May/June 2009

COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS ELECTRONICS REPROGRAMMING
TM
MAY/JUNE 2009
A New Kid on the Block:
2ML70 (RPO M99) 2-Mode
Making an Already Heavy Duty
Allison LCT 1000... Really Heavy Duty!
Whatever It Takes:
Raising The Bar in the
Transmission Industry.
CVR-5609c.indd 2 5/5/09 9:18:20 AM
F4A51 Outside
Valve Body
F4A51 Lower
Valve Body
2B.
2B.
4.
3.
2A.
2A.
Automatic Drive P.O. Box 440 Bellows Falls, VT 05101-0440 USA 800-843-2600 802-463-9722
F: 802-463-4059 www.sonnax.com info@sonnax.com
2009 Sonnax Industries, Inc.
PROBLEM SOLUTION Tool Required Part Number
Worn accumulator bores
Soft/harsh shifts 1. Accumulator Piston with Dual Seals 41954-02K
Delayed/shudder engagements
Shift/flare or shuttle shifts
No Orifice 41954-06K
Cycling RPM during shift 2. Pressure Control Valve & Sleeve Kits
Delayed engagements
With Orifice 41954-07K
Low/high line pressure
Soft/harsh shifts 3. Oversized Pressure Regulator Valve F-41954-TL & VB-FIX FWD Only 41954-01K
Low converter pressure
Converter apply/release issues
Excess slip RPM 4. TCC Control Valve & Sleeve Kit 41954-03K
Cycling TCC RPM
Sonnax is Geared-up for Mitsubishi Family*
*
These Solutions may be used in Mitsubishi
F4A41/42/51, R4/V4A51, R5/V5A51, F5A51,
A5HF1 & A5GF1; 1996 - Up.
Multiple valve body styles & config-
urations exist. More information is
available at www.sonnax.com.
1.
V5A51
Valve Body
4.
2A
2B
2B
2A
SonnaxIFC.indd 2 4/30/09 10:40:45 AM
SPECIAL INTEREST & TECHNICAL
4 A New Kid on the Block: 2ML70 (RPO M99) 2-Mode, Part 2
by Steve Garrett
10 Mercedes 722.9 Preliminary Information,
Part 2 by Mike Souza
14 Peanut Butter and Jelly Again! by Thom Tschetter
16 Whatever It Takes:Raising The Bar in the
Transmission Industry
20 PLAYING WITH FIRE: Old and New Fixes for Fords Family
of HD Transmissions by Jon Rodriguez
28 Move On, Operations Manual!
by Paul Mathewson
32 Making an Already Heavy Duty Allison LCT 1000
Really Heavy Duty! by David Skora
36 Teaching an Old Dog New TricksMuscling Up the 2004R
by Christoforos Kokkonis
48 WHAT'S WORKING: More Than Half Full by Dennis Madden
50 Conduct a Site Safety Inspection by Judy Kerry
53 ATRA's Powertrain Expo 2009
59 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS: ATRA Websites: Bringing in
Better Business and Bigger Bucks by Kelly Hilmer
DEPARTMENTS
2 FROM THE CEO: Sometimes
You Just Need a Little Nudge
by Dennis Madden
62 ATRA News
65 Powertrain Industry News
69 Shoppers and Classified
76 List of Advertisers
G
EARS
The views expressed in this publication should not necessarily be interpreted as
the official policy of the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association (ATRA).
Publication of product information or any advertising does not imply recommenda-
tion by ATRA.
GEARS, a publication of ATRA, 2400 Latigo Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93030,
is published for the betterment of the transmission industry and is distributed
nine times per year. No part of this issue may be reproduced without prior written
permission of the publisher. GEARS is distributed to members of the transmis-
sion industry in the United States, Canada, ATRA Members in Mexico & Europe,
and related automotive industry firms and individually. Send changes of address
to GEARS in care of ATRA. Subscriptions are available by contacting GEARS
in care of ATRA.
Advertisers and advertising agencies assume full liability for all content of
advertisements printed and also assume full responsibility for any claims arising
therefrom against the publisher. The publisher reserves the unqualified right to
reject any advertising copy as it deems appropriate, with or without cause.
GEARS is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard
to the subject matter covered. It is distributed with the understanding the publisher
is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional service. If legal
advice or other expert assistance, is required, the services of a competent profes-
sional person should be sought from a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted
by a Committee of the American Bar Association and Committee of Publishers.
GEARS also welcomes articles submitted by members of the industry.
GEARS considers all articles for publication that contribute positively to the
welfare of the transmission industry, and reserves the right to edit all articles it
publishes. If you would like to submit an article to GEARS, include background
information about the author and a telephone number where he/she may be reached.
If you want submissions returned, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Chief Executive Officer Dennis Madden
Managing Editor Rodger Bland
Technical Director Lance Wiggins
Advertising Frank Pasley
Senior Designer Jeanette Troub
Contributing Editors Steve Bodofsky
Christoforos Kokkonis Paul Mathewson
Thom Tschetter

ATRA Technical Staff Bill Brayton
Mike Brown Steve Garrett
Pete Huscher Jon Rodriguez
Randall Schroeder Dave Skora
Mike Souza
Director of Membership & IT Svc Kelly Hilmer
Seminars & Convention Manager Vanessa Velasquez
Bookstore Manager Shaun Velasquez
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40031403
Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:
Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5
Email: gears@atra.com
Issue #139 Printed in U.S.A. Copyright ATRA 2009
Editorial and Business Offices
2400 Latigo Avenue, Oxnard CA 93030
Phone (805) 604-2000
Fax (805) 604-2006
www.gearsmagazine.com
www.atra.com
www.atraonline.com
MAY/JUNE 2009
PHONE (805) 604-2000 FAX (805) 604-2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Old and New Fixes for Fords
Family of HD Transmissions
Page 20
COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS ELECTRONICS REPROGRAMMING
A-1 Transmission Deals
With A Code P2123
Page 4
Mercedes 722.9 Preliminary
Information,
Page 10
G
EARS
On The Cover: Whatever It Takes:
Raising The Bar in the Transmission Industry.
(Paid Advertisement)
Page 16
TOC 5609.indd 2 5/5/09 9:36:02 AM
2 GEARS May/June 2009
FROM THE CEO
by Dennis Madden
Sometimes
You Just Need
a Little Nudge
M
ost of you understand the
importance of training. You
go to the weekend semi-
nars, or maybe take a trip to Expo each
year. But regardless of the specifics,
you try to keep up with the technologi-
cal changes to our industry and make
sure you know how to work on the new
transmissions coming down the pike.
A lot of shop owners even take in
a management seminar here or there to
learn new ideas to help their businesses.
Some even look a bit deeper, taking in
a workshop or extensive training that
covers a range of business principles,
over a period of weeks or even months.
The point is, training is important, and
we all know it.
But sometimes implementing that
training or making changes to your
business is an entirely different story.
How often do you learn a new idea that
looks terrific on paper, but then find
it hard to work it into your business
process? Or you discover a new system
or process and then, a year later, realize
youve never managed to get around to
implementing it?
Its not that youre procrastinating
(at least, not intentionally); its that you
have a business to run, and sometimes
the day-to-day details and emergencies
get in the way of making those creative
changes that look so good in the class-
room.
Those daily details are among
the most common reasons managers
and business owners have difficulty
implementing new procedures, and put-
ting what they learned into action.
Remember, one of the five recurring
traits we found in all successful business
owners from our Whats Working study
was that they are people of ACTION.
But how do you spring into action
when youre mired in minutia? What
can you do to give yourself that critical
nudge in the right direction? Maybe
its time for you to bring in a business
coach.
A few months ago I did just that.
It was difficult at first because, hey I
get things done. I can work on multiple
projects at the same time. Ive earned a
black belt in Six Sigma and know how
to maximize my time. Why would I
need a business coach?
But what I didnt realize was I was
also getting mired in work that others
should be doing, and that those tasks
were eating into my strategic planning
time: some of the most important activ-
ities a manger should be working on.
Doing too much and wearing too many
hats is easy to spot when you look at
someone else, but its not always so
easy to see in yourself.
With so few people buying new
cars these days, the opportunities to
improve your business are here today
right now. If youve made plans to
develop a new fleet account program,
sell new wholesale accounts, work on a
community-based marketing program,
hold a car care clinic, or any number of
other, worthwhile activities to improve
your business, but end up leaving those
ideas on the drawing board for months
on end, you need to consider a manage-
ment coach.
It isnt so much that these coaches
know more about your business than
you do; chances are they wont. But
theyll be more likely to notice when
you start reaching for that fourth hat,
and say Hey, you shouldnt be doing
that. Leave that for someone else.
Theyre the ones who can give you
that nudge you need to work on whats
important for your business and your
bottom line.
With just a little nudge, youll find
ways to get that car care clinic set up,
visit your wholesale accounts, and do
all the things youve been thinking
about for months (if not years).
So where do you find a man-
agement consultant or coach? A good
place to start is the ATRA web site,
at www.atra.com/consultants. There
youll find consultants that specialize
in the transmission businesses. You can
also go to the Institute of Management
Consultants web site at www.imcusa.
org and learn more about how to go
about selecting a consultant.
You may not even know exactly
what you need. Thats okay; a good
consultant will be able to assess your
business, and by understanding where
you want to go, be able to help you
implement a plan to get you there.
Training is important for any busi-
ness. Planning even more so. But some-
times the most important thing to help
your business move forward is just
getting a little nudge.
Training is important
for any business.
Planning even more so.
2FmCeo409.indd 2 4/29/09 9:26:34 AM
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A New Kid on the Block: 2ML70 (RPO M99) 2-Mode, Part 2
W
e left off last time with
an overview of the 2ML70
transmission. In this issue,
well explore the inner workings of this
unit to see what makes it tick.
