WUTSAV8
Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
Well, I'm sure some of you are wondering what sparked my comment about Don's Stage motor in the Turbo Lounge, so here's some of history on that.
Last June, when my redone motor was just finished, I decided to get my trans rebuilt.
Everyone was raving about DRW and even though it was a 4 hour round trip ride, I figured he was worth the time and the money to take it too, since everyone was happy with his work.
I brought it to him out of the car, and had him do it as a bench job. He did his basic peformance rebuild, and added some goodies. I also paid extra for them to "dyno it" which consisted of installing it in Neal Stewards Stage II car and drive it around.
I picked it up and threw in my car, and it worked great, untill about 3 months ago.
I raced it the previous evening and everything as well. The next morning I backout of my driveway and suddenly lost 2nd gear. I called don up and they said to bring it by. This time I figured it would be better to bring the whole car down, so I had to borrow a friend's truck and rent a car trailer to tow it down there.
Since I didn't bring the whole car down there, I was charged an extra $250 for R&R. Which I thought wasn't very fair, even if I paid the extra money for a "dyno" test, which seemed like basically the same thing. I figured I was between a rock and a hard place so I paid the money. While it was out, I purchased a new Art Carr 9 inch N/L converter. About a week passed by, which turned into two weeks, and they called me back saying that I needed new U Joints. I figured while it was out, just let them do what they needed to do, and be done with it. So I approved that. About a week later, they called me again, saying they couldn't get it to give them the Line pressures they wanted. They said a TV boost valve and shift kit would needed to be installed. I said "Why didn't you install one at the time of rebuild?" They're reply was "Well, we figured the one you had in there would work" ( and it did, for several months ). I thought I didn't have much option, so that was another $150 spent.
I got the car back, and everything seemed ok. So I took it to another BGNRA event and was greeted with a transmission that wouldn't shift into 3rd @ WOT. Luckily for me, Don was at the same event racing his own car. I asked him what gives, and he had one of his techs look at it. They tried to "flush the TV valve" by powerbraking it, and asked me to try again. And again it wouldn't shift. So they asked me to bring it by.
I drove it down this time, and let them work on it. They had it for about a week, and I picked it up. According to them it shifted @ 5200 RPM exactly. I drove it around, and noticed that the 1-2 shift happened way too quickly, but it shifted nonetheless.
About two weeks ago, Neal was testing out my car and the car wouldn't shift into 2nd once again, and didn't do it again, he also noticed some grinding coming from the trans when in Manual 1st or 2nd.
I took it home, and it started not to go into 2nd @ WOT much more often. This coupled with the other problems, I was at a loss. I just wanted to sell my car and be done with it.
So I called up DRW, and spoke to Tony, and he said he'd have Don call me back, which was fine. But he never did call me back, but had Tony give me a msg of "bring it on down". While I was on the phone, I asked him if I was going to be charged again, and he said that more than likely I would, and I was outraged. The "warranty" I had was about 3 weeks expired, if that. I couldn't imagine they would charge me again. I figured I'd move on.
And that brings me to the comment I made in the TLounge, and that was just based on all of the hassle I've had. Now I'm searching for a new trans guy, if thats even possible. I rather not drive the 8 hours up to Bruces shop and pay all over again. I might sit this one out for awhile.
Last June, when my redone motor was just finished, I decided to get my trans rebuilt.
Everyone was raving about DRW and even though it was a 4 hour round trip ride, I figured he was worth the time and the money to take it too, since everyone was happy with his work.
I brought it to him out of the car, and had him do it as a bench job. He did his basic peformance rebuild, and added some goodies. I also paid extra for them to "dyno it" which consisted of installing it in Neal Stewards Stage II car and drive it around.
I picked it up and threw in my car, and it worked great, untill about 3 months ago.
I raced it the previous evening and everything as well. The next morning I backout of my driveway and suddenly lost 2nd gear. I called don up and they said to bring it by. This time I figured it would be better to bring the whole car down, so I had to borrow a friend's truck and rent a car trailer to tow it down there.
Since I didn't bring the whole car down there, I was charged an extra $250 for R&R. Which I thought wasn't very fair, even if I paid the extra money for a "dyno" test, which seemed like basically the same thing. I figured I was between a rock and a hard place so I paid the money. While it was out, I purchased a new Art Carr 9 inch N/L converter. About a week passed by, which turned into two weeks, and they called me back saying that I needed new U Joints. I figured while it was out, just let them do what they needed to do, and be done with it. So I approved that. About a week later, they called me again, saying they couldn't get it to give them the Line pressures they wanted. They said a TV boost valve and shift kit would needed to be installed. I said "Why didn't you install one at the time of rebuild?" They're reply was "Well, we figured the one you had in there would work" ( and it did, for several months ). I thought I didn't have much option, so that was another $150 spent.
I got the car back, and everything seemed ok. So I took it to another BGNRA event and was greeted with a transmission that wouldn't shift into 3rd @ WOT. Luckily for me, Don was at the same event racing his own car. I asked him what gives, and he had one of his techs look at it. They tried to "flush the TV valve" by powerbraking it, and asked me to try again. And again it wouldn't shift. So they asked me to bring it by.
I drove it down this time, and let them work on it. They had it for about a week, and I picked it up. According to them it shifted @ 5200 RPM exactly. I drove it around, and noticed that the 1-2 shift happened way too quickly, but it shifted nonetheless.
About two weeks ago, Neal was testing out my car and the car wouldn't shift into 2nd once again, and didn't do it again, he also noticed some grinding coming from the trans when in Manual 1st or 2nd.
I took it home, and it started not to go into 2nd @ WOT much more often. This coupled with the other problems, I was at a loss. I just wanted to sell my car and be done with it.
So I called up DRW, and spoke to Tony, and he said he'd have Don call me back, which was fine. But he never did call me back, but had Tony give me a msg of "bring it on down". While I was on the phone, I asked him if I was going to be charged again, and he said that more than likely I would, and I was outraged. The "warranty" I had was about 3 weeks expired, if that. I couldn't imagine they would charge me again. I figured I'd move on.
And that brings me to the comment I made in the TLounge, and that was just based on all of the hassle I've had. Now I'm searching for a new trans guy, if thats even possible. I rather not drive the 8 hours up to Bruces shop and pay all over again. I might sit this one out for awhile.
