67speeda

happy b-day... mines tomorrow!

so here is what was sent out in PM's but with some updates. As the thread left off the trans leaks 30 seconds after reinstalling yet again. I called performabuilt and talked to Frank and he made me troubleshoot some things, but it was a waste of time. Ended up pulling the trans back down. Lucky for me my buddy owns a shop and is helping so the costs are relatively low. I pay cost for parts and throw him and his partner a few bucks. Just an FYI for ppl that do not have this luxury or have to do work like this on their back on the driveway. I drive 3hours to performabuilt (6hr round trip), taking a day off from work, and drop the trans off once again. You know it’s been too often when they all immediately recognize you. About 10 minutes into the conversation he grabs the converter from my car and immediately has this look on his face of complete embarrassment. He said “I found your problem”. The welds on the converter all gave out. Hairline fractures behind the paint. Honestly it looks like they (converters are built by another third party shop) just painted over the old paint and called it refurbished/rebuilt, which I had done in May 2011 for $200. So my $1000 unbreakable billet converter….broke. Now the owner is a nice guy in all honesty. He is completely rebuilding the trans and giving me a completely new and updated converter. He is also testing everything on their in shop dyno and claimed he will upgrade the pump (didn’t know there is such a thing and why was this not done on the original build?) As per my request he said he will change the trans case as well. They are paying for shipping to ship the trans/converter to me, but as of right now that is it. They missed the broken converter TWICE. And I doubt they actually rebuilt it when they said they did. They also refuse to extend the warranty even though the trans spent more time out of the truck than in. Also, from looking online, it appears they don’t do much to make the trans much stronger. Other shops are apparently better. And I will never trust their converters. In fact, I am trying to get them to just return my money on the converter and be done with it. Lessoned learned…… I just got a tracking number for the trans and converter on friday and been busy so sorry i didn't update sooner Did not want to post all the details b/c of negotiation with performabuilt, but that ended with emails being ignored and just randomly getting a tracking number. Not even from performabuilt but from UPS The only cost they covered with the whole experience was the shipping ONE WAY. not the fluid not the labor not the time off even though they admitted it was THIER MISTAKE and they missed something they should not have. now i specifically asked them to take their time and make sure everything is done right. I wanted it ran on their "dyne" to make sure i have no leaks yet again. I dropped it off at 11:00AM wed and it shipped friday. Quick? yes. But makes me feel they cut corners.... i marked every component prior to being dropped off (without them knowing). I will update if they delivered on their promise to replace certain items. we will see what happens this week when i install Thanks for all the suggestions and help! AS of right now i highly suggest you do not do any business with them, even though they kept their promise on the warranty, the frustration and costs on removal install is not worth it

PM sent

PM's sent Will update and adjust depending upon outcome (along with a few other sites i will be posting)

yeah...i wish big update coming soon. found the problem. pm if interested

i do a trans flush, twice, EVERY year BUT it is b/c my trans keeps blowing up and installing rebuilts....FML

fyi i am on performabuitl level 3 number 4 now....

yeah its really killin me lucky for me its my friends shop and is doing it cheap, but still.... hell the fluid alone is 100+ every @#$# time already tapped into my savings and still no truck....

update is the trans leaks yet again wobble of the flexplate is still there even though it is brand new circle d performance flex plate.. wobbles so much my starter grinds it has to be the converter by the process fo elimination. new flex plate, new seals, rebuilt trans.

I have LT's, no cats, and stock cat back bc anything other than a stock cat back was too loud....

opps, i updated the 1st post and forgot to put at end as well.... from post 1... update 2-16-12 I actually drove out to performabuilt to have this repaired and here is how the day went Frank arranged so I would meet them at the shop so they could look at my trans and converter (also performabuilt) -I arrived early in the morning, all the guys at performabuilt arrived shortly after. -Immidately they took the trans out of my ford transit ( you know you want one!) and tore into it -I did not want to get in their way so i stayed in the car. -The owner ( i assume) had me come inside to watch so he can show me when the found the problem (cool! shows they truly have nothing to hide) -After a few minutes they found that the leak was not the input seal that the converter goes into but rather the large circular seal that goes around the pump -i was told a mistake was made. The paint they use expands with heat (looking online they do this to get the heat out of the trans/ cooling) and it seemed the masking did not stop some paint from getting to where the seal sits . Therefor when the trans got warm the paint was allowing it to leak. After so many heat cycles and damaged seal it started to leak more and more. -They went though all the common issues and made sure everything was good (check a bunch of parts but forgot the names ) -They did a trans service, checked the converter, and even gave me new converter bolts (mine were shot) -he took the time to go over installation and gave me a install set (dip stick gasket, o-rings, rear seal to extension housing) -I was home (3hr trip each way) before noon. Trans is at the shop with the truck and will go in on sat. I have had horrible luck with transmissions BUT perfomabuilt has stood by their warranty and always was willing to show me and explain anything. to recape my whole experience with performabuilt -purchased trans in 2008 -Front seal where the converter goes in blew in 2011 -replace front seal myself, reinstall -trans looses all gears randomly few months later and beings to leak again (issue was the filter got clogged up which was probably my fault) -decided to do the "restore service" for (i think) $600-700 -we made arrangements to upgrade some parts while in the trans -truck ran GREAT from May 11' until recently where it still ran GREAT but leaked -warranty repairs (see above) do i recommend performabuilt.... Yes. They are a stand up shop that stands behind their product. They are growing fast so they have some learning curves but i truly think they will work them out. plus their super long warranty is great with no BS involved. However, i did not pay 100-200 to keep shipping the trans since i live within 3 hours so keep that in mind.