Output Speed Sensor (OSS)
The output speed sensor is a Hall
Effect-type sensor (figure 1). Internally,
the sensor consists of two Hall Effect
circuits, allowing it to sense both speed
and direction. The two sensor elements
in the OSS assembly are spaced about
a half-tooth apart.
When the vehicle moves forward,
sensor A detects the synch tooth before
sensor B. When the vehicle moves in
reverse, sensor B detects the synch
tooth before sensor A. The sensor is
connected to the TEHCM (control
solenoid with body and TCM) via the
internal wiring harness.
The sensor receives an 8.39.3V
bias voltage signal from the TEHCM.
by Steve Garrett
A New Kid on the Block:
2ML70 (RPO M99)
2-Mode, Part 2
Figure 1
4-garrettp2.indd 4 4/29/09 1:24:13 PM
GEARS May/June 2009 5
As the output shaft rotates, the sensor
creates a square wave signal. It has
a target valve of 8.8V but has an
acceptable range of 8.3-9.3V. The
electronics in the sensor combine the
two signals and output a signal with
a different pulse width. The TCM
interprets this signal to measure speed
and direction.
Internal Mode Switch
(IMS)
The IMS (Internal Mode Switch,
figure 2) operates similar to other
IMS applications. The IMS tells the
TEHCM and the Hybrid Powertrain
Control Module (HPCM) which gear
range youve selected, and acts as a
P/N safety switch.
The TECHM sends an 8.39.3V
bias voltage to the IMS on circuits A,
B, C and P. The switch is mounted
internally on the shift linkage. As the
linkage rotates, the contacts of the
switch open or close. This creates either
a high or low signal on the circuit.
Unlike other applications, the
2ML70 IMS has five additional outputs:
R1, R2, D1, D2 and S. These outputs
signal the Hybrid Powertrain Control
Module (HPCM) regarding IMS direc-
tion of movement. This information
is used for P/N starting and motor
control. (Chart 1)
IMS CIRCUITS/
PARAMETER
Selector Position
Park Reverse Neutral Drive Manual
Direction Switch Operating Conditions:
Ignition on, range selector in appropriate gear
Direction IMS D1 HIGH HIGH LOW LOW LOW
Direction IMS D2 LOW LOW HIGH HIGH HIGH
Direction IMS R1 HIGH LOW LOW HIGH HIGH
Direction IMS R2 LOW HIGH HIGH LOW LOW
Direction IMS Start LOW HIGH LOW HIGH HIGH
Range Switch Operating Conditions:
Ignition On, range selector in appropriate gear.
IMS A LOW LOW HIGH HIGH HIGH
IMS B HIGH LOW LOW LOW HIGH
IMS C HIGH HIGH HIGH LOW LOW
IMS P LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
Always HIGH status: Open/short to voltage
CHART 1
Figure 2
The IMS tells the
TEHCM and the
Hybrid Powertrain
Control Module
(HPCM) which
gear range youve
selected, and acts
as a P/N safety
switch.
4-garrettp2.indd 5 5/1/09 3:34:35 PM
Control Solenoid with Body
and TCM (TEHCM)
The TEHCM is built by Bosch and
operates like the 6L80/90/50 applica-
tions. The TECHM contains six vari-
able bleed solenoids (only five are
used):
Two On/Off solenoids
Four pressure switches
One Transmission Fluid
Temperature (TFT) sensor
Two internal TCM temperature
sensors
and a TCM, all housed in a
single, non-serviceable assembly.
The TEHCM bolts to the valve
body. You must remove the bottom pan
to service it. The TEHCM controls the
hydraulic shifts, shift points, and shift
feel for the transmission. As with other
applications, the TEHCM is program-
mable (figure 3, page 8).
Shift Solenoid Sequence
See Chart 2, above.
Fluid Pressure Switches
See Chart 3, above.
Modes of Operation
Engine Starting Two-mode
applications dont use a conventional
starter. Instead, the system relies on the
transmission motor/generator to crank
the engine. The 300-volt, 3-phase AC
GEAR
Park Reverse Neutral D
P EVT R N EVT Low 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
EVT
High
Shift Solenoid 1 OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON ON OFF
Shift Solenoid 2 OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON
Line PC Solenoid 1 NH ON ON/OFF* ON ON/OFF* ON ON ON ON ON
PC Solenoid 2 Trim NH OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON ON
PC Solenoid 3 Trim NH OFF ON OFF ON ON ON OFF ON OFF
PC Solenoid 4 Trim NL OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON OFF OFF
PC Solenoid 5 NL OFF ON/OFF* OFF ON/OFF* OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF
13 Clutch A A
4th Clutch A
Hybrid Low 12 Clutch A A A A
Hybrid Direct 23-4 Clutch A A A A
ON = The solenoid valve is energized hydraulically.
OFF = The solenoid valve is de-energized hydraulically.
NL = Normally Low; when the solenoid is OFF, the solenoid has no output pressure.
NH = Normally High; when the solenoid is OFF, solenoid output pressure is present.
A = Applied
*When the engine is running, the line pressure control solenoid is ON (pressurized) and the pressure control
solenoid 5 is OFF (no pressure). When the engine is off (auto stop), the line pressure control solenoid is OFF
(no pressure) and the pressure control solenoid 5 is ON (pressurized).
GEAR TFP SW 1 *TFP SW 3 TFP SW 4 TFP SW 5
M1 [48 km/h (30 mph)] Low Low Low High
M2 [48 km/h (30 mph)] Low Low Low High
M3 [48 km/h (30 mph)] Low Low Low Low
M4 [48 km/h (30 mph)] High High High High
Power OFF Low Low Low Low
High = 12V (Switch Open or Pressurized)
Low = 0 volts (Switch Closed or No Pressure)
Note: All TFP switches are normally closed (NC)
*TFP switch 2 isnt used
CHART 2
CHART 3
4-garrettp2.indd 6 4/29/09 1:24:53 PM
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prec-plcd.indd 7 3/13/09 1:52:09 PM
motors can rotate the engine to crank-
ing speeds that exceed 800 RPM in less
than a few hundred milliseconds.
Auto Stop/Auto Start After
the engines running, the Hybrid
Powertrain Control Module (HPCM)
may operate the engine in Auto Stop/
Auto Start mode. The Auto Stop feature
is designed to reduce emissions output
and engine wear, and improve fuel
economy in city driving conditions.
Engine Off and Auto Stop modes
of operation will be displayed on the
tachometer. When the tachometer nee-
dle indicates OFF, Auto Stop wont
function. If the tachometer indicates
AUTOSTOP, the engine may restart
whenever the vehicle meets the proper
parameters.
Auto Stop may activate when these
conditions are present:
Engine running
Hood closed
ECM isnt requesting diagnostic
information
Gear selector isnt in Reverse or
Manual position
Hybrid battery state of charge
exceeds 20%
Hybrid battery voltage, tempera-
ture and power within limits
Engine warm
Drive motor/generators within
temperature limits
Power Inverter Module (PIM) tem-
perature within limits
No Hybrid system faults present
The Hybrid Powertrain Control
Module (HPCM) has determined
that engine power isnt required
The 2-mode system doesnt require
engine operation to propel the vehicle
down the road. The Hybrid Powertrain
Control Module (HPCM) may shut the
engine off (AUTO STOP) when it deter-
mines engine power isnt required. If
the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module
(HPCM) determines that additional
power is needed, the Auto Start will
occur and drive motor 1 will be used to
start the engine. This may occur even
when the vehicle is in motion if its
operating in electric mode.
Auto start may activate without
notice if any of these conditions occur:
Hood opened
ECM requests the engine to run
Gear selector in Reverse or Manual
position
Hybrid battery charge low
Hybrid battery voltage, tempera-
ture or power limits exceeded
Engine coolant temperature (ECT)
too low
Drive motor/generator temperature
limits exceeded
Power Inverter Module (PIM) tem-
perature limits exceeded
The Hybrid Powertrain Control
Module (HPCM) determined
engine power is required
A Hybrid system fault present
EVT Mode
Three electronic drive modes are
available: Reverse, Low and High.
High Mode 2 When you select
High mode, the following occurs:
PCS trim solenoid 3 is commanded
off
Shift solenoid 1 is commanded off
#3 pressure switch opens
2-3-4 clutch is applied
Front motor 1 drives the vehicle
Low Mode 1; Engine Off When
you select Low mode, the following
occurs:
PCS trim solenoid 5 is commanded
on
Line pressure PCS is commanded
off
Auxiliary pump is turned on
1-2 clutch applies
Rear motor 2 drives the vehicle
Low Mode 1; Engine On When
you select Low mode, the following
occurs:
PCS 3 is commanded on
PCS 5 is commanded off
1-2 clutch applies
Front motor 1 starts the engine
Rear motor 2 drives the vehicle if
speeds are less than 2532 mph
Reverse Mode When you select
Reverse, the following occurs:
PCS 3 is commanded on
1-2 clutch applies
Rear motor 2 operates to drive the
vehicle in reverse
Regenerative Braking/
Blended Braking
When the vehicle is decelerating
or coasting, the Hybrid Powertrain
Control Module (HPCM) can switch
the system into regeneration mode. In
this mode the motors act as generators
to charge the Hybrid battery. As the
motors switch to generator mode, they
exert force on the drive train, which
helps slow the vehicle.
Blended braking is also available
with the 2-mode system. When you
apply the brakes, drive motor 2 switch-
es to generator mode, which slows the
vehicle.
Communication between the
Hybrid Powertrain Control Module
(HPCM) and Electronic Brake Control
Module (EBCM) allows the 2 mode
system to interface transparently with
the vehicles braking system. This fea-
ture extends brake life in city driving.
So until next time, remember:
Success is built on the ability to do bet-
ter than good enough.
Figure 3
The TEHCM bolts to the
valve body. You must
remove the bottom pan
to service it. The TEHCM
controls the hydraulic shifts,
shift points, and shift feel for
the transmission. As with other
applications, the TEHCM is
programmable.
