Last friday marks about 2 weeks before I put my SuperRam and ATI Procharger on my ZZ4. I went for a cruise and on the way back home, I decided to floor it on the back road to my apartment. The engine revs and instead of shifting and leaving a scratch, it sounds like BAAAAMMMM!!! Immediately, no gear of my transmission works! 1st, 2nd, drive, overdrive and reverse are ALL gone. The motor turns over fine but now has a "zzzz" noise with it. 5 months ago, I had this transmission built and it was supposed to be beefed up and under a one year parts and labor warranty, so I had it towed over to the shop and they tell me they can't even get the transmission open! They ordered a whole new unti to rebuild and said basically "we are doing this anyway, but there is NO gray area on this one, this transmission went because of abuse, and it should NOT be covered under warranty". WONDERFUL. SSSSOOOOOOO, they are now going to be building the next one stronger and they know my car is going to be getting a healthy uppage in power of about 200 hp, and said if this happens again it definately will not be under warranty. They only warranty Dayco converters, so I am getting a 2000 stall converter by them this time - they said that if I get something like an ACT then guess what .... it won't be covered under warranty! So I am totally sitting here wondering what I can/can't and should/shouldn't do about this. I do NOT want to fork over another big chunk of money again - it's rediculous! So should I get a new converter? I was told the better units like ACT would actually help prolong the life of the tranny, but these guys are saying they can't warranty it w/out a dayco or TCI. Is there a way they could really truly say it is cut dry w/no gray area that it was abuse? I have never done a nuetral drop or anything, but I do love racing and that just basically entails putting it in drive and punching it. Thanks for your help guys!

 

I think you are going to have the same problems again. Why not consider doing what I'm doing. Very expensive but I'm hoping it will last a bit longer than a "built" 700r4. I'm putting in a "built" TH400 with a Gear Vendors overdrive on the back. Now, that should get the ball rolling. Wait till you see everybody chiming in with their suggestions. Good Luck.

 

Thanks for your reply! The reason I am not willing to go that route yet is because this is under warranty.:lala:

 

who built you transmission and what did htey do to it to beef it up? any details?

if the torque converter blew then you probably have metal in your tranny. it's all toast.

stomping the throttle once is not abuse. maybe you had to make an emergency acceleration to get on the highway to avoid being hit? hmm?

nick

 

That's 'DACCO" and if the shop has that much faith in that product, well...

 

If the people you're bringing it to can only say, "We won't warannty" this and that go someplace else where they'll build it the right way. If you're not abusing it you should be able to get on it sometimes without fear of it breaking.

 

I think it is time to contact the Bureau of Automotive Repair.

 

Sounds like the converter blew up (probably took out the pump too). I had a DACCO converter blow up behind my ~200HP 3.1L (heads & cam). Then I went to a mom and pop converter reman shop nearby to have the stock converter in my TH350 "tweaked" (2,400 stall non LU). 2 years of DAILY ABUSE with a ~300HP/350FTlb 350 and its still in one piece.

Do it right the first time (or you'll spend twice as much fixing it). Talk to people in your area, or at the track. Find what all the fast cars are running, and get some opinions.

Aftermarket "race" transmission companies aren't always the best way to go.
I used to work for a guy who built race transmissions for the local racers, there were countless times when he had to "fix" what places like TCI and B&M failed to "upgrade".


Good Luck,
JK

 

Not much you can do. if I understand the story correctly, take your new tranny, throw a ACT stall under it and hope it doesn't go out. They don't sound like a very good company, so once this new tranny goes out... and by this company sounds, it will. So move on with a pro-built or a th-350/400 or something of that nature.

 

I would be less worried about using a "non warrantied" but quality converter than run the risk of the DACCO lasting until the warranty runs out and then taking the whole tranny out.

I work at a shop that is the local distributor for DACCO and for plain jane stuff they are, well, OK. I have gone to the dealer to buy converters for "regular" use vehicles, if that gives you an idea where I stand. I think that if you have a good converter in there then that will be the least of your worries. As I said before, if they put that much faith in that converter and I would say it is safe to say over the years I have seen over a thousand of these converters grenade, that I would worry about what they consider "good" inside the tranny.

I am in no way slandering them. On a number of occassions I have bought and used them but that was either where I was willing to take that chance or the customer was concerned about price so they made the choice. If someone dare say I am slandering them then I will have to prove that what I say is accurate and the last time that happened DACCO was left with egg on their face.