Thread: Update on TCI transmission

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Just got off the phone with TCI. Don's transmission is done and ready to come back. Asked what they found and he said the pump went out and fried the converter and clutches. Asked how often that happens, he said "well, any man- made product has some failures, but it doesn't happen often."

So, it looks like it might be back later in the week and he and I can get it reinstalled. Hope this is the end of his problems.

I think well use wingnuts to install it, just in case.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Just got off the phone with TCI. Don's transmission is done and ready to come back. Asked what they found and he said the pump went out and fried the converter and clutches. Asked how often that happens, he said "well, any man- made product has some failures, but it doesn't happen often."

So, it looks like it might be back later in the week and he and I can get it reinstalled. Hope this is the end of his problems.

I think well use wingnuts to install it, just in case.

Don

Don,
Did you really expect a logical answer? Sounds more like a CYA kind of response. A couple of calls I had with them when I bought the wrong diameter and balance converter was barely comprehensible English.

Still not overly impressed with TCI. Not only do I have to reintroduce myself to the same guy everytime and refresh his memory on who we are ( ) but even when he finally remembers the story it is like they are doing us some big favor by even repairing it for us at no charge.

Today he said "and we have decided to also give you a brand new torque converter too." BIG WHOOP, the old one blew up!! Nowhere in any conversation have they offered one apology or sense that they have any responsibility in this. It would have been nice if they just once said "wow, sorry this happened and we will do our best to take care of it for you."

Summit at least kicked in a few bucks to defray some of the shipping costs, and they didn't have to.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I think well use wingnuts to install it, just in case.

Don

Sounds to me like a bunch of "wingnuts" built it in the first place
Hope it works this time....

maybe there warranty is so short because tci is racing products? heck around here if u buy a trans and have them beef it for racing there is NO warranty nobody warrantys that stuff here.

I considered that, about racing products not having the same warranty. Maybe that is the reason.

On the other side of the scale, Brookville Roadsters just called me, Dan's body is leaving Friday. They have followed up each step of the way and done exactly what they promised. He is also going to call me with the truck line pro number as soon as it goes out the door so we can track it into Ft Myers. Their customer service has been great so far, and they are hitting the target date they promised us.

Can't wait until I can afford that '32 coupe body they sell.

Don

Don TCI doesn't realize your celebe status! If they had any idea of how many people had read this thread alone, they'd have been a better customer service place. If if helps, they lost my 799, plus shipping!
Glad to hear Brooksville is soo much better in customer relations, and I'll give Summit a plug too!

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I considered that, about racing products not having the same warranty. Maybe that is the reason.

On the other side of the scale, Brookville Roadsters just called me, Dan's body is leaving Friday. They have followed up each step of the way and done exactly what they promised. He is also going to call me with the truck line pro number as soon as it goes out the door so we can track it into Ft Myers. Their customer service has been great so far, and they are hitting the target date they promised us.

Can't wait until I can afford that '32 coupe body they sell.

Don

Don,
It must be that someone reminded Brookville that they really need customer service after turning out bodies like the Tuesday morning after a Monday holiday POS I got - I felt like I had to after several calls and trying to work with them. At least my dealer was great and made me "well".

Wow, what was wrong with yours? Ours is coming unassembled and unprimed. Dan and I built a jig platform the other day to lay it up on and assemble it. Was yours assembled unstraight or what?


Don

[QUOTE=stovens] Don TCI doesn't realize your celebe status!:


Haha, I tried telling them that, but it didn't fly.


Don

I wonder if buying a new Summit brand trans would be a better idea.. Summit is great with there customer service, seems as tho they would make everything right if somthing was wrong.. when my MSD 6BTM went south after less than 10 hours run time, I called Summit and they told me that an exchange was no problem, just send it back, I did and about 1 week later, I had a new 1

yeah when do we get our signed pics of your car? id frame mine



[QUOTE=Itoldyouso][QUOTE=stovens] Don TCI doesn't realize your celebe status!

Haha, I tried telling them that, but it didn't fly.


Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Wow, what was wrong with yours? Ours is coming unassembled and unprimed. Dan and I built a jig platform the other day to lay it up on and assemble it. Was yours assembled unstraight or what?


Don

Don,
This is a posted (elsewhere) review of what I had for a few of the problems - it's far from an inclusive list. StylinZ (Michael) has suffered many of the same with his body:

I think Brookville is a better choice than trying to restore a 74 - 75 year old original ‘31A roadster but I am at least a 2 years behind on finishing this project. I am NOT a body man. I feel that there should be an attempt by the manufacturer to produce a "quality" product as the Golohans (sp?) of Brookville stated to me. This is a partial list of aches and pains:
1.Right quarter was totally flat - did not have a bit of curve to match the left nor the door. This took many hours of disassembly and reassembly.
2. Neither rear quarter was welded to the sub frame – only had 6-8 tabs bent over the subframe – made for a floppy body.
3. The floor boards kinked while kneeling(I weigh less than 200#) in them to set up the seats - required new ones made up by my local Metal Supermarket.
4. Cowl cover missed the right cowl side by over 1/2 an inch, the left by ~1/4"
5. Hinges were bound up so tight they kinked the doors. Bushed with Oilite and made new pins and straightened the kinks
6. Most body rivets not bucked enough - needed to bolt and/or weld the entire body together.
7. Belt molding under the windshield needed complete reshaping.
8.The original one piece windshield posts that I purchased were ground to the point of paper thickness - returned for credit - also they completely misdrilled the brass risers for the posts.Also the posts were not finished or chromed – read the (real) fine print. I ended up with LeBarron Bonney all stainless 2 piece posts
9. I ordered a 5" recessed firewall for a SB Ford and got a 3" so needed to modify it 2 more inches to clear.
10. The grille shell needed many repairs to look look and fit properly. I guesstimate to be >40 hours worth
11. When fitting up the top, the upolsterer discovered the entire rear section of the body was off by up to .500 which required him to “adjust “ the rear window in the top fabric.
12. The “hot rod” rear deck former is just plain poorly done – I should have elected for the original wood style. This was at least partially corrected.
13. Their poor grade of primer had to be completely stripped – it was up to .030 thick in places and covering a multitude of workmanship sins
14. There isn’t a single panel on the car that is smooth enough for prime and paint without many, many hours of metal, filler and high fill primer work
And it goes on and on. I guess they may make and OK 28-9 and 32, but after this experience, not for me - I'd buy someone else's. I’m making the best of it and it will be a nice car when done but the extra work on a “new steel car” has been frustrating
Oh yes – one good thing happened – it fit the TCI frame nicely (theirs appears to be an old design TCI clone) !!!!

So..............besides that, were there any issues????????

Really sorry to hear about all that. I wonder if that was just the exception rather than the rule? The bed Dan got from them was super nice, and every body we have seen at Daytona and elsewhere has looked pretty good. Since we are going to jig this one and assemble it ourselves I sure hope we bypass any of those same problems.

I'll do some posting with pictures as we go along.

Don

i have also noticed that about TCI. One other thing that really bugs me is when they try and rush you off of the phone like I know everything that they are talking about.?!?? I just installed a NEW TCI converter in my TCI trans*previously running fine* just updating the old one for a future build. and something wasnt wrong at all. * dont want to bore you all with the details* but after getting off the phone about 10 different times with 10 different guys from TCI, i got just about a different story from everyone. basically summing it down to replacing the stock coverter to see if it works still. With me working an hour and a half from where my truck is stored, and living an hour away from work just about made me sick thinking about that... AGAIN.