86camaro383

iTrader: (3)

Has anyone used there trannys before? Im thinking about buying one of there stage 3 or stage 4 700R4s for my 383. Im just wondering if anyone has had any problems with them
Thanks

MaNiAk86

iTrader: (2)

i have also looked into these and am curious about what other people have to say about them.

annoyingz

I have the stage 3. Terrible customer service. They tell you to call them with pressures and such once the trans is installed so you can start your warranty. Unfortunately, every time I called, the receptionist told me i needed to tell my pressure readings and such to one of their mechanics in order for him to verify that everything is set up properly. Well, after about 10 calls and everyone being busy or mysteriously missing, I gave them my number and told them to call me immediately as I wasn't about to drive my car with a $2000 transmission without making sure it was set up properly . Anyway, no one ever called back and it eventually took 4 days until I finally spoke with a tech guy. It was such a hassle and extremely frustrating for both myself and my mechanic as we both continually called them and then called each other seeing if either of us got through. Also, I am not a fan of the transmission itself. When I manually shift, it shifts fine but when I'm in OD, second gear seems to shift way to early and even with their TV Made EZ system I (my mechanic) cannot get it adjusted properly. Otherwise, shifts are quick and fairly firm (although for such a stout transmission, I expected a much firmer shift). As you can see, I'm not a very big fan of Bowtie Overdrives and wish I had had it done by a local shop, or maybe bought a Raptor or from Pro-Built.

ZZ4 86 Z28

iTrader: (1)

In my mind Pro-built is amazing. ive heard nothing but rave reviews about them, and apparently the customer service is very good as well. if youre in the market, i say you go for one of those. they are supposed to be the best.
i think its 700r4l60e.com

smokefan

i have a bowtie in my k1500 and in my 88 vert. i love the trannys. never had a customer service problem with them. thats just my experiance.

ZEEYAA

I love my Pro-built kit, but I also had one of the best tranny guys in the country build it with the kit. Under normal driving it shifts like a Caddy, at part throttle it bumps pretty good between the gears, and a WOT the thing really bangs. I cant say enough about my Pro-built, but it very important to get it installed right. Also Dana is a great person to deal with and is very knowlegable.

pmpn

I bought some tranny cooler lines from them a few years ago online. The lines work fine, I agree though, customer service wasn't very helpful with my questions.

fb305svs

bowtie overdrives stage 3 in my friends car - i helped get it setup... it shifts a bit early in all gears @ WOT, but to be honest with ya, when your running it down the strip, chances are your going to manually shift it anyways...

Normal driving it shifts great - nice and firm, good timing.

I would recommend them with out hesitation, we had the tech call us back after the first time we called. The secretary had asked for our number and a day later they called back to get the pressure readings ect...

Forshock 85TA

I have just the stage 1, nice crisp shifts. I live about 10 miles from there so its pretty easy to talk to some one

The shop setup is well setup, and recently expanded. Plus they were cheaper then going to a "trans shop". And i can verify, they use all brand name parts (the shelves are lined with them!).

toms84ss

iTrader: (1)

I have a stage 2 tranny. Had no problems in 2 years with the tranny. But, the converor is another story. It balloned out with a mild 350. I had no problems with customer service and spoke to a tech every time I called. Easy to set up and adjust the TV cable.

drive it

iTrader: (1)

Go probuilt! I tried bow tie overdrive first-never again!!!!!!

92 Formula

iTrader: (2)

I have a Pro-Built and I love it. Dana is an awesome guy to talk to and he treats his customers right. I would never buy anything but another Pro-Built.

cbd1

I agree totally with annoyingz. I had exactly the same experiences with their techs and worse because I broke their stage2 with a ~350 horse NA 350 and had to do the install procedure all over again with their stage 3. Jason accused me of having a blower or some type of power adder that broke it. He fixed it, but made me pay for the upgrades even though the stage 2 didn't hold near the 400horses it was supposed to. PITA to get a tech and they are asses to boot. Also, mine shifts too soon as well and if I set the TV higher to delay it, I run out of travel at wot, and its their entire kit! I would recommend against them for sure.

83Chevy_Camaro

I have a level One in my 1988 camaro, and i love it.

The reason why you guys had broke your tranny, is because you didnt set the Throttle valve correctly.. However i had a dealer install mine, had the tranny shipped right to the dealer. The guys there loved my car, told be to bring it back again soon, and they kinda liked bowtieoverdrives, the thing that sucked was Im in maine, and BowtieOd's is in cali, and when the dealer had a wuestion they had to wait till they opened, but other than that its great..

I bring my car to the Dragstrip every weekend, i run almost consistant 9.54's(not bad for 2:73's out back) and theres no slipping or any problems.. i have a tranny fluid cooler 10"X15" and if you dont have one of those, you will kill the tranny, thats what happen to my stock trans, the dealer said it was plugged and no good. so i bought the biggest one i could get, and the tranny never gets above 160*F. Read up on bowties Throttle Valve setup, and if you your pretty good with tranny's and what not you'll be fine.. or you can get a dealer to do it, like i did..

Oh yea, If im on the throttle just right, i can chirp the tires from 1st to 2nd to 3rd and alittle in 4th.. I dont do that very often.. But I like my tranny!

cbd1

Nope, input shaft shattered the drum. TV pressure didn't do that I promise. Maybe I should have ordered a stage 3 to begin with, but I went by their ratings and when it broke they accused me of not having the engine I said I had.. Some people may have had good luck, and maybe they build a good product on average, but my experience was less than stellar. That was alot of money to me and I expect prompt customer service and near immediate call backs.. Not 3 days later after I called 5 times.. I'll try elsewhere next time.

83Chevy_Camaro

Kinda like women, sometimes you get a good one other times ya dont!

But, anyway what stall converter did you have? 2200?

cbd1

Yeah, I hear that!!! Nah I got the 2400 as it was the highest they had. No big deal though, when I went roller cam I dropped the duration from the previous flat tappet and its all good. :cheers:

annoyingz

Thank you for backing me cbd1...And 83chevy, the tv cable was installed properly- using their directions and their kit. Also, my mechanic had installed a few other bowtie overdrives before mine. He is extremely knowledgeable and owns/races funny cars and drag cars. Has been in business for nearly 30 years (10 of those years devoted strictly to perfomance type stuff rather than just regular maintenance and repairs) He advised against buying a transmission over the internet, especially from a different state, but I went ahead and did it anyway. When I showed up at his shop with the bowtie Overdrives he just shook his head and told me I made a big mistake. Needless to say, he was right.