transmission and TC upgrade

[Dave Remillard]

I just recieved a return message from Bill Kondolay in regards to recommendations of a shop to install the DTT TC and VB upgrade on my truck here in the Portland Or. area. He is as disappointed as I, because he hasn't had much luck with the installs going right in this area. I am wondering if any of you have, or know of someone in my general area that can be recommended. I have my heart set on doing the upgrades, but I want positive results. Bill was honest enough to say sorry,he just couldn't recommend and feel comfortable with it. I'm willing to travel some, but I'm not retired and time away and the amount of time to do the work could be a problem. Thanks

 

[Jim Fulmer]

DTT

Well I can't give you a installer but I can tell you your going to have a hard time wiping that smile off you face when you do the mod, I had the privilage of ridding in one last week and you will not believe the difference, good luck.



Jim

 

[Bob Wagner]

I will take your truck to Abbotsford



It would be a pleasure and I am reliable too

 

[inarush76]

DTT install

I don't know if you would be willing to drive to TX, but I do these installs on the weekend and usually in on Fri. evening,out by Sat. evening. I guess it is a bit far. I am close to Dallas. Would make for a nice trip, and a fun ride home.



James Northum

DTT installer/dealer/Bill K. approved builder

 

[Bill Kondolay]

No-strokin,



Some of the decisions i make like approved installations centers does not always make me a popular guy. Sometimes it requires travel. The purpose of any business is to make money and the logical thing for me to do is to sell products, however i have found that for-going the sale sometimes is better all around for both the customer and myself.



I spent 18 months at BD trying to train Diesel Shops about transmissions. I can honestly tell you with the exception of a handful of them that taking your transmission to a Diesel shop to get worked on can lead to disaster.



I have seen lack of oil, kickdown cables not even hooked up, servo's put in backwards, they dont have a clue about band adjustments, clutch pac clearances, shift patterns, governor solenoids, transducers, that being said , i have also seen transmission shops that do not know how to set up a 12 valve engine to accept a tighter converter. That is why our screening process is tough for potential installers and they must train personally with me.



When it comes to 12 valves i am fortunate to have Piers 5 minutes down the road from me, not every one is.



I have seen more 12 valve transmissions destroyed because guys dont realize the seal in the front drum needs to be changed when you do these upgrades.



Here are some of the things you might want to ask a potential shop you are considering ,



What is the clearance in the front drum?



What kind of resistor do you need for your truck and why is it being installed? Or do you even need one?



What is the front band adjustment?



What is the rear band adjustment?



What is the vb torque specs?



What is the shift pattern on the dodge?



What happens if the 2nd gear band doesnt release before 3rd

gear clutches come on?



It is not that i dont make mistakes myself, i just make fewer of them as i have the good sense to respect the Cummins engine.



The kind of trailers our customers are towing with, and the kind of hp our customers have we understand the potential damage the transmission is facing.



I have learned over the years that if you alter one part another is advesley affected. It has to be a balance.



That is why we developed a complete system , and it requires set up time. Our customers are mostly dodge ram owners that bought this truck for the long haul. They want longivity , reliability, and performance. That is an order that requires set up with care and respect for the torque that the cummins produces.

So you have to understand why i dont want guys just throwing my parts in their trannys and hope for the best.



If they do not understand why and how we do things and how to set up the truck , the customer, the install center and I all lose.



I know you guys have lots options to choose from, and they will just sell you parts no problem. That is not our way, we have to know who is buying our products , who's installing it, and the application it will be used in .





There are lots of guys out there that will tell you anything you want to hear to get your sale,technicans control our company and we understand that you guys love your truck and we know that sometimes it takes more than just parts to make the truck run properly.

I think that is why our customers are so vocal and so loyal.

 

[24V-DSL]

Stating the obvious.....

no-strokin.....



I have no intentions to tell you how to run your life... .



But, your're just too close to Bill K. to not find a way to take a couple of the days you would use for your listed interests in your profile and drive up there and have extra Karma on your truck by having it done in Bill's shop.



I drove 375 miles from Oregon and would have gone a lot further (actually, I've been up a second time) after experiencing the results of the DTT, not to mention how much fun it was hanging out with these terrific people.



Bill has an arrangement with a Best Western a couple of miles from his shop..... think it cost me ~$55 per night, American.



I promise... you won't be sorry. I've told my wife that I'm to be buried with my DTT transmission... . the rest of the truck goes to my son.

 

[KatDiesel]

As everyone else said..... just drive up there and have him do it, that way you know its done right.



It'll be a nice piece of mind to have, I'm worrying all the time weather or not my transmission is set up correctly. I'm smack dab in the middle of the US and don't have any vacation time left this year... ... ... ... ... .....

 

[Dave Remillard]

Thanks Everyone, and especially Bill. The mistake I made was for not finding out exactly where Bills shop is. I am definately pleased that he is not as far away as I for some reason thought. I honestly, for what ever reason pictured Bill to be in the Mid-West somewhere. I also figured that since you have a core charge on the converter that maybe you did a lot of sending the parts out for others to do the work.



Bill, if you see this before I call you, please understand that my first choice would be for you to do the work. I would be most comfortable with that. I seriously doubt that I would have bought your products and just let some unknown shop do the damage. My hopes for taking this question to this forum, was to maybe find someone in the area that has had the same desire and to hopefully get some good advice. Such as what you just explained.



Thanks again and I will be calling you in the next few days.