ATS transmission gripe

[Reb.B]

well, i try to make it a rule of thumb not to flame or put down any vender, because i really don't want my being upset to hurt somebodies cash flow and life blood. I do try to point out when venders go out and over do themselves, and try to help the CTD owner as best they can, i try to follow their footsteps the best i can.

 

[Reb.B]

anyways, wrong buttom, . . k here goes,... I am a farmer/mechanic in a small town and have been hopping up cummins diesles and street rods. I believe that when u hop up own of our trucks that u must also compensate with the transmission. I've been able to build the trannies to hold a little over 450 Hp and tow 30,000 lbs, in the mountains, several times a week. Although i have accomplished this, i still see a need for a better convertor. I have always felt the DTT convertors and trannies have been the best for racing and light trucks, and that ATS convertors have been best for towing and keeping temps down. I work more on towing rigs and expressed to ATS last week that i am a small diesel hotrod shop owner, and that i would like to sell their convertors in the central valley of California. I have heard from big owners of diesel hotrod supply shops and they have told me about the way ATS is. They are always cocky and they run on the edge all the time. I heard about the motors they have blown from crazy cams that don't work and how they've taken trucks and have really messed them up. But i try to take everything with a grain of salt. But here is my gripe finally... . i try my best to help the CTD owner out. I work very hard, do thge research, and pass on my best prices to help people reach there goals. I just love dodge diesles. all my friends have them, my family has them, i just live and breath cummins. Well after asking ATS to sell their trannies, they tell me that i must have 4, i repeat 4 bays to rebuild trannies. They're crazy. Well' as u can tell i'm really upset over this. This is a real set back. Here is a company which i thought was out to help the little guy help others, and the big trannie shops that don't even know what diesls are, get the convertors. Oh well. This thread is meant to pass on what has happened to me, and not to put down any company. Take it all for what its worth, but when u buy your next convertor, or any part, make sure who u are buying from and try to support those who help support the CDT owner, ... thanx Reb

 

[StakeMan]

I doubt any of the transmission manufactuers would want just any shade tree mechanic to install thier products. You may be the installer but its thier name and reputation that is on the line.

 

[Reb.B]

u're probably correct stakeman, but i know trannies and convertors. I have a huge shop, this is my specialty, CTD trucks. . I've put in a lot of these trannies and have had good luck. I myself, am not a so called shade tree mechanic. I have a business, i have a retail liscence, and i am knowledgable in the area i work in. Yah, i am a farmer, i'm sure most think that farmers are shadetree mechanics, but i do find time to build up some awesome hotrods whether they are diesles or gas. This Dodge CTD industry has just started growing, and not many people are big, and huge and work on 100 trucks a week.

 

[Reb.B]

after rolling this around in my thick skull for a while, it wasn't the best thing to even mention transmissions here. I'v seen previous transmission threads and would hate for this to be pinned on me. The best thing to do is to just accept what they say and go with DTT. Maybe they will understand the needs of a small bus. owner. Sorry for any trouble, i really don't want this to turn the wrong way. I don't want to offend anybody, and i am not putting down any product of ATS in anyway.

 

[DPKetchum]

Don't take me wrong but if you have a big shop I would have said 4 bay's,yep no problem. I have 15 horses most of them baby's and don't board any ones horse here,just my own. Time to renrew my insurance I alway's here can't have more then three,Well you know that happen's to be all I got!Some times I jut can't stand big brother or big business ruling MY life. Just my two cent's worth.

 

[ATSDiesel]

Reb. B



There are a few issues hear I will comment on. We are careful to screen our installers, especially new ones. The last thing we want is to send one of our customers to an installer and have a bad experience, or have an installation problem that could have been avoided.





Quote: Reb. B

I work more on towing rigs and expressed to ATS last week that I am a small diesel hotrod shop owner, and that i would like to sell their converters in the central valley of California







Small shop owners are our favorite people, the customer service is generally better and the quality of work is good. I, myself, knowing how hard running a small shop is always keeps me grounded. Selling our converters is not the issue here, I think the issue here is buying our converters at a discounted price. We have an obligation to our dealers to protect them. Running a small or large business is not very easy, and they need all the help they can get. It is obvious from your post you are upset with the answer you received. What really concerns me is the reasoning behind the post.



When you sent your application in to us it read: ‘Brown’s Used Cars’. Secondly, when filling out the application about your facility, size and number of bays, you only answer was: ‘use several shops’. That was it.

We based our decision on your application.

Now, with out even calling us, you go to a public forum expressing that we are ‘cocky’ and ‘on the edge’. That we really mess up trucks…?????

With this information that was supplied to you, by ‘the unknown’ hotrod diesel supply shops, what is the reasoning for you being so upset? Why is it so easy for you to instantly start bashing us? From your post, you weren’t very serious about our product. I can tell you, after reading your post, we made the right decision.

Stakeman is correct in saying we try to be very conscious about Dealers and Installers. Everyone from the consumer to installer to dealer to manufacture should understand and appreciate this. You are a shop owner, from what you have indicated. You should understand our decision. The professional way of handling your emotion of being told ‘No’ was to call and speak with us.





Quote: Reb. B

They are always cocky and they run on the edge all the time





Cocky and on the edge. Cocky in my definition would be confident. We are confident in what we do and stand behind what we design, build and say. We are very cautious about being rude or short with anyone. Yes, on the edge may be what is perceived. Personally I can not stay stagnate, we have ideas that can benefit our customers and the only way to bring new technology to the market is build them and test them.





