From American Powertrain http://www.americanpowertrain.com/index.htm, So who cares? I mean all TKO's are the same, right? Not as far as I'm concerned. My purchase decision depended alot on support before the sale. After reading the recent thread's about which transmission to buy, and the way some of the vendors conduct themselves (in their posts and through email), it's easy to see who was more concerned with making sure I got what I wanted, and needed. AP was very knowledgeable, and didn't try and sell me stuff I didn't need. In fact, instead of just selling me a crossmember, they directed me to where I could get the same thing for less money.

I'm hoping this helps anyone who is looking to spend alot of money, with their research, and that they contact AP last.

 

Congrats on your purchase!

I agree with you and I am in the same boat.

I am either buying the hurst or the american powertrain kit within days. I was turned off by the "other guy" for the same reason as you. I am comparing the shift linkage designs. Hurst has a ton of information online in regards to theirs but all I can find about AP's is a picture in a magazine write up.

Hurst - http://www.hurst-drivelines.com/inde...=73&Itemid=160

AP (a few pictures down) - http://xtremecarzone.com.au/index.php?showtopic=702

Exploded view of hurst - http://www.hurst-drivelines.com/imag...r_exploded.jpg

I am evaluating them for play, replaceable parts (if required down the road), and shifter handle height. The hurst kit has a low bar with 2 holes, the AP kit has 3 holes and tall bar.

 

Thanks for posting It was good working with you yesterday..

We have changed the shifter design like I sent you in the pm it is not the tall version like depicted in the Vette mag Install.

 

What did you buy, and what did you pay?

 

Are the carbon fiber lined syncros an option through AP for smooth high RPM shifts?

 

 

I'd also be interested in what you paid as well.

 

Hurst, American Powertrain, Summit, Keisler... They all sell the TKO for the same price. As I tried to get across in the first post, it's about customer service. I've talked to (or tried to talk to), all the vendors to see what I'd be getting for my dollar. Some could answer all my questions, some couldn't, some couldn't even call or email me back. That should be a wake up call for those dealers who sell tens of thousands of transmissions. There are companies out there who want to take some time to make me feel comfortable with buying from them.

I don't know, you'd have to call them. I'm not concerned with high RPM shifts. My engine is only making power to 6k, and I rarely shift up there. I do have a 10lb. flywheel, and the TKO 500 has a first gear (3.27), that would be beneficial at the starting line. I also have 3.54 rear gears, which puts my SLR at about 11.6, making 1st gear usable for only 30 or 40 feet. With my Richmond 4 speed 2.88 first gear, I tended to stall at times. So with an overdrive 5th gear, and the helpful people at AP, I'll be driving my C3 alot more this year.

 

Thanks for the questions.

The Tremec TKO trans are the same price anywhere you go on the basic unit.

The kits can vary a little. I believe I was told we were a little cheaper than a couple of the others. If you guys are interested please pm your information and I will prepare a custom quote for you guys.

As far as the shifting the TKO is good until 6 k. We can fix this for a little money if needed and still keep your warranty.

Yes we can add our 'Sure Shift" upgrade which includes carbon fiber lined blocker rings as well as custom work to the 3 shift dogs that are involved in shifting from gear to gear. We even have an "Extreme" upgrade that will up the torque capacity to 950 ft/lbs of constant torque in 4th gear and allow shifting upwards of 8000 rpm's.

 

For reference and to update my post from above.. I ended up choosing American Powertrain too. Customer service really seems to be there and a good product. Can't wait to receive my transmission and do a full install photo procedure and do an in car video with my gopro hd cam.

 

Right On Matt,

It's refreshing to see others sift through all the BS and do their homework before they drop alot of money based on the claims of someone who just wants to get their hand in their pocket. Just because someone sold alot of transmissions, don't mean that's who I want to give my money to. As Keister said, at one time he was the only one who put a kit together. People had to go to him. Not anymore! People want more than "Give me yer money and I'll tell ya what ya need, and get it to ya when I get around to it, and no need to call me back" I, like you checked alot of forums, and never came across anyone with a grievance with AP. Even the one cat with the BBB complaint didn't rag on AP in an open forum. Kiester was given an opportunity and lived up to his reputation and was dropped from my list. If you notice, he never addresses these concerns. Only that his reworked used tranny's should be blindly bought. I ask that he come on a forum and explain why he can't get back to customers who have question, or need quotes, but will have time to come here and try and sell his pieced together wonderful 8,000 RPM shifting used box's.

Anyway Matt, I confident you'll get all the support you need from AP, and I hope you are happy with your purchase. I too am not going to cut my crossmember, and I will be following your post as to how it works out. My body is off the frame, and I won't be up and running till summer. So please keep us updated. Thanks.

 

Thanks again guys!!!

 

@ AP besides the carbon fiber lined blockers, do you also offer the face plated gears, similar to what Liberty offers for their TKOs?

 

A/P dealt with me for a year before I pulled the trigger on a TKO-600. The other guy (as mentioned many times) blew me off both email and phone, "very busy" was the excuse. I guess you don't need my $$$ if you have that much business. A/P has even followed up with me after the purchase to see if there were any issues. I had a bolt problem and a fix was in the mail the next day. I'll sure be glad when I get it in the frame and the body back on to give it a shake down.

***Update***

Just got a PM from 'the other guy' asking for "details" of my car so he "can put together a quote" and "sorry for the delay" DELAY?!?!?!
HA it's been 6 months since my last contact with that company. Note to all the vendors: This forum can be your best friend or your worst nightmare the choice is ENTIRELY up to you... America - it's great to have choices.

 

We offer face plating using Liberty's parts. As far as we are aware of, Liberty is the only one in the industry who offers this service/parts.

 

I bought a TKO 600 from Hurst and it is one of the best upgrades made to the car. I bought and returned a TS45 from Keisler, nothing but head aches from day one from Keisler. Im glad more people are seeing the true side of Keisler. Thanks for Hurst and Americian Powertrain for the great service people are getting from them......

 

Hi toyvet1,

I was wondering what the problem was. Was it the reworked transmission? Or the way you were treated? I could see sending it back if it was junk, but once I had it in my hands, I'd be hard pressed to send it back because of their huge restocking fees. Believe me I've bought my share of junk parts, but I bought them figuring I'd be treated fairly fairly if I had to return them.

Keislers quote says 15% restocking fee on ALL returned parts! Umm.. The quote I got on the RS500 was $2860.95 That would be $429.15 for them to put it back on their shelf!!

 

I talked with keisler at the Muscle Car Show in chicago and was assured I only need to trim the tunnel a inch to make room for the shifter. Once I had the parts in hand after a 10 week wait on back ordered parts I relized the the console support would need to be highly modified ona 1979. The instructions showed a 68-76 console. I dont believe they ever installed one with the later style console. Being it wouldnt fit they werent going to charge a restocking fee. That was just the begining of the song and dance I got from them...Lesson learned about customer service. I ended up buying a TKO600 from Husrt and was a dream to deal with, everthing I was told lived up to the real thing.

 

Why was this question not answered ? How much did you guys pay and what did you all get? Red flag goes up when you ask for price and no answer is given.Im neutral here and would like to up grade to a 5 or 6 speed ,on one vender it says you have to call for any prices,why? why cant you post price for that year and cars make up? Makes me think there might be something under handed going on.

 

Why don't you just call the vendors?