plain bogus/shoddy service?....i spent a couple hundred on an incomplete kit,that is useless,and not even in my car now...nothing worse than feeling the wool get pulled over your eyes....and knowing it!

Zeromitch87

iTrader: (5)

I need a built tranny that will handle 430hp/450tq and suggestions?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

It's taken 3weeks b4 I have heard back b4.

What was missing? The vette servo? Every trans after a certain yr got them. You can install everything and put that in later if you have to. Yes, its a pain that way but it'll work.
Make more than 1 fone call if you have to.

ZZ3Astro

I always had the best luck getting him on the phone on weekends. He really lived and breathed transmissions last time I dealt with him. Haven't had to talk to him in four years though because my 700 has been holding up behind my turbo tpi for that long. I was in it a while back though and third gear is looking stressed. Still I've gotten three more years out of it than I'd expected and it's still going strong.

Haven't heard much about Dana lately.. about a year ago I heard he was having a rough time with something unrelated to work. Very second hand info though. Hope he takes care of you though.

zero13

well, i didnt want this thread to go stagnant, so I just wanted to post that I'm still sorry I gave this slouch any money for his "knowledge"..After reading some people feel the same as I do,and some in favor of this guy, I've come to my own conclusion that this guy is no better than your local trans shop guru,and I think your money is better spent on shopping local, where you can build a relationship with the people that you would trust to work on your car.

Zeromitch87

iTrader: (5)

He told me he doesn't really do transmissions much anymore, he sells the kits for you to do it yourself. He said if i wanted one from him it would take 3-6 weeks since he really just gives out info and kits now. Good guy he did referred me to a guy in Texas that is helping me with my build now. 4L60E swap instead of the 700.

zero13

wow..In todays world, having to wait 3 weeks for anything would be considered insane...I learned a cheezy lesson with this whole deal,and although I'm out a couple hundred bucks, I'm glad I didnt spend more with this business...As they say, there is no replacement for displacement...the displacement here was my hard earned dollars!

3.8TransAM

I think(don't quote me) Dana had some health issues and stepped away from doing the daily r*r/rebuild work.

I have talked to him in the past and bought a couple parts from him, but he was always dead honest, I'm not a pro at it, but I've done a few transmissions.

He even said go to Jimmy of Jimmys Transmission in Mundelein, IL(why didn't u go there?) because he was local. Jimmy, Dana and Kurtz at Century Trans were the guys who first designed new hard parts for the 200r's/700r's/4l60 transmission before anyone else.

Either way, I hope he ends up being okay and gets back to taking care of folks. He would be a valuable source of info even if he isn't doing it full time anymore.

anesthes

iTrader: (12)

I don't think you're being quite fair, nor do I think you are qualified to make a determination of his expertise vs a local trans shop 'guru'.

With that said, you've been asked more than once what 'problem' he was sending you parts to fix. You have not elaborated on that.

I also don't understand why the parts he sent you were not in your transmission. I can understand if he forgot to send you a servo, but why were the other components not used?


-- Joe

zero13

QUOTE=anesthes;5859880]I don't think you're being quite fair, nor do I think you are qualified to make a determination of his expertise vs a local trans shop 'guru'. ..Correct..I am not qualified...this is why I came to the forum to find out who to trust and use to get to the bottom of my 2-3 upshift clunk in my 700r4..I trusted in other members decisions to use this company. Sounded like he knew what he was talking about,but sent me an incomplete kit,and when trying to rectify that part of my order,the phone wasnt answered. Therefore left me hanging,and moreso,my car and my trans guy with my car on one of his racks..So,after 3-4 days of waiting and not getting return call,I used my discretion to not use any parts from this service....Not sure why you asked your questions,but I found that my trans guy was more than adequate and should have trusted his decisions..I have since built a great relationship with him and I think it will pay real dividends in my future car builds...Hope that helps you with my story.Thanks for waking up the thread..Hope others understand it was a cheap 200 dollar job that went south. Glad I wasnt out a full build.

anesthes

iTrader: (12)

Ok. So

1) You had a 2-3 clunk on your 700R4
2) PBA sent you a kit to 'correct' the issue
3) The kit was missing the Corvette servo
4) You decided since the servo was missing, to not use ANY of the kit when you couldn't get in touch with PBA

So basically, they forgot to send you a component.

The 2-3 clunk btw is corrected by accumulator springs. Your 3/4 clutch isn't grabbing quick enough. There is a few other VB mods that 'fix' this, which were probably the components in the kit you chose not to use.

I'll fault Dana for forgetting to include the servo piston in the box, however the decision to not install the components in the transmission was foolish.


So in closing, what I've got out of this review was:

"Pro Built Automatics forgot to send me a part and it ruined my week, and their shipping is slow"

-- Joe

-- Joe

zero13

The 2-3 clunk btw is corrected by accumulator springs. Your 3/4 clutch isn't grabbing quick enough. There is a few other VB mods that 'fix' this, which were probably the components in the kit you chose not to use.

Well..like plenty others,and plenty threads long before your reply,this tranny problem and the fix has baffled more than one trans guy,so I'll just add your simple reply to the myriads of others. I love the forums here for the vast amount of info that has actually helped,and made me spend plenty of dollars on my car,but since my thread on this tranny isue has been resolved(by my trans shop,with his parts) I'll consider that youre now happy,and I'll look for my next winter project.

Burnout91

Apologies if I'm sidetracking / highjacking this thread, but could you please elaborate on the 2-3 shift clunk fix? 'Been chasing this problem for years.

Thanx, Bill

anesthes

iTrader: (12)

Post a thread on the transmission board and I'll respond.

-- Joe

dfarr67

iTrader: (2)

Bought 2- 700r4 HD kits plus Sonnax sun shells, and valve bodies from Dana. No issues with kit completeness, metering plate got bent in shipping on one kit- he sent out a replacement. Any tranny shop should stock the vette servo- not a big deal and easy to install when trans is in vehicle. A lot of your guys seem impatient and need to line up your ducks before diving into a job.

88blueiroc

Got a kit from Dana for my 700r4, called him 6 times during the install, he was very patient and talked me thru it. My trans shifts awesome, would buy from him again in a heartbeat.