New ATS Converter-Lasted 300 miles

[Fred Swanson]

JVolpe, if that is Chris Strickland, you will not be disappointed. What I don't get is your friend had a Peformance Shop do the install. And he was on transmission #3. Did the shop do the troubleshooting, or just jockey trannies around?



Find a shop that knows how to or is trained on the transmission of choice. Chris is that kind of DTT shop.

 

[Dgrizz]

ATS won't return phone calls or emails and has sent two invoices for $1,388. 00 even though they have been sent back their original core.



Dave's Diesel hasn't sent my check back to reimburse me for Dodge repairing the problem.



Read into it as you wish.

Man, I feel bad for the experience you've been through! Hope everything works out and you end up with the quality(++++) for your quantity($$$$)! These kinds of things makes me feel good that I have a clutch from Peter @ SBC, whom I've never heard of not standing behind his customer and his product.

 

[JVolpe]

Fred,



The truck owner seemed satisfied with the shop and did not seem to think it had anything to do with them. It just seems like he got one bad one, one damaged in shipment and one that acts different than he expected.



Chris was recommended to me by others also. When I get ready I will give them a call and take a trip that way.

 

[Dgrizz]

So Dukenrock paid an arm and a leg for a solid transmission he thought he was getting? 0/3 and now has to lay down another $1400 to give em' another whack at it? No Dice

 

[RichardAndrews]

20,000 Miles on my ATS Stage 5 Transmission and loving every mile of it. Its one of the best upgrades I have done. Works great Towing my 15,000 lb Toy Haluer and just driving around town also. I did have the Install done at ATS, Matt and Clint are a great bunch of guys to deal with.

 

[Don-T]

I have been trying to get the money together for an ATS Stage V and TC upgrade, before I nuke my trans with the Juice.



I talked with a member of another site that had a full ATS Stage V, TC, Billet shafts and Lockup Commander done about 3 or 4 months ago. I ask him about his install because the Diesel Performance shop he had it done at is close to me and I have talked to them briefly about the upgrade.



He said when he had it done he thought if was a good decision. I emailed him today to ask if he was still satisfied with the upgrade and shop that did it. I was more interested in the shop than whether the ATS equipment was doing ok. I have read mainly good things about the ATS transmission equipment. What he told me was that the performance shop did a good job, however he was on his third ATS transmission. First started having shifting problems soon after install, second one was probably damaged in shipment and was installed and had too high internal pressures, third one is okay but skips shifting to second a lot. Was told not enough load on the truck. He still thinks it is a good upgrade, but sounds like he has had a lot of trouble in a short period of time.



I will be talking to a performance shop that specializes on DTT equipment before I make any decisions. I would be very unhappy to spend that kind of money and have those kind of problems.

I am the guy he is talking about in this post. The people at Diesel Innovations did some trouble shooting on the transmissions and found most of the problems. On the first trans a band adjustment lock nut was let loose and the band came apart and aloud the trans to go to first and reverse at the same time. They could have fixed but ATS told them not to because of the warrantee. ATS preferred to send a new trans and take the old one back. The second trans was obviously dropped by the shipper. the DI guys replace the damaged pan and valve body but when they tested the trans the pressures were not right so again ATS told them to ship it back and a new one would be sent out. The third one was installed and it is still in there but it does not seem to shift to second gear, it goes from first to third when the shifter is in drive. When I shift it manually it uses all the gears. I hope to have the time to hook up my fifth wheel camper in a week or so and try it with a load. If it still skips second gear it will go back to DI to be repaired or replaced. The good parts in this issue is that both the installer and ATS have not hesitated doing any of this stuff and I have not been asked for any more money since the original install.

 

[CATCRACKER]

i blew my oem input shaft i am not he original owner of the transmission and they helped me out. while i had the transmission out i put in their billet input and i upgraded to their new converter. let me tell you this coverter is wicked. DTT builds good stuff and so does suncoast. i about blew a gut when i picked up the converter to bring it to the trans shop. this thing is massive 70+ lbs

 

[Jeremiah]

My experience with ATS has been superb. Clint Cannon has a big operation and a big investment. He will bend over backward to guarantee there's nothing wrong with the product or installation. But it sounds like the dealer in this instance is superb too. I'd stick with both of 'em.

 

[JR2]

There is a reason 2 of them are not using the stock converter and reworking it. I will leave it at that



Yes there is a reason, two of them believe that locking up the transmission is the best way to make it last. The other belives in higher efficiency fluid coupling and locking up way later. Locking the transmission early puts massive stress on TC and you need a billet coverter, locking later or unlocking under full power does not put the same stress on the TC, therfore you can use a stock body.



Any of the aftermarket companies will supply a good transmission. I would go with the one that you live closer to, that way you can have them install it and it will be right when you drive out the door.