Who here runs one? how do like it? worth the money? Educate me.

 

See my signature. I don't have the complete tranny but I do have some of their parts. I love it! I don't do any wild activities other than pull a 14,000 horse trailer around. But it sure beat the stock one I had.

 

so, would that be the triple lock converter?

 

Yes it is. I had that installed with their valve body and also installed the commandor.

 

What do do think of the commander? Is it a necessary for mild towing once in a while? Or is it more for the hard core? I heard that you have to have alot of mods done to your powertrain before it actually starts helping performance.

 

Now that I have it I wouldn't do without. I don't have a exhaust brake but because the lock-up stays engaged to where ever you program it to, it works to help slow you down. Also, when I'm running some back country roads up and down hills and running around 25mph. I can lock it up and keep the heat down.

 

Thanks for the input 4rgsp. I'm purchasing a new ATS tranny next week. I dont think that i'll be getting the commander at this point though. I think that a deeper pan might be more important for me at this time.

 

The ATS tranny is nice, a huge improvement, but the quantum leap is the ATS with Commander and PacBrake. Indescribably delicious.

 

I like the ATS. However, if I were doing it again, I would just get the triple lock and have a good transmission shop go through the transmission with extra clutches, a shift kit and drilling some holes, etc. in the valve body.

I had some quality control problems with my ATS and put together with the shipping charges, I could heve saved a lot of $$$$

 

This is pretty much what I think I have decided to do. Buy their converter and find a good local shop to run through the tranny and beef it up. Saving shipping is a nice plus!

 

That's what I did. I had my local tranny guy freshen up the inside. Actually he said it looked great inside. I had him install a intermediate upgrade kit from Suncoast. He did replace a pump and put in some new seals.
In the past he bought the V/B kit from ATS and did it himself. I provided the complete V/B to him this way it saved me and him time.
The whole deal is great. Shifts great, and with the commandor, totally adjustable.

 

I opted for the commander and not the deep pan... it's amazing how cool a trans runs when the TC is locked up. Even if you don't get the commander up front, add it to your list so you can pick it up later.

 

My ATS truck is in the shop right now... All because the previous owner (who bought the tranny) didn't do the tests you're supposed to do (as mandated by ATS) when installing the tranny, and didn't notice the restricted fluid cooler flow... and it burned up the tranny. Tranny fluid wasn't running hot, wasn't burned, etc. No signs that I could see.

ATS has every right (for more than one reason) to tell me to pound sand... But they stepped up to the plate, and are honoring the warranty.

Needless to say, the shop my truck is at now has a good rep, and they are doing it RIGHT, and I will not have this problem again. I can't wait and see if the new trans drives even better than the old one...

I've heard good stories like this from all of the big tranny companies, and though being without my truck for this time, and paying some shipping + labor to R&R the trans sucks, it's still less than a stock rebuild!

I'm running a stock tranny pan, and I'd MUCH sooner get the commander over the pan... I don't feel the need for it unless you spend a bunch of time with a heavy foot under 20-25mph. on the road, the trans runs around 120-130*

 

when i upgrade the tranny this summer i wanna get the triple lok i think that thing is crazy...THEN id get the lil lockup switch done and use and abuse it plenty
get some sort of valve body mod that allows me to upshift while locked up and i'm happy......darn converter is 1500$US ouch....PS anyone know id they have an ATS guy up in Ontario ?

 

Call ATS and ask them... that's how I found my guy in Southern California.