4-garrettp2.indd Sec1:8 4/29/09 1:25:25 PM
raybestos509.indd 9 4/29/09 1:39:10 PM
Mercedes 722.9
Preliminary
Information, Part 2
by Mike Souza
Figure 1
W
e left off in the last article
verifying the type of fluid
required for the Mercedes
722.9. We also mentioned that it had a
different shift strategy, powerflow, and
some unusual or unique features associ-
ated with it. Before we go into those,
lets begin with the procedures for fluid
exchange or transmission service for
this unit.
The oil pan youre accustomed
to on earlier Mercedes transmissions
has been redesigned. Theres no lon-
ger a filler tube on the transmission
case. Now its filled and the fluid level
checked through an overflow tube (fig-
ure 1).
This new design pan has also been
updated. The overflow tube, which clips
onto the pan, and overall pan depth
have been increased. The updated pan
is now 3mm deeper and the overflow
tube is 13.5mm longer than the previ-
ous design (figure 2); you can identify
the new pan by its white color. This
updated pan now holds 0.2 liters more
fluid than the older pan. If you remove
the earlier design pan for repairs, you
should update to the later design, part
#220-270-09-12.
Now lets look at one of the unusu-
al shift features built into the shift
strategy of this 7-speed automatic trans-
mission. This transmission has a clutch- Figure 2
10souza.indd 10 4/29/09 1:43:46 PM
on-clutch, sequential shift strategy, similar to the 722.6. The
722.9 can also skip gears on downshift, provided one clutch
member is released and one is applied, as shown in the chart
in figure 3.
Something else thats new for Mercedes is the cooler lines
no longer have threads or banjo-type fittings. The cooler lines
are sealed with rubber O-rings on push-in type fittings, secured
with a retaining bolt (figure 4).
The next component change was the transmission hous-
ing (case) and converter housing (bellhousing) material. The
converter housing is die-cast aluminum, and the transmission
housing is die-cast magnesium. This change reduced weight
compared to aluminum by 2.5 kg (5.5 lb). This combination
requires aluminum bolts, because steel bolts have a different
expansion rate, and because of corrosion. Always replace the
aluminum bolts whenever youve removed them from the unit.
The intermediate panel or gasket was made from an alu-
minum sheet with an elastomer coating. This gasket extends
beyond the sealing surfaces of the converter and transmission
housing, to prevent water from settling on the transmission
housing. Standing water (especially salt water) can corrode
magnesium in as little as eight weeks. The gasket lip faces for-
ward and can be reused if theres no damage to the elastomer
coating (figure 5).
There was also a slight change to the crescent-type pump;
although the same design as the 722.6, theres an additional
recess on the suction side to help reduce intake noise. This
modification will probably start showing up on later 722.6
Figure 3
Figure 4 Figure 5
There was also a slight change to the
crescent-type pump; although the same
design as the 722.6, theres an additional
recess on the suction side to help reduce
intake noise.
10souza.indd 11 4/29/09 1:43:57 PM
transmissions. Future pump housings and gears may be
made of aluminum to reduce weight and handle high tem-
peratures (figure 6).
This next feature is unusual, but its also being used on
some BMW models with ZF6HP26 transmissions: Some
late model vehicles with the 722.9 will be equipped with
shift-by-wire, called Direct Select. These systems have no
mechanical connection to a shifter in the passenger com-
partment.
An Intelligent Servo Module (ISM) mounts to the left
rear of the case, just above the pan rail. As you can see in
figure 7, this electronically-controlled motor (module) is
quite large. The module will control and monitor the shift
valve lever position.
If the vehicles electrical system fails, theres a back-
up, Emergency P function to release the transmission from
park. A spare battery underneath the floor panel on the
passenger side of the vehicle will energize the module in
emergency mode.
In figure 8 you can see how it splines onto the manual
valve control shaft; a closer look at the back of the module
identifies the detents. Figure 9 is an inside look at how the
module is designed.
Well, thats it for this issue; look for the powerflow
charts in part III of this series in the August issue of
GEARS.
Mercedes 722.9 Preliminary Information, Part 2
Figure 6
Figure 8 Figure 9
Figure 7
10souza.indd 12 4/29/09 1:44:10 PM
T. 419.499.25O2 F. 419.499.28O4 www.TransTec.com Nilan, 0H 4484O
Mork and Mindy are long gone, along with $2.00
movie tickets and gas at 70 cents a gallon. But
TransTec
transmission kits have grown to become

the leading brand requested by transmission profes-
sionals. In fact, more TransTec
kits are installed than

all other kits combined.
Wed like to thank our customers, representatives,
suppliers and associates for their faithfulness and
support throughout the past 30 years.
These years have been very good to us. We cant
wait to see what the future holds.
A Division of Freudenberg-NOK
Mork & Mindy
was a good year.
1978
Mork & Mindy
was aTVfavorite
70 cents a
gallon
Gas was
A movie ticket cost
$
2
M
vie ticket cost mov 2
TransTec
kits were introduced

transtec plcd fxd july08.indd 29 8/25/08 3:36:01 PM
T
hree high-rise construction
workers, Joe, Jim and Jack, ate
lunch every day while enjoy-
ing the view from the highest perch of
the construction project. One day, as
Joe unwrapped his sandwich, he com-
plained, Peanut butter and jelly again!
If I have to eat PB&J one more time,
Im going to jump off this building and
kill myself!
The next day, Joe unwrapped his
sandwich to find, you guessed it, anoth-
er peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich.
True to his word, without hesitation, he
jumped to his death. Astonished, Jim
turned to Jack and said, I cant believe
it; I didnt think he was serious! Jack
replied, The worst part is, Joe makes
his own lunch!
Lets be honest: Many of us are
guilty of exactly what Joe did. We
complain about the very things were
directly responsible for creating and
have the power to change, but we keep
doing them anyhow.
A number of recent posts on the
Whats Working Forum have dealt with
concerns about customers becoming
more and more price sensitive. The
question of the day was centered on
what to do about this phenomenon. The
problem is that most of you continue to
deal with the challenge using the same
sales approach youve always used
you keep making peanut butter-and-
jelly sandwiches and then complaining
about it.
While the prevailing economy rais-
es the level of price-consciousness for
our customers, its affecting your atti-
tude, too. Perhaps youre letting it get
into your head, and youre the problem
rather than the solution. Im not sug-
gesting that price concern isnt real, but
I am suggesting that it isnt new.
During the same time period that
transmission repairs have become
increasingly more complex and expen-
sive, customers have become informed
with respect to making purchase deci-
sions. This isnt as much a matter of
cause and effect as it is coincidental. The
internet gives todays customers access
to just about any information they want,
including prices. Transmission repair is
becoming more of a commodity. This
isnt new, but in the face of the bad
economy, were just now noticing it.
In spite of the commoditization
of our products and services, the one
advantage we still enjoy is that no
matter how much information the cus-
tomers have, they can only get their
problem resolved by a human being. It
still comes down to choosing the busi-
ness or person to do the work. Its still
about building a relationship with the
customer.
You cant build a relationship, and
you cant solve the problem, unless you
get the customer to bring the car into
your shop. In almost every case this
starts on the telephone. The bottom line
is, no matter how good you are at sell-
ing jobs, if you dont get the car into the
shop, you dont get the chance to build
a relationship and create a customer.
If you follow my column, you
know that the two previous articles
dealt with converting telephone shop-
pers into appointments. It occurred to
me that I probably should have written
this article first. Ive heard from a num-
ber of you who tried what I suggested
and that you are getting great results.
Congratulations for giving it a try and
for your success!
If youre using the old telephone
procedure that involves asking a series
of questions to take control, build
rapport, and get em in to avoid giv-
ing a price, and complaining that its
not working, youre making your own
PB&J sandwich and complaining about
it.
Think about it this way: Whenever
callers ask for a price, they have some
expectation of getting one. Their level
of expectation could be low to abso-
lute, or anywhere in the middle. Your
response will raise, lower or have no
effect on their expectation level. If you
want them to come in without giving
them a price, the last thing you want to
do is raise their expectations of getting
a price on the phone.
A phone procedure that involves
asking questions raises the callers
expectation of getting a price. For exam-
ple, you respond to the price request by
asking, Whats the year and make of
the car? Since thats a logical question
to ask in order to determine a price, the
caller thinks, When I answer, Ill get a
price, so up goes the callers expecta-
tion.
Each additional question only
takes those expectations higher. What
is the car doing? Is there any noise?
Does it happen once in awhile or all
the time? and so on. The customer
thinks, now that you have this informa-
tion, theres no logical reason you cant
give them a price. Why wouldnt they
think that?
I hope this helped explain why the
techniques in the previous two articles
work so well. The proof is in the test-
ing, and just as others have reported
their success, you can do it too.
By the way, if you want a little
coaching on this or anything related to
sales and marketing, feel free to send
me an email or give me a phone call. My
email is Thom@CertifiedTransmission.
com; my phone number is 800-544-
7520, ext 173.
Peanut Butter
and Jelly Again!
by Thom Tschetter
Director of Marketing
Certified Transmission
14tschetter.indd 14 4/29/09 2:55:47 PM
We Offer
An exclusive protected
territory;
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in stock;
5,000 more units a phone
call away;
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Freedom to pay for them as
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Plus many more great benefits.
