madmann26

2006 Sierra 2wd.
Level7 build from RPM
FTI Single Disk converter
TMS 6.0

So coming home yesterday this happened:


1. Was cruising around 70-75
2. Blipped the throttle, tranny kicks down to 3rd 3. It immediately free revved with this weird chatter sound.
4. I back off throttle
5. Trans grabs again
6. I continue my drive home

So, with all that, it shifts fine, locks up fine. When I come to a complete stop and take off again (easily), I hear the weird chatter/whining sound. I give it more throttle and it goes away. At this point, its reproducible at will.

I pulled the drive belt off, it still happens. The chatter/whining sound doesn't change with rpm, so I don't think it's engine/lifter related.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance

wht/73

Fluid level's ok?

madmann26

Absolutely.

trans and converter has been in about 18months and never overheated.

I just drained it and the fluid is a nice cherry color with alot of metal flake in it.

I'm thinking I broke a sprag or worse.

bbond105

That's what I was thinking.

bbond105

I was thinking the sprag also.

madmann26

Thanks.

RPM also suspects the sprag. I'm sending it back to them for repair.

FTI is going to cut/clean the converter. Might as well restall it while it's apart.

I can't say enough about the great customer service from each company today. They've been top notch.

Disassembly in progress.

wht/73

That's good that they are going to fix it.
I'm assuming under warranty as it's a level 7 build.
Does or will it cover freight?

madmann26

I dunno about lifetime. Their website says 90 days.

Though, I could've sworn that when I bought the trans it was lifetime.

Anywho, It's still a fraction of the cost of what it cost new.

I may dig around for my paperwork and see.

wht/73

I would think a level 7 trans should be able to take a downshift!
If not, what did you pay for? LOL!

madmann26

I would think so as well.

I've decided to have a local guy take a look at it. I pulled the trans out during nap time yesterday. Lol.

Fluid looked ok. Nice cherry color. It did look like it had a ton of metal flake in it.

Some of you may have heard of the guy, Sid Neal in Snellville GA.

I'm trying to limit my cost and downtime. Everyone I ask about transmissions, mentions Sid.

I told him what happened and he immediately said planetary.

We'll find out. I'll be sure to post pics.

FTICONVERTERS

iTrader: (3)

Sid does excellent work! you will not be disappointed.

madmann26

Well,

The verdict is in. It was definitely the transmission.

This is bullshit, plain and simple. Pictures speak for themselves. This was nothing more than some **** poor choice for parts.

I mean, come on, for $4300, I thought I would have gotten a $34 BW sprag. It goes downhill from there fellas.

Double-stack accumulator.

OEM Clutches

Sid did say there is some good hardparts in it but pointed out what was wrong. He let me stand there while he took it apart.

He gets my business from now on.

wht/73

How much HP did this?

madmann26

About 500 or so crank.

wht/73

That stinks. (not the HP!)
A stock 80E with a few tweaks held my buddy's 460ci/625 crank HP Buick in his 71GS.
Mid 11's @ 117.
Drove it there, race'd on his DR's then drove home.
That's what sold me on the 80.
I feel for you brother!
A feel a "level 7" build should have held at your level!
Now that you know what was inside of it, another phone call may be in order for compensation.
This is my beef with not going local with the build.

If my 80 pukes, I'll tow it rt to the guy that built it.
The good thing is, he built my t350 that I beat for 16yrs and 2 converters.
It's now in my sons malibu!
Same stock rebuild with a shift kit from back then.

madmann26

I don't disagree that I should be compensated some how but in all reality, it's he said she said.

They can say it overheated, Sid says it definitely did not and I would send them a picture of the Trucool 40k that is on the front.

Hell, I have past logs showing temps never breached 200 degrees. But you see where I am going.

They can claim abuse, I can say BS, it's a level 7 build, should I drive it like a granny?

It would take more work trying to recoup what I think is fair and in the end, I may get and I may not.

It comes down to poor choices for parts basically.

I'll get much more satisfaction knowing this thread is here with pictures.

urb0123

$4300?! I flat out don't have pockets that deep. Which is why I'm here having to rebuild them myself. I don't feel so bad about having to do all the work myself now, even with my screw ups.

Maybe send a link for this thread to the owner? They should at least squirm a bit.

madmann26

They'll see it eventually, if they haven't already.

To add from yesterday, after slinging some emails around with the vendor that sold it (which RPM was copied on).

1. I am being blamed for this. RPM says this was caused by a 4-2 kickdown, which is wrong, it never went into second.

2. RPM bashed Sid in the email and called him "uneducated". (have the email to prove it) This is bad for business IMO. This is just something that shouldn't be done.

The vendor, which I am leaving out of this simply because they're a medium in this, has offered to pay for the repair bill.

That my friends, is customer service.

wht/73

I agree, RPM should have offered this 1st.
I'm not bashing, but when the trans was disassembled , and inferior parts exposed, I would have tried all means possible to make it right with you.

I'm curious, do they give detailed instructions how this level 7 trans is to be used and driven in the crate?

bbond105

I’m just curious, what parts did they use that were inferior?