bump for updates

ha my stock motor/ performabuilt level 2 combo is currently.....at the shop trans is going back...again...for problems

Thanks Millersss (fyi NICE write up on the radio!) Anyone else know about the oil lamp? truck at shop getting another trans so can't plug in and check

Some quick questions.... The lamp for the oil pressure gauge, which is positive? Can't see that one in any picture. Also, the climate control, are those led from factory or do they need resisters as well. ( auto climate control/ digital)

update: Frank was a big help thus far... I am going to get the truck on the lift, open the inspection window on the bottom of the bell and then see if the flexplate wobbles at all. if it does, then there is the culprit. Then the trans is going to them for inspection and a new seal if that is all that is needed. I hope it was a bad flex plate and busted seal so make it quicker.... so far A+ customer service and if it was the flew plate then its not performabuilt's fault for the failed trans edit: getting new flex plate regardless

update: Frank was a big help thus far... I am going to get the truck on the lift, open the inspection window on the bottom of the bell and then see if the flexplate wobbles at all. if it does, then there is the culprit. Then the trans is going to them for inspection and a new seal if that is all that is needed. I hope it was a bad flex plate and busted seal so make it quicker.... so far A+ customer service and if it was the flew plate then its not performabuilt's fault for the failed trans edit: getting new flex plate regardless

Trying to brainstorm what's the problem. Is it possible the flywheel is bad and eating front seals/pumps ??

I JUST had it refurbished AND its their billet converter.... the truck is almost stock! there is no reason in the world it should break, but thanks for that info. will def be doing some digging on their quality of converters. keep in mind i have yet to call performabuilt. This all just happened. In the past their customer service has been great. just not happy about loosing my truck for a few weeks and shelling out a few hundred to have the trans taken out and driving to PA...

about 4000 i doubt that it is missing parts. Do have it inspected to that level would be essentially rebuilding the trans first time was the trans would just randomly spike in temps and stop working. something broke and metal shavings were clogging the filter so no fluid was moving. Then i paid to have it upgraded to level 2 in (i think) april for over 1K + i had my converter refurbished (performabuilt converter) Now the trans works fine, but it is pouring fluid out of the bell housing. I smelt a little burning at a stop light and pulled into a gas station to see the spill and had it towed.

The biggest issue is trust. The only thing this set up has been good at is leaving me stranded.... so even with a fixed trans, it still will prob blow in few months again

Wheatly and performabuilt work together. I'm sure my tune is correct. I believe it was stock

Level 1 was the first one. This one was level 2

Bone stock HP other than tune and LT's Large pool of fluid directly under bell.... Luckily its under warrenty (will update after I call but just got this trans in April.) But still got to pay few hundred to have it taken out and in....

update: Boom goes performabuilt #3 As the title goes, my trans just blew making it the third time. So frustrated. update 2-16-12 I actually drove out to performabuilt to have this repaired and here is how the day went Frank arranged so I would meet them at the shop so they could look at my trans and converter (also performabuilt) -I arrived early in the morning, all the guys at performabuilt arrived shortly after. -Immidately they took the trans out of my ford transit ( you know you want one!) and tore into it -I did not want to get in their way so i stayed in the car. -The owner ( i assume) had me come inside to watch so he can show me when the found the problem (cool! shows they truly have nothing to hide) -After a few minutes they found that the leak was not the input seal that the converter goes into but rather the large circular seal that goes around the pump -i was told a mistake was made. The paint they use expands with heat (looking online they do this to get the heat out of the trans/ cooling) and it seemed the masking did not stop some paint from getting to where the seal sits . Therefor when the trans got warm the paint was allowing it to leak. After so many heat cycles and damaged seal it started to leak more and more. -They went though all the common issues and made sure everything was good (check a bunch of parts but forgot the names ) -They did a trans service, checked the converter, and even gave me new converter bolts (mine were shot) -he took the time to go over installation and gave me a install set (dip stick gasket, o-rings, rear seal to extension housing) -I was home (3hr trip each way) before noon. Trans is at the shop with the truck and will go in on sat. I have had horrible luck with transmissions BUT perfomabuilt has stood by their warranty and always was willing to show me and explain anything. to recape my whole experience with performabuilt -purchased trans in 2008 -Front seal where the converter goes in blew in 2011 -replace front seal myself, reinstall -trans looses all gears randomly few months later and beings to leak again (issue was the filter got clogged up which was probably my fault) -decided to do the "restore service" for (i think) $600-700 -we made arrangements to upgrade some parts while in the trans -truck ran GREAT from May 11' until recently where it still ran GREAT but leaked -warranty repairs (see above) do i recommend performabuilt.... Yes. They are a stand up shop that stands behind their product. They are growing fast so they have some learning curves but i truly think they will work them out. plus their super long warranty is great with no BS involved. However, i did not pay 100-200 to keep shipping the trans since i live within 3 hours so keep that in mind. VERY important update 2-22-12 30 seconds with the trans installed and it leaks LIKE CRAZY 10X worse than before %$%$# edit: update coming soon. found the problem