If You
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Certified Transmission of Arizona........................Tucson/Phoenix AZ........................................800-596-8878
Certified Transmission of Colorado......................Colorado Springs...........................................877-266-9913
Certified Transmission of SoCal...........................San Diego, CA Metro.....................................888-374-8383
Dales A-1 Transmission........................................Mitchell, SD...................................................800-529-0003
Freeway Transmission..........................................Salt Lake City, UT .........................................800-354-5920
Glen Burnie Transmission.....................................Baltimore/DC Metro.......................................410-766-8500
JC Parts City.........................................................St Louis, MO Metro........................................866-735-1960
J & M Transmission Service, Inc. ........................Sioux Falls, SD ..............................................800-504-2050
Logans Transmission, Inc. ...................................Rapid City, SD................................................800-579-1742
Norfolk Transmission and Muffler ........................North-Central NE...........................................800-234-8726
RMP .......................................................................Philadelphia, PA Metro..................................800-257-7418
Transmission Distributors Inc ..............................Boston, MA Metro..........................................800-891-5508
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Wilburns Transmissions .......................................Scottsbluff, NE ..............................................308-635-1212
To learn more about adding a Certified Transmission Distributorship to your business:
Contact Terry Cash at (800) 544-7520 Ext 170 or Email to tcash@certifiedtransmission.com.
www.CertifiedTransmission.com
Certified 509.indd 15 4/29/09 3:05:58 PM
16 GEARSMay/June2009
W
hatever It Takes prides
itself on putting the cus-
tomer first. Theyve spent
years devoting resources to making the
transmission shops job easier, mak-
ing them more profitable, as well as
improving the quality and reliability of
the entire market. Their philosophy has
always been, the best way to maximize
the effectiveness of the company, con-
tinue to grow, and be able to reward its
employees, is by taking care of the cus-
tomer, every customer, one at a time,
because they each have unique needs.
One of the many ways WIT has
accomplished the task of extraordinary
growth and increased customer loyalty
is through being consistent. Remaining
faithful to their philosophies allows you
to count on the level of service youll
receive by doing business with them.
When you look at WIT from location to
location, region to region, east coast to
west, you will find a consistency in the
level of service they provide.
They recognized early on, and still
see it today as they move into new
areas, that customers seem to be on a
rollercoaster. Everything from service
levels, such as how many deliveries
they get each day, to pricing, seems to
vary, not only between competitors, but
within the same competitor.
Just because of less competition in
an area, a company may decide to take
advantage of that market, only offer-
ing one delivery or raising prices. WIT
doesnt believe thats the right way
to treat customers. Decisions for how
to approach the market are made as a
company. Most customers are thankful
to see WIT move into an area because
they know the rough ride is over; their
presence alone will smooth out the mar-
ket. Getting their service is just icing on
the cake.
A n o t h e r
very important innovation
was the addition of their web site. This
was a costly venture that took a con-
siderable amount of time to launch, but
that was due to testing and retesting the
site using customer input to make the
site easy to use and effective in getting
everything you need. It didnt matter
if they totally redesigned a path they
were under if thats what it took to get
it right.
Today they feel they have one
of the easiest
to use, point-and-
click systems available. You
simply look at your transmission and
click the parts you need. You will get
a list of all brands carried and can pick
the one you want. WIT currently has
the top 25 units available online; that
covers well over 80% of the industry
needs. They are going back now and
adding converters, flywheels, lubes,
tools etc., so youll be able to buy
everything you need from one place to
complete the job.
Whatever It Takes:
Raising The Bar in the
Transmission Industry.
Louisville Distribution Center
Parts Counter
Theyve taken extensive measures
to make the shopping experience easy
and accurate. If you have an account
with them, simply log in and youll not
only get the right parts, but youll get
the right price and all of the specials
available to you. The site changes daily,
so if you dont see what you need, dont
give up, just check back next time; it
will probably be there. Its an extensive
process given the level of detail they
have online, but with some patience,
you will be very happy once all of
WITs products are available.
Torque Converters and
Manual Transmissions
Along the lines of innovation is
trying to stay on the cutting edge of
technology or coming up with new
ways to service the customer.
The vast majority of WITs cus-
tomers are transmission repair shops.
These are the guys like you who diag-
nose and rebuild transmissions. But not
every transmission shop can handle
every aspect of transmission repair.
Thats why WIT offers a number of
rebuilt components, including valve
bodies, pumps, and planetary gearsets.
They also offer CVC rebuilt torque
converters. What sets CVC converters
apart from other manufacturers?
One thing that CVC does is to
send out reps to the transmission shops,
to find out what theyve been experi-
encing with torque converters, says
David Bailey, VP of Branch Operations.
They want to know which units are
giving shops the most problem, and
what kind of problems theyve been
seeing. From that, CVCs technical
team can look into those issues, to see if
there are any changes they need to add
to their rebuilding process.
CVC has also just come out with
a new procedure for converter failure
examination. Now, when a CVC con-
verter comes back with a complaint,
they perform an autopsy, complete
with digital photos and a full report
on the results of the examination. This
autopsy report is then sent to the
repair shop and CVCs rebuild depart-
ment.
The converter autopsy provides
all sorts of valuable information about
the cause of the failure, and if there even
was a failure, explains Tom Conroy,
VP of Sales
and Marketing.
This allows the CVC technical depart-
ment to evaluate the failure and alter
their processes, or can help the shop
identify problems in their diagnostic
strategies if there was no discernable
failure.
The autopsy report isnt some-
thing were going to use to hassle
anyone about converter returns; well
continue to stand behind our product
and the shops we serve, says Kenny
Hester, President of WIT. The object
of the autopsy report is to open the lines
of communication with the shop, and to
help them identify any problems with
their diagnostic processes.
Part of our responsibility to our
customers is to help them build the
best transmissions possible, explains
Kenny. Anything we can do to provide
them with more information helps all
of us.
The CVC autopsy report should be
a standard procedure with every con-
verter return by the time this issue of
GEARS hits the streets.
Of course, transmissions arent
just about auto-
matic transmissions. There
are also manual transmissions on the
market; in fact, this past year saw the
first increase in car purchases with
manual transmissions in over 20 years.
Problem is, many transmission
shops arent really comfortable rebuild-
ing manual transmissions. Thats okay,
because WIT offers a complete line
of rebuilt manual transmissions. This
allows every shop to be a complete
transmission shop, not just an auto-
matic transmission repair shop.
Every WIT manual transmission
is completely disassembled, every
component examined, and any worn
components replaced. In some units
well automatically replace compo-
nents that have been shown to fail
repeatedly, says Rick Skaggs, VP of
General Operations. And if there are
any updates available, theyll be added
automatically, too.
Every WIT manual transmission
is then dyno tested to make sure its
working properly. And each one is also
pressure tested, to help identify any
leaks before that transmission gets to
Drum Line Standards
Pump Line
your shop.
So WIT isnt just there for the
individual parts and components you
need; theyre also there to help fill in
the holes in the products and services
your shop can offer.
Press one for parts, press two for
accounting, press three for How
many of you have time to play these
games with the phone in the middle of
a busy day? When you call WIT they
answer the phone with a courteous
Thanks for calling Whatever It Takes.
Theyre live and ready to assist you:
no computer trying to figure out what
you need.
Their newly-upgraded phone sys-
tem has the entire company linked
together. When you ask to speak with
your rep, anyone can
transfer straight to
them. If they are on
the phone and have
two calls holding
already, no problem,
you can be transferred to
anyone on their experienced
customer service team, anywhere
in the country with no waiting. If you
just want to leave a message you can
do that, too.
Carrying the Burden
So You Don't Have To
The costs of carrying inventory
can be high. In a tight economy it
can be even harder to keep up. 99%
isnt good enough, explains Kenny.
The last 1% can mean the difference
between a finished job and one thats
left sitting on the lift. To the parts store,
that last washer isnt a big deal; maybe
a few cents profit at best. However, to
the transmission shop, that little washer
is critical; without it, they cant fin-
ish the job. All those other parts are
meaningless without that one simple
washer.
Over the last 30 years, the trans-
mission business has faced a lot of
changes, and not just the introduction
of electronic controls. Thirty years ago,
most shops automatic transmission
market included less than 10 common
units; those shops could easily stock the
parts they needed to cover 80% or more
of the cars that came in.
Today that market is closer to 100
units and thats just the common
ones. Few shops can consider stocking
transmission repair parts to cover that
wide range of units. But that creates
another problem for the shops: How
do they get their repairs done in a
timely manner if they cant keep parts
in stock?
WIT again stands proud to have
one of the deepest inventories in the
country. They feel they carry more
hard-to-find parts than anyone else, and
with complete order fill rates over 99%,
confidence is high theyll have what
you need, when you need it.
Remember those terrific ads for
the burger place that let you hold the
pickle; hold the lettuce? Their mes-
sage was clear: Have it your way.
That simple message could easily
be WITs other motto. Because they
make it a point to provide you with a
wide range of choices when it comes to
parts; particularly hard parts.
Take planetaries, for example,
says Rick. For many applications,
well handle an OEM new, an after-
market new, a WIT rebuilt, and a WIT
used part. Theyll have the same basic
part number, in four different flavors.
And each flavor will be priced accord-
ingly.
Of course, not everything is avail-
able in all four variations. So how do
you know whats available? When a
customer calls in and asks for a part,
well let him know whats available,
and what the price differences are,
explains Tom.
Offering used parts has an addi-
tional benefit: These days, everyone
wants to be on the green bandwagon,
doing whatever they can to recycle
and conserve. Nothing conserves like
putting used parts back into service.
So offering those rebuilt or used parts
isnt just a great way to save a buck; its
also a terrific way to show the customer
youre doing your part to help protect
the planet.
And WIT doesnt just recycle parts:
We also reuse the boxes that we pack
for our night drops, says Rick. It lets
us save money on shipping costs, and
helps reduce the waste that would oth-
erwise make its way into landfills.
Carrying the inventory you need
does no good if you cant get it when
you need it. WIT offers a wide variety
of delivery options to satisfy those
needs. In local delivery areas you can
count on getting deliveries up to three
times during business hours!
WIT was also one of the leaders
Whatever It Takes: Raising The Bar in the Transmission Industry.
Dyno
Machine Shop
Kim Casey
in perfecting night box deliveries for
those last minute orders. Years ago,
few companies attempted night service
simply because it wasnt profitable.
WIT took the stance that this had to be
a standard business practice and didnt
worry about the rest.
For anyone outside of their deliv-
ery areas, they have partnered with a
number of couriers and have daily UPS
pickup at every location. Regardless of
what type of delivery you need, they
stand ready to assemble orders and
get the parts shipped the quickest way
possible. Through constant negotiation
they are able to keep shipping costs as
low as possible.
