HTS and SUNCOAST are both top notch!! W/ awesome customer service. I heard about nightmares w/ some of the large tranny companies, pisspoor customer service will kill you when your down and out. Dusty is a great guy, willing to help almost anyone, and the guys at Suncoast love to help too.

 

Do it right the first time around. Get a full tranny now. It will only cost you money in the long run if your are just trying to buy some extra time. All the companies listed are good. Call each one of them. tell them what you are going to do with truck and see what they recommend. Then make your choice off of that....My vote is for Goerend

 

I also agree that Dusty is a great guy and builds one wicked tranny. I don't think you'd go wrong with him or Dave.

 

My experience with Dave...if he said it, you can take it to the bank. Not only does he know his stuff, he won't sell you anything you don't need.

And I've experienced his warranty first hand.....stripped an input shaft and he sent me a shaft/hub, intermediate shaft (just in case), update kit and a brand new TC, all on his dime. Even sent me his personal Snap-On slide hammers to pull the front pump......

Can't beat him.

 

Ya, I think Im gonna call Dave today and go for it!

 

Dave Goerend builds his own valve bodys. He used to use Dunrite but after a while Dunrite could not keep up with his demand along with their own so the owner of Dunrite told Dave "Why not just do these yourself?" So he now does and has for a few years. Dave also has done much trial and error with shift firmness,etc., on his own so I feel it is safe to say that Goerend valve body's are simply that, a Goerend valve body. I was up at his shop and he gave me a very in depth schooling on how each item inside the trans works and different measures they use to make things inside better. I personally saw Dave himself building valve bodys while speaking to numerous customers using a cordless headset on the phone. So if you ever do call there and speak to Dave odds are his hands will be wet with tranny fluid. To those of you who think you know you simply do not. I have seen it first hand. Along with another friend of mine who also got a trans at that time. And again with even another friend who Dave even let "build" his own trans while he was there with some help from Dave and other members of the shop. The person I speak of is a very well known racing engine builder that must have got Daves confidence quiclky. He also wanted to save a few pennys and Dave let him do it-along with a full warranty I might add. Dave is a real great guy who will help and/or teach however he can.

 

This is no exaggeration either. When I was there Dave was working non-stop (moving trannys around, assembling VB's and trannys, etc.) while talking on his hands-free phone the whole time. He's as hands-on as any business owner could possibly be, and you can tell that his staff is happy and respects him for it too.

I was pretty sure he built his own VB's because he pulled one out and showed me in detail exactly what he was doing to help prevent the 2-3 cutloose/flare on mine. It was very obvious that Dave is intimately familiar with every single piece, part, and area inside that trans.

 

Yes, Dave is the best!!!

 

I got mine in June of 06. And he did them then, I saw him do mine with his own 2 hands right in front of me. But I know Dunrite is good too as they are the origional supplier to Goerend like a few have said. But he made mine shift a little different than an "off the shelf" unit. Same with my buddies 01. He wanted his to shift into drive early because he pulled trailers around town all day and wanted it to be in drive at around 30 mph. So he made a custom shift point for him. Mine stays locked when downshifting from 4 to 3 so I could pull up hills without reving insane rpm's until the converter locks in drive. Maybe Dunrite can do this custom work too, I do not know. But at Goerend each one is dynoed and is perfect before it is shipped. I even saw mine dynoed- with my own eyes.

 

me too .. i have no experience with the the other vendors you guys are talking about .. i went with a dtt because they are local to me .. i have had it in my truck about a year now .. and i still grin from ear to ear when i mash the pedal ... cause ooooh man it shifts sweet now !!! couldn't be happier ... hold the power nice and i can't even describe how sweet the shifts are .. man oh man !!! did i say i liked the way it shifted now ... ehahehah

 

If you are unable to decide what you want or need from the 100's of hours of reading material on the subject then you shouldn't be making decisions. All the hand holding you want is out there, be pro-active and use the 'magic' search button.

 

Here is a direct quote from the Goerend website... (Just info for y'all)
"Our custom valve bodies, built in house,"

 

BossHogg, If the TC is worn so are most of the clutches and steels so getter all done. Anyone who has been there and seen a valve body being modified...will know that someone supplies the plates, ***** and springs, seals etc. Dunrite is a supplier of these parts to alot of great diesel tranny builders. The care with the build and the hands on tweaking of the valve body does make all the difference. I have the same valve body parts in two trucks and they are completely different in their operation.
I have an ATS Triple Lok TC in my Dually that has been amazing holding more power than most and towing more than most with lots of power...I have an ATS fivestar in my regular cab that is being pulled at this moment...Get a laminated flexplate....regardless of what anyone tells you.

The important this is to deal with someone local who will be there for you....If I was anywhere near Va I'd be getting a DTT from Tim, If I lived within 1000 miles of Dave I'd be getting a Goerend, If I lived near Dusty I'd be getting a HTS...Customer Service gets harder the farther you are away from your builder.

I started at one tranny builder 1000 miles away and decided to get my local guy to take over and he loves working on my trannies....I pull them every 50k miles (2 years at the current rate) and replace all the clutches, steel, seals, and etc. and inspect everything for wear....It costs about $1000 including taxes and fluid but I know I'll never be on the side of the road again. I've broken out the stock input shaft, the stock intermediate shaft, the stock TC and worn out one sun gear and lots of frictions. Once you get it done right it gives you the confidence to use your truck to the max and then some.ks