This may get a little long winded, but I feel that it is needed for the way Rick has treated me, so PLEASE bear with me.

It started a month or month 1/2 ago when I purchased a used transmission from a CorvetteForum sponsor. The transmission was advertised to have only 1,500 miles on it with a good bit of upgraded parts, such as bronze fork pads, steel 3-4 shift fork, GForce mainshaft, etc...The transmission was described to me as being in perfect condition with no issues whatsoever.

Fast-forward a couple weeks when I am done with my school finals and I finally get time to install it. Upon initial start-up, I hear a loud and distinct whining noise. At that moment, I didn't know if it was coming from the transmission or the new clutch I installed. After driving a few miles, I was able to pinpoint the conditions in which the sound would appear (every gear EXCEPT 4th, not when the clutch was pressed in, and increases with RPM). At that time, I send messages out to a couple guys who I know would know the answer. Rick Kim of RKT56 was the first I reached out to. He was quite confident that it was the input shaft / cluster gear that was causing the noise and gave me a rough estimate to fix it, granted nothing else was wrong.

Then, I contact the CorvetteForum sponsor I bought it from and at first, they were willing to do nothing. Their stance was that they were just helping a current customer sell his transmission and I would have to deal with him. I contact him and he said it was fine when he removed it and he didn't have money to fix it. After a 4-5 day battle with this sponsor, I finally agreed for them to give me $500 to go towards the fix. At this point I was settling just to get the issue over with. They did, however, offer for me to send it back to them and let their guy fix it and he guaranteed it would be fixed for no more than $400. Boy, am I glad I didn't send it back.....For that $400, I'd still have a broke-a$$ transmission and the liability would no longer be on that shop/sponsor.

So I send it to Rick Kim and he opens it up to find out a bunch of stuff is wrong with this tranny. Input shaft / cluster gear, 3rd gear, 3-4 synchro, magnets missing, carbon blockers worn out, bronze fork pads deformed, a couple hubs damaged and excessive input shaft play are all things that were messed up. Basically the transmission needed a crap load of work that obviously didn't coincide with the was it was described. Basically, the previous owner beat the **** out of it, ran it low on fluid at some point in its lifetime, then just unloaded it. At least that is what I take from it. This is the only negative experience I have had in all my time on this forum, and boy did I feel like I was getting reamed.

I say all that to say this...
Rick Kim is the best vendor I have ever done business with. He is an upstanding guy who is proud of his work and he will not put his name on anything that isn't done right. He has communicated with me throughout the entire build process giving me daily updates and has been empathetic of my situation. The way he has treated me, as a customer, has earned him my drivetrain business for as long as he is doing this type of work. I will not be ashamed to recommend him to anyone who is in need of great workmanship and an overall great builder/vendor on this forum.

No, he did not ask me to write this thread nor is he expecting it. I am doing this because I feel you guys (and girls) on CorvetteForum deserve to know who does and who doesn't do outstanding work. I've been a member of CorvetteForum a good while now and from this whole transmission saga, I feel I've been burned by a member/shop and I've had the pleasure of working with Rick. Bittersweet, if you will. ANYONE who is looking for drivetrain work, look no further.

 

Definitely a stand-up guy. And it is cheaper to get it done right the first time.
And don't forget, just about every used LSx 6 speed transmission needs a rebuild. Your choice whether you install it first to discover this.

 

Yea I have to admit Rick's the shiznit lol.Ill be getting him to build up my Diff.

 

Rick fixed my trans for me. I purchased it from a corvette forum member and was not set up for a C5, but a C6. Rick can to the rescue and changed the trans around for me.

Bob K.

 

Rick did the tranny and diff on my car this past month. Also put the RPM poly bushings in the torque tube and installed an RPS Twin Lite. I almost forgot, he replaced the original 13 year old starter.

The car is extremely smooth and shifts better than it ever has. The rear is now full of C6 Z06 good stuff.

Rick is definitely a great resource for members here and I consider him a good friend. He even let the Cruiser scare him a little.

 

Glad there was a happy ending. Love your car, Chris, and good luck with your new tranny.

 

Cliff notes?

 

He is great i wont hesitate a bit contacting him for any drivetrain work, so far i have not spend any money and he already helped so much, much appreciated rick, and glad you now a forum vendor support rkt56.com.

 

Hey Chris, Thanks for the kind words. I totally feel for you regarding what happened. The trans is being shipped out today.

Thanks for the support guys!!!!!!

 

I will add to this thread.. Last year I lost 3rd gear in my m12. Ended being a split blocker ring along with a worn 3/4 slider set.. All that was replaced along with his performance build package. Ocean city cruise weekend was less than a week away when I dropped the trans off to him.. I had told him I planned on going if I could get the trans back in the car in time. Rick went over and above and got the trans done in only a few days, picked it up thurs, installed after work on friday, was at ocean city that same nite.. Really some of the best customer service I have ever received!! Rkt56 FTW!!

 

Thanks Phil, next to building quality drivetrains, customer service is the most important part of my company!

 

51% customer service and 49% product ...., seriously this is the trend now though.

 

I am glad that it's working out well for you in the end!

 

Rick's a great guy and I'm lucky to know him personally.

Great Skills, Work Ethics and just a great guy.

Hey Chris, glad you got it all sorted out. Looks like you'll be doing atranny install this weekend.

 

Ah Mr. Rick Kim, Nothing but a stand-up guy that does honest good work! Built me one beast of a drive-train that just soaks up the abuse of drag radials and nearly 600HP. Keep up the great work!

 

Yeah, Rick did a great job building the rear and tranny
for me. Great product and customer service that is second
to none.
Wayne

 

Thanks for the kind words guys! The beers will be on me!

 

I won't have the transmission this weekend, but probably next weekend.

 

Free beer??

 

You can make mine RootBeer and a Cuban!

I'll bring the Cubans.