Keeping up with these constant
needs makes WIT not just a supplier,
but an extension of your parts room
having everything you need, ready to
serve your customer.
WIT
_
Your National
Mom-and-Pop Store
These days you usually have two
basic choices when youre deciding
who to buy from: You can buy from
the little mom-and-pop store on the
corner, or the giant department store up
the road.
The mom-and-pop store provides
that personal touch they know you
by name, and often know what youre
looking for before you do. Their down-
side is that theyre often too small to
offer you a wide range of products, and
they cant buy in huge quantities, so
they cant pass those quantity discounts
down to their customers the way a
department store can.
The giant department store has it
all: every item in all the popular brands.
And their prices are terrific, because
they have the clout to buy in bulk, so
they can share that discount pricing
with you. But the department store
lacks the warmth and friendliness that
you get from the mom-and-pop store;
its cold and impersonal, and youll
take it their way or take your busi-
ness elsewhere. We like to think of
ourselves as the national mom-and-pop
store, says Kenny. Sure, were pretty
big these days, and our goal is to get
bigger every year. But we consider it
important not to lose sight of where we
came from.
We knew we had to grow our
business quickly to keep pace with the
industry, says Kenny. The plan was
to open three stores a year. Currently
we have 22 locations, and at least three
more planned for this year. Our busi-
ness model has worked out better than
wed hoped.
Thats an important part of who
we are. When were out at one of our
stores, we try to visit a few shops, to
see how things are going, and to find
out what their problems are. We want to
make sure what were doing is what our
customers want and need.
One of the ways that WIT thinks
like a mom-and-pop is when it comes to
the brands they offer. Many parts com-
panies offer only one brand of clutch
or one type of seal kit. This limited
selection reduces inventory costs for
the parts company, but limits what they
can offer their customers. It becomes
a matter of youll take it our way and
like it.
But WIT doesnt believe theres
only one way to do a job, and certainly
not just one quality parts manufac-
turer. So they use their status to provide
their customers with that mom-and-pop
responsiveness: They offer their custom-
ers a choice. When it comes to clutches,
they try to offer clutches from at least
two high-end manufacturers. Which
manufacturers? That often depends on
what their customers ask for.
Ive had customers say, when it
comes to a certain type of unit, they
only want the OEM clutches, says
Tom. They claim the aftermarket
clutches cause too firm a shift, or they
cause a soft, sloppy shift. If thats what
they want, we make it a point to have
the OEM clutches available.
It costs us more, says John Huff,
VP of Finance. Sometimes a lot more.
But it means that we dont have to
drive past a shop because they want
Raybestos clutches and we only handle
BorgWarner.
I dont like having to add all those
extra part numbers, says Kenny. But
I do like taking care of our customers.
And if handling those additional lines is
what it takes, then its a small price to
pay to be able to serve our customers.
How Do They Do It?
One thing that enables WIT to
work so well is that its entirely owned
and operated by its employees. Theres
no large corporation or conglomerate
pulling the strings no financial inves-
tors demanding a profit justification for
every decision.
This unique set of circumstances
means that everyone from WITs
president to the guy who drops off a
rebuild kit at your door has a vested
interest in helping you do your job
more profitably. And its paying off
for WIT and for their customers.
We have over 300 employee/own-
ers right now, explains Kenny. Thats
over 300 sets of eyes and 300 sets of
ears constantly watching and listening
for any indication of a problem. And
each one of them knows that it really
is his or her job to make sure that prob-
lem gets handled, and handled quickly.
Thats what makes WIT so responsive
to the needs of our customers.
We each try to put ourselves in our
customers shoes, continues Kenny.
We ask, if that were us, how would
we want to have that problem handled?
Thats not always easy to do, but its
an important part of why we can call
ourselves Whatever It Takes.
Valve Body Line
16wit.indd 19 5/4/09 12:48:32 PM
Old and New Fixes for Fords Family of HD Transmissions
2
009 marks the 20-year anni-
versary for the E4OD. Yes, 20
years! 2009 is also the 11
th
birthday for the 4R100, and the young-
est heavy duty overdrive, Torqueshift
(5R110W) is only 6 this year. In this
edition of Playing with Fire, were
going to revisit some classic fixes for
the E4OD and 4R100, and learn a new
trick for the Torqueshift.
E4OD and 4R100:
Soft or Missing 2
nd
Gear
The E4OD and 4R100 dont
use any type of soft seal to connect
the intermediate/overdrive support.
Overdrive is applied through the hol-
low bolt (seal). The intermediate clutch
is applied through the case, and relies
on the aluminum-to-aluminum seal
between the case and support (figure
1).
Years of vibration can cause this
aluminum seal to wear, allowing the
intermediate apply oil to leak past the
support. This, in turn, will cause repeat
failure of the intermediate clutches, a
soft 1-2, or a 1-3 shift. Heres an old
trick on how to fix the problem.
Parts needed (figure 2):
Drum-to-case seals from any
ZF automatic transmission
(preferably) or a 0.500" long
piece of PC 7/32", 16 MML,
oil-resistant rubber hose.
1.5"1.750" x 0.350" spring
(E4OD converter regulator
valve spring or a C-6 direct
clutch spring)
Razorblade
PLAYING WITH FIRE
by Jon Rodriguez
Figure 1
20jonrodrgz.indd 20 4/29/09 4:25:06 PM
Body Front Cover Plate
777
530
778
Stator
037
Pump
Parts
507
480
880 334A
Input Clutch Hub
047 378
177
O.Dr. / Reverse
Piston
Input Clutch
Retainer
Input Shaft
140 891 130 110
Reverse Clutch
150 892* 232 571
052
220 884 331
330
558 883 234 576 214 570
Underdrive Hub O.Dr. Hub Reverse Hub
2nd / 4th Retainer
482
054
121 101
4th Clutch
141 863*
865 968
568
978
596 873 238 584 244 612 247 582
Input Planet
251 592 235* 616 241
Reverse Planet
583
586
Reaction Planet
053 058
Input Ring
Gear
886 285 887 885* 154 114
Low/Rev
664 888 654
Low Roller
Clutch
644
577
690 895
e
Park
Gear
480
013
074
781
770
760
897
271
Ext. Housing
429
996
M304317B
317
438
370
370
436
846
540
Case
Parts
761
Case
420
342
347
740
300
010
379
950
926B
926
352
927
352
y.
95
Front Cover
530
037
480
880 334A
047 378
177
I
140
.Dr.
054
*
82
ev
690
e
Park
Gear
480 8
013
7
4
370
436
846
540
Ca
Pa
7
Case
420
300
y.
95
Body Plate
7
778
Stator
Pump
Parts
507
891 130 110
Reverse Clutch
150 892* 232 571
052
220
Underdrive Hub O
596 873 238 584 244 612 247 5
Input Planet
235* 616 241
Reverse Pl
583 583
586
Reaction Planet
053 058
6
897
271
429
996
7
r
O.
5 8
7
O
5 5
7
800-940-0197
sales@wittrans.com
or buy online at
www.wittrans.com
Input Clutch Hub
O.Dr. / Reverse
Piston
Input Clutch
Retainer
nput Shaft ff
884 331
330
558 883 234 576 7 214 1 570 7
Hub Reverse Hub
2nd / 4th Retainer
482
121 101
4th Clutch
141 4 863
865 968
568
978
251 592
Input Ring
Gear
886 285 887 885* 154 114
Low/R
664 888 654
Low Roller
Clutch
644
577
074
781
70
Ext. Housing
M304317B
342
347
740
010
379 3
950
926B
926
352
927
352
In
3*
Re
7
E
0
n
3
R
77
E
Automatic Transmission Parts
Hard Parts
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WIT-placd.indd 3 1/8/09 10:49:48 AM
And heres how to fix the
problem:
1. Assemble the transmission up
to the center support.
2. Insert the rubber tubing
through the case at the inter-
mediate feed hole (figure 3).
3. Using the razorblade, care-
fully trim the tubing to follow
the contour of the case (figure
4).
4. Push the seal from the inside
of the case toward the outside,
just enough to let the interme-
diate/overdrive drop in.
5. Install the intermediate piston
return spring on the center
support.
6. Place the preassembled inter-
mediate/overdrive support in
the case.
7. Use a suitable method for
compressing the support, and
install the snap ring and over-
drive apply bolt.
8. Assemble the rest of the trans-
mission up to the valve body.
9. Use a socket to apply a few
sharp taps to seat the seal
against the support (figure 5).
10. Tighten the overdrive apply
bolt to 6-8 lb-ft.
11. Install the spring on top of the
seal; make sure it doesnt coil-
bind above the surface of the
case (figure 6).
12. Assemble the rest of the trans-
mission.
The spring will constantly push
down on the rubber and provide a tight
seal against the support. If using a rub-
ber line instead of the ZF seals, make
sure the hose is ATF compatible so it
doesnt deteriorate.
4R100: Low/Reverse
Hub
Failure
Under extreme duty, the stamped
steel low/reverse hub will mushroom
and cause no movement, along with
a loud grinding noise. In extreme
cases (figure 7), the hub will literally
explode!
On 1999-and-earlier 4R100 appli-
cations, theres a factory reflash that
increases line pressure in reverse to
help secure the hub, but the real fix isnt
an update its actually a backdate!
The classic C6-based low/reverse hub-
and-planet design from the E4OD fits
into the 4R100 without machining, and
has never had any issues with failing
under load.
Heres what youll need for the
changeover (figure 8):
Cast iron low/reverse clutch hub
16-roller, plastic-designed roller
clutch
E4OD low roller race assembly
(3.298" outer diameter)
E4OD low/reverse clutch piston
return spring
E4OD rear planet ring gear
E4OD 12-lug rear planet
E4OD 72-tooth low/reverse
clutches (6)
Figure 4
Using the razor-
blade, carefully trim
the tubing to follow
the contour of the
case (figure 4).
