Hopefully this is an appropriate area to post this in. So I'll try to make this story short. I'm not going to name any Vendor (they arent a sponser here anyways) and if you know who it is, please refrain for saying anything. I just want some advice on how to handle this situation. here goes...

So I purchased a input shaft for my trans, it was advertised as a factory 4l65 shaft which has been hardened and shot peened. I actually called the company before purchasing because I was concerned with if the shaft stiff allowed some twist to it so it wouldnt shatter. The fellow I spoke with assured me that they never had any of them fail, it was a better than stock option and inbetween the sonnax and a stock shaft. It should be fine I was told. I was strapped for cash and could not afford the sonnax, so it was a relief....or so I thought. So I built the trans, drove the car around for a little while. Shifted perfectly. I was happy. I smashed on it a couple times. everything good. Bout the third time I got on it, Bam. Engine would free rev and then it locked up and died. WTF. I got towed back home. I tried to cranks it a couple times but it was partially locked up. That destroyed my starter and damaged my new sfi heavy duty flexplate. Pulled trans apart. "upgraded" input shaft had Shattered like glass. Yea, it'll be fine they said. Sent metal through the whole transmission and destroyed a $900 torque converter. I Had the converter repaired and that cost me almost $500. Plus parts that needed replacing. I'm in this for over a grand not including my labor. My question is, should I pursue some sort of at least partial reimbursement from this company? Suck it up? What would you do? I really couldnt afford all of this and i had to come up with the money at a bad time to get my car back on the road. They did agree to refund me for the shaft, but that aint a drop in the bucket compared to what it cost me. What should I do? I've ate stuff like this on past occasions but this time it cost me alot of money I didnt have and I even asked them about it beforehand.
BTW yank called me this morning and told me that the input shaft was definitely hardened incorrectly and it looked like I had glass shards in the converter.

 

If you got the money for the shaft...you're prettymuch SOL
You'll end up deeper in lawyer fees trying to make a case than you'd get back if you won.

Almost all aftermarket parts (and even OEM parts...look at oriellys, autozone, etc) are warrantied to cover their cost. They don't cover incidentals.

If you have a serpentine belt from oreillys take a crap...they'll replace the belt...but you can bet your butt they aren't going to cover a water pump, a fan, or the underside of the hood when that exploded belt hurts something.

Same goes for a performance rear end. IF the rear end grenades and you wreck the car at the track...the diff manufacturer isn't immediately liable for the whole cost of your car you just wadded up.

You could surely send a letter/request explaining your situation and asking for them to help you out a little bit...but if you actually try to pursue the cost of other damaged parts...it's probably an extremely uphill battle

 

yea you’re right. You make good points. I was just extremely upset because I’m out a lot of money that I didn’t have. I haven’t got any money back yet. He said he was going to refund me for the shaft but he hasn’t yet. So you think I should email them and ask for some extra assistance? I have not been rude or anything at all with them. I feel like that’s pointless.

 

E.G. valve spring manufacturer's dont cover the motor when a spring breaks and drops a valve and trashes the block. Goes into the "gotta pay to play" category. You might have more grounds if you advertised something that wasn't actually what they sold you, but otherwise youre stuck.

 

i agree. I just kinda figured it might be a little different in this situation because it’s extremely evident the shaft was incorrectly hardened and failed as a result. I guess this will have to be chalked up as a very expensive live and learn lesson. Sucks.

 

4l80e time. Lol

Edit: hows the stage 1 cam working??

 

i was a little afraid it might lose power. But I think it’s just as fast, if not, faster. It’s very tame and drives very well. I should have listened to my damn self and went with a cam I had picked with very close specs originally, instead of listening to everyone else.

i should be good for a while. I had the converter rebuilt. Lowered the stall to 3200. Put billet sonnax shafts in it. Lots of good parts. It should hold up to my measly power level now. Come to think of it, it’s got to be faster because I no longer have a major exhaust crossover like I did. So I guess I can’t really compare overall power. But it does still pull to 7000