Quote: Reb. B

I heard about the motors they have blown from crazy cams that don't work and how they've taken trucks and have really messed them up.





I would like to quote on this but I don’t have enough factual information. We have and do grind several different camshafts for 12 and 24 Valve’s. Some haven’t worked that well and some have worked extremely well. We have played around with just about every thing we can thank about if time allows it, on our own trucks. I don’t know of any engines we have blown up though, short of a few head gaskets.



Reb. B, if you feel the dealer packet was misinterpreted then pick up the phone and call us. You can talk to me if you like, I am the owner of ATS. I can relate to your position. I started this shop 12 years ago in little building down the street with one transmission jack and my hand tools and used a dish washer for a parts washer; it’s been a very hard road. I continue to develop new products and build a transmission know and then when time permits. And for that big business comment, ya we are a group of 22 people running around with our heads cut off striving to please everyone. Big business with small business additude.



Clint Cannon

ATS Diesel

www.ATSDiesel.com

 

[Rammin On]

CCannon ...



Well said!



I can attest to the outstanding customer support provided by ATS ... . plain and simply ... . THE BEST ...



Keep up the great R&D ... .

 

[jwilliams3]

Nothing but great service from ATS and Company!!



One thing I like about the ATS crew is that they are out there putting tire to pavement.

They own, race and drive the trucks they manufacture products for. They are not just sitting back collecting money and shooting their mouths off.



Good post Clint.



--Justin

 

[WDaniels]

Reb, before going to DTT, would it be possible to call AST and iron things out with them? Don't see why one shop cannot sell more than one type of transmission.

WD

 

[DPKetchum]

Far out! Always two sides to a story,Keep my mouth(fingers)quiet next time. (why is always a trans issue,even in the standard market)

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Reb. B

anyways, wrong buttom, . . k here goes,...

thanx Reb

I would say when you started this thread you hit the wrong button :-laf JMHO but you need to contact Steve and see if he will delete this thread for you before more members read it :-{} . Good luck

 

[JConley]

I dont think the number of bays is the deciding factor, but it does give ATS an indication to the financial stability of your business. ATS has a considerable investment to protect, and they learned things the hard way.





You are a farmer. . Would you let me buy your crops (or whatever) below market value so I can re-sell them to others at a discounted price?? I didnt think so. It seems clear to me that your application was rejected for business reasons not personal reasons.

 

[Reb.B]

well i got some good pm's out of this. they reffered me to a couple different converter shops and i will try my luck with them. Clint, as for calling, I DID CALL U! i expressed my intent for helping out the consumer and i told u exactly what i wanted to do. I wanted to buy your convertor, buy for shift kit, and buy the controller. U said, NO PROBLEM REB, we'll get u hooked up and save u a couple dollars. I said Great, that will help. I get a letter back and they say i don't have enough bays and that California is Backed up with their converters. I know of no shops in the Fresno area that sell their converters. Plain and simple! I did not BASH your company, i simply told it like it was. I never mentioned customer service or your converters being bad. I did mention the brush off that i was given. Clint I AM a very competant mechanic, and i will not let u or any for that part to say that my business or abilty is lacking. Tell me how many are running 450 hp pulling 30,000 lbs on a stock convertor for two years! I thought they had a good product, and i wanted to sell the best for a towing application because thats what is used around here. FINE, don't sell me the converters, ... i am not asking a for a hand out. It is customarry for a a business to get a little better deal on products so that there is an incentive to sell Their product, and to make it feasible to compete with other transmission shops. I'm not going to respond to this thread any more. It is really taking a turn for the worse. If the moderator feels the the same, then please do what he thinks best. I still feel that i was brushed off for being a little guy in a new growing business, and still am going to try my best to make sure that my customers pay the least they can. Thats just the way i feel about it. I'm just not going to pay top dollar and neither are my customers for a product. Not when there are close and/or better substitutes. I pass on the good deals to my customers, because its just the thing to do. I guess i was just raised that way. I do admit one wrong, i should have talked to Clint again before mentioning it on this forumn. For that, i do appolagize. Reb

 

[TxDieselKid]

it's a shame nothing good comes out of transmission threads anymore

 

[Rob Thomas]

Just another reason to buy a 6-speed, less headaches. Auto threads are like daytime TV.





Later, Rob

 

[Pit Bull]

6speed YES Oo.

 

[BFC]

Hey freak,



better watch those clutch thread too, your ruffling "the pom pom squad" with your Mitchel clutch



Glenn

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by BFC

Hey freak,



better watch those clutch thread too, your ruffling "the pom pom squad" with your Mitchel clutch



Glenn

Pom Pons? Not I... .



Glenn, Glenn, Glenn, we all know who has the biggest clutch pom pons, TDK of course, but he has an auto, so what's he know? At least I have a manual to base my Rah Rah Re's upon. BTW you can purchase the Bad$$ Mitchell clutch from ... ... www.enterpriseengine.com :-laf





Later, Rob

 

[BFC]

Rob,



just re-read my post and there is one word missing "feathers". Didn't mean you had pom poms... . that is until your last post, LOL I was on the same page as you Rob! How does it feel to the target of the new pack?



Canuk