Figure 2 Figure 3
Insert the rubber
tubing through
the case at the
intermediate feed
hole.
Figure 5
Simply replace the 4R100
parts with the above compo-
nents and youre done. The
ratio is the same, and 12-lug,
cast iron planets are avail-
able from the aftermarket if
you need additional planetary
strength. There are also over-
sized steels (0.081") avail-
able to adjust the low/reverse
clutch clearance if needed.
Both the E4OD and the 4R100
work well with the low/reverse
clutch pack clearance set to
0.030"0.040".
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 7
Figure 6
Install the spring
on top of the seal;
make sure it
doesnt coil-bind
above the surface
of the case
(figure 6).
Torqueshift: Non
Serviceable Low/Reverse
Clutches and Low Diode
In 2008, Ford started producing
the low diode sprag, rear planet, and
low/reverse clutches as one piece (fig-
ure 9). The only way to service any
of these components is to replace the
entire assembly, which today runs over
$300. Were going to go over how to,
again, backdate the assembly with ear-
lier components from the 2003-2007
Torqueshifts.
Heres what youll need for the
changeover:
6 low/reverse steel plates (same
as E4OD/4R100)
6 low/reverse clutch frictions
(same as E4OD/4R100)
2005-2007 rear planet (figure
10)
2
nd
design low diode (figure 11)
This is another straightforward
changeover that requires no modifica-
tions. The most important part of this
changeover is to make sure the rear
Figure 11
Figure 10
planet and low diode are
the 2
nd
design parts.
The 1
st
design rear
planet was redesigned
because of a problem
with the pinion shafts
walking out. There
arent many of these
around anymore because
of the failure rate, but
its a good idea to check
anyway. The easiest way
to ID these planets is by
height (figure 10).
The low diode
went through a mate-
rial change for durabil-
ity issues, and can only
be identified through a
dimple on the front of
the inner race (figure
11).
Another impor-
tant detail is to make
sure you install six (6)
low/reverse clutches on the later units.
If the core or low/reverse set youre
using has only a five-clutch setup,
omit the 0.220 thick backing plate,
and replace it with a steel-clutch-steel
stack-up (figure 12).
If working on an earlier unit, its
recommended that you replace the rear
planet and low diode sprag with the 2
nd

design to help prevent a comeback.
Another problem with earlier
Torqueshifts is that the snap ring that
holds the low diode in the case walks
out of place, and in most cases destroys
the case. Figure 13 shows the areas
where the case was rubbing on the
snap ring when it was walking back
and forth.
Fords repair was to install small
tabs on each end of the snap ring to help
keep it from rotating. There are two
(2) different snap rings: one for trans-
missions used behind a diesel engine,
and the other for gas engines. The gas-
engine snap ring is wavy to address
reverse engagement issues. The diesel
snap ring is thicker and looks stronger,
but will fit in the gas applications if
youre looking for greater durability.
Install the snap ring as shown in figure
14.
Thats it for this edition of Playing
with Fire. I hope this article brought
back some memories for the tranny
veterans, and taught both the new and
experienced techs a few tricks.
Figure 12
Figure 14
Figure 13
20jonrodrgz.indd Sec1:26 4/29/09 4:29:01 PM
life-smartblend.indd 27 4/30/09 10:37:40 AM
by Paul Mathewson
Move On,
Operations Manual!
T
his series of articles is designed
to help you put an operations
manual together for your shop.
Were taking the approach that youre
preparing for your departure, whether
planned or not. So this operations man-
ual should serve to equip your succes-
sor to carry on without you.
This operations manual is more
than a statement of the rules of your
shop; its an explanation of how and
why the rules got there in the first
place. Its an exercise where you, a suc-
cessful transmission shop owner, let the
new owner in on your success.
The method Ive suggested is for
you to use a loose leaf notebook to
collect your thoughts. I gave you 18
subject titles in the March edition of
GEARS, and asked you to write these
at the top of every second page. That
leaves lots of room to write down your
thoughts when they come to you. You
dont need any more organization for
this project right now. Well pull the
manual together later.
In the April edition of GEARS, we
attacked the most thought-provoking
subject: the introduction to your opera-
tions manual. This introduction could
alternately be called An Overview of
My Shop for Dummies, except that
we dont want to offend anyone (and
the for Dummies name is taken). This
opening chapter reveals the history of
your shop, your style of management,
the market targets you chose, your
understanding about the future for the
transmission business, and anything
else relevant to painting a picture of
your shop in your town.
As I said before, writing your intro-
duction is done by making notes in your
notebook under the subject titles of:
1. What is a transmission shop?
and
2. Why am I in the transmission
business?
By writing your own answers to
these questions honestly and complete-
ly, youve prepared a lot of material
that well later structure as the opening
chapter of your manual.
Your Physical Plant and
Why
Moving on, lets take a look at the
3
rd
subject that I entitled with the ques-
tion: Where is our shop, what does it
look like, how is it equipped? Ill give
you an image to consider to get you
thinking and writing.
Imagine a transmission shop locat-
ed on the outskirts of town, adjacent to
an auto recycler. The unkempt yards
around it are the final resting place of
demolition derby entries. There are a
couple car haulers and one is loaded
with a trophy race car which this shop
sponsors. There are a few 4x4 trucks
visible with their geartrains removed.
The painted signs are badly faded; one
of them warns about the mean guard
dog. The yard is cluttered. You can
imagine the rest.
We go inside and wait for someone
to greet us; no one does. So we look
around for a while. There are some old
bucket seats to sit in but the grease spots
keep us standing. Theres a display on
the wall that features various race wins,
complete with trophies, photos of the
car, and copies of the local newspaper
stories. The product displays focus on
shift modification kits, reverse-pattern
shifters, and tiny race converters.
The coffeemaker is crusted with
week-old spills and the coffee mugs
look worse. The place is dingy; theres
no office computer; theres no office
manager. Since no one has noticed
were here, we stick our head around
the door opening and this is what we
find:
The shop looks like a vehicle dis-
mantling center. Its hard to know the
employees from the customers; both
are tackling some dirty jobs and the
people are as dirty as the components
theyre removing.
This was obviously an old gas
station with some add-ons. The single-
post hoist oozes hydraulic oil and is
missing the safety stops. Old parts litter
the floor. A multitude of used trans-
mission parts are hanging from hooks
everywhere. Theres no diagnostic
28mathwsn.indd 28 5/4/09 11:39:45 AM
equipment visible and the rebuilding
bench is loaded with junk and empty
beer cans. We decide not to check out
the one and only washroom.
Now Im going to surprise you by
saying this is a transmission shop! They
fix a lot of transmissions here, mostly
older ones. People seeking a bargain-
basement price get their transmission
repairs here.
The shop probably started as an
extension of the junkyard where parts
were available for the employees who
were racing enthusiasts. The shop con-
tinues to be a supplier for the race com-
munity. They make enough money on
transmission repairs to pay the bills and
afford their race hobbies. They have
entries in the mud bog race schedule,
oval track, and drag racing.
Shop A Versus Shop B
How does this transmission shop
compare to yours? The contrast should
help you start writing. Understand that
the transmission shop described is
the result of their history, their target
market, their personal ambitions, their
competitive advantages, and everything
else that made them who they are today.
The owner has no desire to change any-
thing; in his assessment theyre doing
well. If this owner were to write an
operations manual for his successor, it
would probably read very differently
from most of yours.
Okay, so now its your turn. No one
can describe your shop better than you
can. Many people, especially employ-
ees, can describe what it looks like.
Thats not hard. But only you know
what you were trying to create; only
you know your vision of a transmission
shop in your town.
You are the architect of the busi-
ness model that youve developed over
time. You know the history, the circum-
stances, and the career objectives that
led you into this venture in the first
place. This is the stuff youve been
making notes about in the opening sec-
tions of your notebook. It defines your
business as uniquely yours.
With this image of your business
in mind, it should be easy to answer the
3
rd
question in your notebook: Where
is our shop, what does it look like, how
is it equipped? The reason why its
easy to do this is because youre going
to reveal how your vision for your busi-
ness is expressed in the physical plant.
In other words, youll explain why
your business is located where it is,
why it looks like it does, and why its
equipped the way it is. Youll take
the reader of your operations manual
(once its finished, that is) back to the
thinking that gave rise to your physical
facilities in the first place.
Where Is Your Shop?
Start with the first part, Where
is your shop? The easy part is the
street address, including the area of
town. Here you should include details
about visibility, access and egress, traf-
fic counts, the trade area demographics,
major industries, and anything else that
affects your business because of its
location.
You need to discuss how the shop
got located there in the first place and if
you have plans to move for any reason.
Discuss any suburban expansion plans
or road developments that might affect
your market. Is the building owned or
leased? If leased, when does the lease
expire? Keep going: what else should
your successor know about where your
shop is and why its there?
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28mathwsn.indd 29 4/30/09 10:06:02 AM
What Does Your Shop
Look Like?
Next address the second part to the
question: What does your shop look
like (and why)? If you want some
direction with this one, just refer to
the image of the transmission shop I
described earlier. With that image in
mind it should be easy to explain what
your plant looks like and why, because
it probably looks very different than
that one. So that should give you some
inspiration to start writing.
Youll need to draw verbal pictures
of your parking lot, landscaping, signs,
neighboring properties, and anything
related to what a driver will see when
first approaching your shop. Explain
what youre trying to accomplish with
the design of your yard. What image
are you trying to create and how does it
relate to your target market?
Here are some other parts to your
physical plant that need to be explained
in the same detail, including both what
these facilities are, and why youve
designed them that way:
1. The waiting room
2. The managers office
3. The R&R shop
4. The rebuilding shop
5. The parts room
6. The resource room
7. The employees lunch room
8. Washrooms for customers;
washrooms for staff
You may not have all the separate
areas as Ive detailed them here and
you may have more. But each needs
an explanation about what theyre
Move On, Operations Manual!
