Frustrated Transmission shopper

[BOP4ever]

I am so confused now….
I need to get a transmission built or buy one for my 87 GN …
I really do not wish to do this again… It is lot of money for working man to spend with 4 kids etc…

I don’t think I am stupid and I am a maintenance person by trade and Engineer by training so I understand metallurgy and fatigue of metal parts and the different properties of materials. I also understand all to well you can use the best materials and parts and if the assembly and machining fits are not right it is not going to be any better then if you had went with standard OEM grade parts and probably not as good.

I am trained in hydraulics and while no expert I understand some of what I am being told concerning problems with suction pressures and filter capacity and drain-backs , PRV’s and Booster valves… Heat and clearances / Recirculation etc… To at least some degree..

So what have I done…. I have been reading everything I can find on transmissions on here and other places… I called and talked to several reputable builders. Lonnie, David, Brian, Chris all on the phone seemed to know about building the transmissions… I am concerned after the thread I found today with the bickering and negative statements and stuff… I really feel all the guys I talked to know how to build a transmission but it is even muddier.

I need the best transmission for under 2000 bucks I can get…. Some say the billet parts are advertising and not needed at my level but most sell one with them for a higher HP level so it seem they agree the parts have greater strength, but I agree with the guys on if the reconditioned parts and assembly is not top notch the billet parts are not worth much and id be better off with the reconditioned parts and a top quality build up. I am thinking maybe I should have just purchased the Len Williams transmission with-out a warranty now. I’ve not seen anything negative about him….Its a not Billet anything but my local guys run it and are happy in the 10s with the build…. They stress it is more about who builds it rather the parts list… My head hurts I need a dependable transmission and a shop I know will stand behind it… Who can I trust really… every one I talked to seemed cool on the phone till I came on here and did some reading now I just don’t know for sure who to trust.

Not sure what I am looking for by posting this I guess I am just venting my frustration ...I could probably pick one of them from a hat and probably get a decent transmission.

 

[jakeshoe]

Bickering between builders is just the nature of the business.

It's a highly competitive niche market for the 200-4R. It's hard to give any feedback when you don't post about your car's capabilities.

I agree for the most part that you could pick a builder from the hat and probably be OK from the one's you listed.

Business is business, and sometimes the builders get involved in a "deal gone bad" between each other. Pricing on parts that one builder makes that other builders buy, parts swaps, proprietary information, etc and it causes bad blood between certain builders.

There are also plenty of "nut huggers" involved who come here to plug their favorite builder and try to talk trash about other builders and that does nothing but stir the shyt pot.

Billet parts have their place, and if they didn't they wouldn't exist because there wouldn't be any market for them.

 

[turbo nasty]

I deal with Lonnie and have dealt with others and some were crap and some were good. Lonnie IMO has gave the best stand behind his product service w/o hustle but he can be a little slow sometimes since his shop gets swamped with work and he is not a huge outfit..but the final product is good.

WIth that said ...on teh build I say billet forward drum, both center supports roller good band and frictions and the sucker will take a poundin. And hold behind a 3600 lb car in the mid 11's with 1.6 -1.7 60's for years.

Fast than that then add a few of this and that..Whats your goal, weight, etc?

 

[Grumpy]

Bickering between builders is just the nature of the business.

It's a highly competitive niche market for the 200-4R. It's hard to give any feedback when you don't post about your car's capabilities.



Billet parts have their place, and if they didn't they wouldn't exist because there wouldn't be any market for them.

X2.. only thing I will add about the billet "stuff" is how pissed off would you be sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck.. As others said you set up should be posted an what ya want the car to do. I have broken just about every non billet part vendors produce now. This was with mild mid 11 cars.. BUT they were drivers that got driven everywhere. The price guys are building billet trannys are the deal of the century in my eyes. good luck.

 

[mikestertwo]

I would highly recommend a billet forward drum. I have seen stock ones live behind an 11 second car with a transbrake and others fail in a pretty much stock 13 second car..they seem to be a crap shoot as far as reliability. A billet drum will give you that extra insurance. I have never seen one fail. JMHO

 

[BOP4ever]

Thanks for the responses....
Goals... first no worrys about the trans from the day it goes in...
lol..

Performance goals ... step 1 install TE44 and stretch Intercooler with Alky system. MT 275/50/15 Drag Radials and bust a mid 11 this Fall at Noble on some poor un suspecting mustang

After that enjoy the car save my money...

