I am running a HD4R100 with JW valve body and PoNH triple disk 1900 stall converter. Going on 2.5 years and 55k miles. Installed it in my driveway. It has been a winning combination for me so far. Ford dealers all over if there was a warranty issue.

As far as JW goes, he has been in the business (at the top) for a long time. Maybe he is losing his drive to be at the top after all these years. It does happen in sports and other business realms, where folks achieve what they set out to do and stop setting those lofty goals for themselves. Then they lose interest or find something else to shoot for, and they fall off that wagon shortly after making it to the top. He could also just be burnt out.

 

The product and service provided upon purchase of a major component like this is a small part of a reputation, reliability and peace of mind.

It is much faster and easier to burn a bridge than to build a bridge.

It seems (from a distance) that the explosives, matches and fuel have been placed at the pillars of the bridge, but nothing has been destroyed as of yet.

I think everyone (most of us anyway) knew who was being referenced here and it is a shame on how this has been handled so far. If the truck was being raced or beaten, that is something different. You can feel the frustration and uneasiness in the words from Chet as you read them.

Mike may be on to something with reaching the top of the mountain and then the goal shifts to slowly sliding down the other side.

 

Thanks, Mike. I forgot about that 1900 stall converter. It's on my list when the time comes, too. Hopefully another 50k+

I've been very happy with the JW valve body. Have about 50k on it. Any wear items in it, or just clean and flush thoroughly and transfer to the new one when the time comes?

I really hope Chet's issue gets resolved ASAP. Hate to see a fellow member being hung out to dry. It would also be sad to see a top notch supplier giving it up. Looking for good results, quickly!

 

Just about everything in a valve body is a wear item. Even the aluminum wears over time/miles.

 

Frankly, I would rather hear that my new rebuild will be delayed a few days because the rebuilder has to take care of a warranty item than to hear a customer has to wait weeks for warranty because I ordered a rebuilt unit.

I have not ordered one, but I think everyone understands what I am saying in terms of reputation.

 

Why would a warranty rebuild push back a non warranty rebuild weeks? I get your point though and sense that you may have exaggerated the timeline to make a point. But, a certain rebuilder in Arkansas maintains that you can watch him rebuild yours....while you wait. Part of one day, all it should take.

 

I have a very similar story from about two years ago. I tried like heck to save face,but the experience wouldn't allow it. The thread is on here somewhere.

 

Why so much secrecy? The names have been mentioned here, the terms of the work have been mentioned, with a simple Google search and a few moments you can find out who is being talked about.

Neither of these shops are sponsors, and even if they were there are perceived facts being discussed and not bad mouthing or **** talking.

 

I agree Sous. I just did out of respect for Chet. Here's the deal though. One story like this, especially for the amount of money involved, is bad enough. This is the third story though, including my own, and it NEEDS to be out there. He "eventually" did right, but after so much grumbling and trying to make me feel like it was my problem and feeling no longer welcome in his shop after three visits, I got over it. His transmissions are not THAT good. In fact, no one's product is that good. I had to drive 7 hours, limping back to where i came from in the middle of a road trip to get mine "fixed".

Anyways Chet, hope he takes care of it at ZERO cost, because that is what he SHOULD do.

 

A lifetime warranty is a lifetime warranty. Unless there are exceptions in writing delivered at the time of the service/product delivery.

 

Pretty sure JW's transmissions are 5 year for the 4R100 towmaster.

John Wood Automotive - Products

 

yep! Brian at BTS -Brians Truck Shop- is the go-to. I have not heard of any issues w his builds that went like this. $5k buys his tran & warranty.

 

 

My take and sob story on this exact scenario.

My trans (02' 190K mile stock 4r100) blew the pump seal, not towing or under any load.
Using Mikes recipe I called every Ford dealer around me including the dealer he referred to and another in the area. All shops quoted me over $5000 for the trans + core charge. Some I called twice trying to get different parts counter people and even the one Mike suggested quoted me $7600 + core on the second phone call . Some dealers even told me it did not include the converter.... I did not call White Bear lake until months later, I did then get a quote for the trans with converter @ $36xx + free shipping to a local dealer.
I bailed out of the Ford HD option because it doesn't really matter how good it is if I can't buy it reasonably.

I had it towed to a long time transmission shop I have used for 6+ transmissions in other vehicles and at least 4 other friends have had theirs done there, all extremely happy with price, time and performance of each transmission.
They built the trans with their brand of HD Torque Converter and HD build for $2900 installed. 12 month 15,000 mile warranty.

First light load I pulled was my car hauler and race car (minus engine) and it slipped through the converter. I had them replace the converter, disassemble and inspect the trans and rebuild again with the PoNH 2648PSRV converter, this is a lower grade of converter than Mike used with out the Allison hub but is a lower stall 1900 ish and billet cover etc.

The truck ran awesome with it and the lower stall converter made a tremendous difference towing in every condition.

First RV trip pulling my +10,000 TT with oil blew from the bell housing area again 186 miles from home. This is a non-roadside fix for me so truck and trailer were towed back to my house so that the warranty could be handled at the builders shop. Tow bill per AAA for that double tow was $1600.

The failure oddly enough was the billet cover on the PNH converter. The studs (several) cracked through the bottom of the thread bores and centrifugal force slung the oil out. I doubted this claim and drove over to the shop to see first hand, it was exactly as they said. Pump seal bushing etc. was intact and fine. They reassembled the trans again (disassembled to verify no lack of lube problems) with another PoNH converter.

Again things are looking up and we take off for Hot Springs, AR. Trip went great GearHead tow tunes were awesome trans did flawless until about 30 miles from home on the return trip. At the base of a slight grade it blew oil from the bell housing again with the trans temps under 200* in 100* ambient temps. Towed back to the trans shop and found the pump seal pushed out this time.

What I learned from this whole ordeal which has caused me allot of heartache, missed work, trips, family time and money is that...
1. The warranty is not worth the paper it is written on if the shop cannot fix it anywhere but their shop.
2. The warranty is not any sort or guarantee you won't have problems or it will be easy to fix if you do.

I had the transmission shop purchase a Ford Reman (non HD long story). and install it at there shop to resolve the issue.
There is a couple things unique about this story, the transmission shop could be idiots but my experience with them prior did not lead me to believe that or cause me to have any concern. They could have gotten bad parts, which they did. The first converter that they used was a converter that they use in all their HD builds, and they had no concern with using it. The PoNH converter I demanded after the first failure also failed, PoNH did not have allot to say about the failure. I called and talked to there tech guy separate of the transmission shop. They speculated the studs were left loose but I didn't any signs of that on the stud and don't see how that would crack the bottom of the hole in the cover if it had been.

The last pump seal I have no clue, this shop uses their recipe of front seal and pump bushing and I believe they are using what is proven to them to work. It didn't.

It could have been a number of things wrong with the trans, who knows. The shop was so disgusted with it they threw it Billet converter and all in the Ford Reman core box and sent it back...

A built trans sounds awesome and I am still scared to death of the one I got, but if it takes a dump the odds of there being a Ford dealer on the hook for it around that location is high and even if I have to pay some amount I believe it will be less than the Big Boys when it's all said and done.

This whole experience has soured me so bad that I will be most likely selling it and buying a new truck in the next year because there

 

Annnnnnnnnnnd this is a huge reason I went back to having a manual...ZF5 in my last OBS and ZF6 in my current. I hate....HATE Ford automatics with a huge disdain. I had very similar run around/problems like this, always far from home, already costing me money. The ZF needed a clutch, which I did myself, and no issues in two years with either one.