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28mathwsn.indd 30 4/30/09 10:06:20 AM
like, how they function, and what you
were trying to accomplish when you
designed them that way. Ill get you
started on the first one: the waiting
room. After that you can work on the
rest the same way.
Your Waiting Room
and Those Waiting
Who are the customers that might
be sitting in your waiting room? Here
are some groups that may be part of
your target market:
1. Upscale professional people
waiting for diagnostic results
2. Mothers with children
3. University students waiting to
call dad about their cars
4. Blue-collar workers needing a
ride to work
5. Do-it-yourselfers wanting
parts or information
6. Drivers of company vehicles
sent to your shop
7. Female car owners referred to
you by another shop
8. Ethnic and other minorities
I dont know your customer profile
but you know what customers youre
attracting to your business. So how
does your waiting area accommodate
those customers? You dont need games
and toys for little children if mothers
with children generally dont show up
at your business.
You will need a customer tele-
phone available for some types of cus-
tomer. The kind of furniture, the kind of
reading materials, the kind of displays
that link you with community events,
the credentials of your employees in
short, anything that resonates positively
with your average customer is what
youll have included in your waiting
area.
Write all that down, and at the
same time make it clear that, to serve
your target market, there are some
things that are taboo in your waiting
area. The exercise here is to paint a
verbal picture of each section of your
shop and explain why you have cre-
ated it like that. Once youve finished
describing and defining your waiting
room, move on to another room and do
the same thing.
How Is Your Shop
Equipped?
After youve finished answering
Where is your shop? and What does
it look like? its time to move on to the
third part: How is it equipped?
Remember, it isnt enough simply
to list the equipment in your shop. You
need to tell the story about equipment
acquisitions. How does it relate to the
image youre upholding? How does
equipment relate to the kinds of ser-
vices you focus on? What equipment
sets you apart from your competitors?
What online support services do you
subscribe to, and how do these enhance
customer confidence in your shop?
Summary
When I wrote this section of the
operations manual for my shop I called
it A Verbal Walking Tour of Sault
Transmission. Perhaps youll use the
same title for this section of the final
version of your operations manual.
If you let it all hang out, the
reader of your manual will understand
the underlying rationale of why youve
created your transmission shop as it is
today. That will enable your successor
to take it from there.
So how does your
waiting area
accommodate those
customers? You
dont need games
and toys for little
children if mothers
with children
generally dont show
up at your business.
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28mathwsn.indd 31 4/30/09 10:07:03 AM
T
he Allison LCT 1000 transmission
used behind the GM Duramax
trucks is designed and built by
the same people that build automatic
transmissions for military use in 65-
ton tanks. So you know the LCT 1000
should stand up to heavy duty use.
Currently, the Allison LCT 1000 units
are known for two things: Being rugged
under pressure and breaking sud-
denly.
Ironically some of the smallest
parts of the LCT 1000 have the biggest
impact on its performance. These small
parts include the electrical controls and
the drivers big toe. Part of the chal-
lenge of getting this unit back on the
road is to find out what caused the
failure and figure out how to prevent it
from happening again.
Fortunately, most failures end up
being caused by a simple electrical
problem, due to a faulty speed sen-
sor, a NSBU switch, or general wiring
problem outside the transmission. But
sometimes an internal part does fail.
This article is geared toward preventing
internal failures on 2001-2005 units.
Heres a short list of common
issues (other than electrical) that can
cause transmission failures:
You can expect to see the C1 (1
st
4
th
), C2 (4
th
5
th
) or C3 (reverse, 3
rd

and 5
th
) clutches glaze or burn.
Watch for TCC slip codes or blued
converters.
These types of issues can occur
suddenly or after many miles of use.
You might also see oil leaks at the
torque converter mounting pads.
Some drivers may
complain of a bumpy 4-3
or 5-3 kickdown, inter-
mittent drainback, erratic
shifts, broken extension
housing, or a stripped P2
planet. These problems
may be caused by high
mileage, lack of mainte-
nance, or excessive loads
placed on the transmis-
sion.
Hopefully the driver
or owner will be able to
shed some light on why
a failure occurred. This
includes finding out what
the truck is used for, what
modifications have been
done to the engine, and
any maintenance history. Excess loads
or engine modifications can cause
clutch wear, converter failure, or bro-
ken or stripped hubs.
If the truck is loaded above its
rated capacity or the engine output has
been increased, you should upgrade
the transmission to handle the excess
loads.
CAUTIoN: Any changes to the
unit or TCM controls that arent man-
ufacturer approved will immediately
void any factory warranties.
Vehicles that are driven within their
rated capacity and receive regular ser-
vice should experience a very long life
from this unit. Even when no engine
modifications have been made, erratic
shifting can result from not servicing
the oil and filters at regular intervals.
occasionally a unit will have a
failed clutch or stripped planet because
the driving conditions or loads were
changed suddenly. For example: The
truck was used for commuting all spring
with no trouble. Then on Saturday the
weather was good enough to take the
familys 36-foot powerboat out to the
lake. Within 2 miles the SERVICE
TRANS light came on and it stopped
pulling.
over the last 9 years of its produc-
tion, there have been several oEM
improvements to this unit and its parts.
ATRA has presented the oEM improve-
ments in several seminars. Most of the
updates are in the 2004 and 2005 ATRA
seminar manuals. These include an
updated pump, sealing rings, pressure
regulator valves and spring, revised C1
Making
an Already Heavy Duty
Allison LCT 1000
Really Heavy Duty!
Figure 1
by David Skora by David Skora
superior 5609.indd 33 4/30/09 11:13:40 AM
and C2 clutch pistons, sun gears, and
P3 planet assembly.
If you dont have a copy of the
2004 and 2005 seminar manuals, you
can find the information on the web at
www.atra.com.
Aftermarket suppliers have also
come up with many improvements
both for increased longevity and loads.
Fortunately, there are a lot of good
things that already exist in the LCT
1000. These include the pump assem-
bly, the planets, the front case, and the
lubrication system. The valve body
design is good as long as its clean, flat
and torqued back together carefully.
And its a pretty easy unit to rebuild,
partly because there are no sprags to put
in backward.
Lets take a closer
look at some common
areas affected by over-
working this unit.
The standard convert-
er used on early units is
known for distorting the
lug mounts. Even though
there are 6 of them, when
overloaded, they can bend
the converter cover so
much they cause lockup
slip and eventually split
the cover and start leak-
ing oil.
Later converters
include larger lug mounts
for greater strength. They
also have a reinforced
damper and stronger hub
support. There are several
aftermarket sources, such
as Suncoast, TCR, and TCI, who make
single- or triple-plate converters with a
billet front cover.
The other critical areas are the C1,
C2 and C3 clutches. Take a look at
the C1 apply piston from a stock unit
(figure 1). The narrow mark around the
outer edge is the only contact the C1
apply piston makes. Under heavy load
and increased line pressure, this design
can distort the plates and frictions.
Look at the C2 frictions and steels
(figure 2). The friction material is
glazed and the steels have hot spots in
three areas. These happen to be lined up
with the spring return plate (interesting,
huh?).
The C3 frictions are just glazed (all
of them, not just this one), a sure sign of
overheating (figure 3). This damage is
typical from a truck that either has lots
of miles or was overloaded.
The C4 and C5 clutch dont seem
to have as many issues. Of course, if
youre building a unit to handle greater
loads or more engine torque than stock,
youd want to upgrade these clutches
as well. If the vehicle is stock and
not overloaded, the stock clutch setup
should be more than adequate. For
extreme use, read on.
The aftermarket offers many
improvements for LCT 1000. Heavy
duty converters are available from a
variety of sources.
There are two main suppliers of
performance clutch kits. Each has a their
own design. Alto offers a set of one-
sided steel frictions for the C1 clutch
(152755). Theyre made of carbonite
to withstand the heat. Their C2 clutch
kit (152756) includes 8 red-lined fric-
tion plates and 8 kolene steels. The C3
clutch kit includes 5 red-lined friction
plates and 4 kolene steels (152757).
Raybestos has brought their ZPAK
concept to the Allison unit. The C1
clutch kit (RSP-001) includes a thicker
apply plate to distribute the pressure
more evenly across the clutch stack.
Their C2 clutch kit (RZP-002) includes
single-sided frictions and steels to
increase the friction surfaces. The C3
kit (RSP-003) includes a set of their
performance frictions. Either way you
go, these suppliers offer great ways
to improve the performance of these
units.
Finally, there are a few upgraded
hard parts available. Allison has a few
larger Torrington bearings, a stronger
P3 planet assembly, and a reinforced
extension housing, pump assembly and
front pump bushing.
In the aftermarket, you can find
billet steel input and output shafts and
a billet steel P2 planet. Customers with
engines that produce 1000-1200 lb-ft
torque will need all the improvements
they can get. Discuss these options with
your customer to meet his needs.
Heres a set of guidelines for modi-
fications you and your customer might
consider when rebuilding an Allison
LCT 1000. But keep in mind, every
situation is unique, and youll need to
consider those unique situations before
making any recommendations.
Figure 3
Figure 2
Making an Already Heavy Duty Allison LCT 1000Really Heavy Duty!
The friction
material is
glazed and the
steels have
hot spots in
three areas.
These happen
to be lined up
with the spring
return plate
32skora.indd Sec1:34 5/4/09 3:50:46 PM
In most cases, it is best to maintain
the specified stall speed for OEM or
aftermarket converters.
A standard overhaul (engines up to
500 lb-ft torque) should include:
Upgrading the converter
Changing the drainback and
converter relief springs
Installing the updated pump
bushing
Inspecting all other bushings
OEM frictions and steels should be
adequate. If the unit still has the early
extension housing, you should change
that, too.