If I stay with it I see ported heads, a cam, maybe more turbo coming next with a new target of a 10.90 in the summer time... 10.7 in decent weather... drive to the track and drive it home no tow trucks needed... If I actually get to this point it may be a couple three years... my car hobby is more dreaming then doing lately with my kids in sports etc... but I have a couple friends with low 10 second GN's and I figure it I spend much time with those guys I will end up going down this road... But low 11s is my official feeling as to where I will end up stopping. The one stipulation is the car must remain daily driver friendly. I mean the wife can drive it not knowing it has the power that it does..

 

[Ttype6]

I am so confused now….
I need to get a transmission built or buy one for my 87 GN …
I really do not wish to do this again… It is lot of money for working man to spend with 4 kids etc…

I don’t think I am stupid and I am a maintenance person by trade and Engineer by training so I understand metallurgy and fatigue of metal parts and the different properties of materials. I also understand all to well you can use the best materials and parts and if the assembly and machining fits are not right it is not going to be any better then if you had went with standard OEM grade parts and probably not as good.

I am trained in hydraulics and while no expert I understand some of what I am being told concerning problems with suction pressures and filter capacity and drain-backs , PRV’s and Booster valves… Heat and clearances / Recirculation etc… To at least some degree..

So what have I done…. I have been reading everything I can find on transmissions on here and other places… I called and talked to several reputable builders. Lonnie, David, Brian, Chris all on the phone seemed to know about building the transmissions… I am concerned after the thread I found today with the bickering and negative statements and stuff… I really feel all the guys I talked to know how to build a transmission but it is even muddier.

I need the best transmission for under 2000 bucks I can get…. Some say the billet parts are advertising and not needed at my level but most sell one with them for a higher HP level so it seem they agree the parts have greater strength, but I agree with the guys on if the reconditioned parts and assembly is not top notch the billet parts are not worth much and id be better off with the reconditioned parts and a top quality build up. I am thinking maybe I should have just purchased the Len Williams transmission with-out a warranty now. I’ve not seen anything negative about him….Its a not Billet anything but my local guys run it and are happy in the 10s with the build…. They stress it is more about who builds it rather the parts list… My head hurts I need a dependable transmission and a shop I know will stand behind it… Who can I trust really… every one I talked to seemed cool on the phone till I came on here and did some reading now I just don’t know for sure who to trust.

Not sure what I am looking for by posting this I guess I am just venting my frustration ...I could probably pick one of them from a hat and probably get a decent transmission.

You seem to have a good understanding about what your trans needs to do. It needs to shift in a fashion that allows the frictions to live long. This is most likely what will disappoint you about a bad build(burnt frictions,not broken parts). Stronger hard parts are a good thing. They just have nothing to do with making frictions last. Your emotions are all working correctly because this is not the place to find helpful information about a 2004R and that is sad. Since you've read so many threads and have accurately described what you've found,I recommend that you take note as to who is hostile and calling names and cross them off of your list of choices of builders. You'll see word like nut hugger,laundry lady,and advertising consultant. This will at least lower the number of choices. I am of the belief that people who resort to name calling in a debate are people who can't defend there position. They can't find the words,are backed into a corner,and they come out swinging. It's a very common human reaction to that situation. I feel your pain. PM sent.

 

[charlief1]

I'm gonna agree with Grumpy and Jake on this, but will add, "build a car to do 10's and drive it at 11's and it will live. There are several good builders on the board, Jake included, but if you want the tranny to live a long life get all the upgrades. Chris is the one that litterally wrote the book and between him and Jake I don't know where I'd be. I'm not a tranny builder, just a master ASE tech that can put one together but If I need advice I ask one of them personally. Where are you located and it might be easier to tell you who to use.

 

[wickedtt]

No frustration here, I decided to use Dave on my rebuild and coundn't be happier with the tranny, price or service.

David Husek
516-285-1103
dhusek@turbobuickperformance

 

[bishir]

I was in the same boat as you, but it cost me a $3500 and I still don't have a reliable transmission in my car. My transmission is currently at Lonnie Diers shop and I'll post the results of that as well.

 

[Junior Samples]

No frustration here, I decided to use Dave on my rebuild and coundn't be happier with the tranny, price or service.

David Husek
516-285-1103
dhusek@turbobuickperformance

My deciding factor for having Dave build mine was the bickering, I'll leave it at that