For engines developing up to 600
lb-ft torque, add these modifications:
Increase line pressure
Use a rear housing with rein-
forcement ribs
Use improved clutch setups
for C1, C2, C3 and C4
Use a stronger converter
For engines with modifications up
to 800hp, add these final modifica-
tions:
Switch to a deep oil pan
Add extra coolers
Consider a valve body kit
Use a billet converter with
single- or triple-plate converter.
For trucks that do a lot of hauling,
an aftermarket TCC control device can
improve the driveability.
You can avoid a lot of headaches
by taking care of the small things,
too. Its always a good idea to change
the small electrical parts, such as the
speed sensors, NSBU switch and PSA
manifold.
The real headache for this unit is
how and when the big toe applies pres-
sure to the throttle. The Transmission
Control Module (TCM) uses a com-
plex program for adaptive strategy.
This is good and bad: The good is that
it remembers the drivers inputs and
holds on to them for a very long time.
This includes engagements, all upshifts,
downshifts and kickdown.
The bad is that if the driving con-
ditions change, the TCM doesnt adapt
immediately. This can result in those
sudden failures.
Most of these trucks are equipped
with a TOW/HAUL button. Depending
on application, it will delay upshifts
and apply TCC earlier. The problem is
that the driver still has to push the but-
ton, and it still wont provide enough
extra capacity for extreme torque out-
put engines.
Your only solution will be an after-
market chip or reprogramming the
TCM. Of course this is going to void
any factory warranty claims in the
future.
If youre going to be serious about
working on Duramax trucks with the
Allison transmission, you really should
consider getting a factory scan tool.
Access to data, clearing codes and relearn-
ing without a Tech2 scan tool or Allison-
dedicated software adaptive strategy can
be frustrating and misleading.
As transmissions go, the Allison
can stand up to loads that would kill
most other units. But when the loads
get heavy, it may be time to really help
this unit muscle up!
Je][j^[h"m[YWd enhonce
your lllison L0T 1OOO/2OOO
rebuild experience.
Porker is proud lo be lhe only kil nonufoclurer lo include in lheir Toledo Trons kil brond overhoul kil lhe oulpul shofl reloining nul ond lhe
lorque converler reloining bolls lhol ore considered `one line use` conponenls. llso included in Kil Nunber T11OO2l is lhe fller nognel
os il is exlrenely inporlonl in helping lo reduce conloninolion fron offecling lhe operolion of lhe lronsnission. These kil enhoncenenls
conbined wilh Porker conponenls enhonce your rebuild experience.
www.porker.con 1 8OO-582-27O
32skora.indd Sec1:35 5/4/09 3:51:07 PM
Teaching an Old Dog New TricksMuscling Up the 2004R
O
ver the last few years theres
been a tremendous amount
of interest in the GM 2004R
transmission for high performance
street vehicles. The performance gains
from the lower first gear and overdrive
are making it a great replacement for
the 2-speed Powerglide and 3-speed
TH350 and TH400.
The original internal component
design and hydraulic calibration of the
GM 2004R transmission limit its reli-
able power-handling capability to about
350 lbs-ft of torque. Were all aware of
the importance of a hardened sun shell
and stator tube, but there are many
other areas we can improve for opti-
mum power handling.
Research and development and
CNC machining have resulted in the
introduction of aluminum and steel
billet internal components that have
pushed the limit beyond 700 lb-ft of
torque.
Above this power level or for use
with a transbrake, the overdrive section
input shaft, overdrive carrier, and
overdrive ring gear gets into trouble.
These items are known to snap without
warning, leaving you with a transmis-
sion that wont move.
Always check the internal splines
of the carrier and ring gear for twisting
or fracturing. Most of them are cracked;
if you reuse a cracked assembly, theyll
usually fail a short time later.
Once youve addressed the hard
parts failures, theres one more area to
strengthen for high power handling: the
direct clutch. Initial signs of trouble
usually show up as a flare during the
2-3 upshift under heavy acceleration,
and it doesnt take long before thats
followed by direct clutch failure.
The Reason?
What are the real causes for the
flare and premature direct clutch
by Christoforos Kokkonis
CHRISTOFOROS KOKKONIS
CK Performance Products Inc. is owned and operated by Christoforos Kokkonis. We
specialize in design and manufacture of extreme duty transmission and internal
components. We have a complete research and development and CNC shop.
www.ckperformance.com
Figure 1
Teaching an Old Dog
New TricksMuscling
Up the 2004R
Racing photos courtesy of
PhotoFinishPhotos.com
Tom Macht 2004-2009
failure? In simple terms, the flow of
oil to the direct clutch drum and the
release side of the servo assembly is
either too high or too low at different
points in the fluid path.
Examining the Circuit
To recognize the complexity of the
circuit and the purpose of the correc-
tions, youll need to understand how
the system works. The best way to do
this is to use the hydraulic schematic
and trace each step in the fluid path.
Clear off your workbench and grab a
case, valve body, and separator plate.
RND4D3 oil from the manual
valve flows through the square separa-
tor plate hole 8 (figure 1) into the trans-
mission case, back through the small
round separator plate hole 8, and then
into valve body passage 6 (figure 2). It
stops here, waiting for the governor to
stroke the 2-3 shift valve.
From here the oil must fill multiple
passages and cavities before the unit
completes the 2-3 shift. Combine this
with the friction the oil encounters and
the air that fills the voids when the cir-
cuits arent in use, and its easy to see
why the unit requires a greater volume
and oil pressure. So our first modifi-
cation will be to increase the volume
Figure 2
and pressure by enlarging separator
plate orificed hole 8 to between 0.115
0.120 (figure 3).
The 2-3 upshift begins when the
2-3 shift valve opens. RND4D3 oil then
passes through the open 2-3 shift valve
and into the adjoining valve body pas-
sage 8, where it becomes direct clutch
oil.
Direct clutch oil flows through
separator plate holes 14 (the small and
large round holes, figure 4) and into
transmission case passage 5 (figure 5).
This is where youll find checkball 4.
During 3-2 downshifts or kickdowns,
when direct clutch oil is exhausting
through the direct clutch circuit, check-
ball 4 seats against the large round
separator plate hole 14. This forces the
exhausting direct clutch oil through the
small round separator plate hole 14.
Theres plenty of orificed direct
clutch exhaust under the 2-3 shift valve
and elsewhere without sealing the large
round separator plate hole 14 with
Figure 3
Tom Macht 2004-2009

Direct clutch oil
flows through
separator plate
holes 14 (the small
and large round
holes, figure 4)
Figure 4
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checkball 4 (figure 6). Checkball 4 doesnt do any-
thing in high performance applications other than restrict direct
clutch oil passing through the large square separator plate hole 14
and into valve body passage 8. So remove checkball 4 and seal the
large round separator plate hole 14 (figure 7). Now drill out the
small round separator plate hole 14 to 0.125".
Tom Macht 2004-2009
Figure 5
Figure 6
Direct clutch oil, now in valve body
passage 8 (figure 8), flows through the
next large round separator plate hole 14

Figure 8
Figure 7
(figure 9), into transmission case passage 6 (figure 10), and into the
center support and direct clutch drum.
Figure 9
Figure 10
Tom Macht 2004-2009
4 New Ford & GM Manuals
Available on CD
These books are compilations of information gathered from our 2000 - 2008 Seminar Manuals. There are 8
different transmissions covered in each of these manuals.
Please mention this ad when placing your order. Place your order before 12pm PST and receive same day shipping.
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ATRA bkstr 5609.indd 43 4/30/09 2:01:18 PM
At the same time, direct clutch oil
flows to the release side of the servo
assembly. This is to release the 2
nd

gear band at the same time it applies
the direct clutch. This band release
and clutch apply must be synchronized
properly to eliminate bind-up and flare
during the 2-3 upshift.
From valve body passage 8, direct
Figure 11
Figure 12
clutch oil must flow into valve body
passage 12 (figure 11) or the direct
accumulator, where it can make its way
to the servo.
This is the critical point for ori-
ficing direct clutch oil to the direct
accumulator circuit. In stock form there
are 2 possible routes the direct clutch
oil can take from valve body passage 8
to valve body passage 12 during a 2-3
upshift, depending on the position of
the 3-2 control valve.
Before continuing, lets look at the
function of the 3-2 control valve. The
3-2 control valve is located in valve
body passage 8 and connects with valve
body passage 12. The 3-2 control valve
is held open by a spring; its gradu-
ally closed completely by governor oil
acting on its large land as output shaft
speed increases.
When the 3-2
control valve is open
or partially open, it
allows direct clutch oil
to pass through a huge
orifice into valve body
passage 12. When the
valve is closed, it
forces direct clutch oil
to flow through two
separator plate orifices into valve
body passage 12. In essence it pro-
vides variable orificing of direct
clutch oil into the direct accumu-
lator circuit, based on output shaft
RPM.
According to GM technical
manuals, this wasnt its intended
purpose. Its purpose was similar
to checkball 4. And were left with
two possible conditions:
Possibility 1 The direct
clutch oil flowing in valve body
passage 8 will pass through an
open or partially-open 3-2 control
valve into valve body passage 12,
while flowing through two separa-
tor plate orifices, past a checkball, and
through another separator plate orifice
into valve body passage 12.
Possibility 2 Direct clutch oil
flow will stop at a closed 3-2 con-
trol valve, while flowing through two
Figure 14
Figure 13
Tom Macht 2004-2009
separator plate orifices, past a checkball,
and through another separator plate ori-
fice into valve body passage 12.
NOTE: If the separator plate is
OEM Monte Carlo SS HO, it will only
use the large round separator plate hole
5.
Direct clutch oil flowing in valve
body passage 8 is sent to the 3-2 control
valve and separator plate orifices at the
same time. After the oil passes through
separator plate holes 5 (the small and
large round holes, figure 12) it must
flow past checkball 2 (figure 13) and
out through separator plate hole 5 (the
square hole, figure 14) into valve body
passage 12.
Heres the key to the circuit: The
optimum size orifice between the third
clutch oil and third clutch accumula-
tor oil circuits is 0.120 to 0.125.
Any possible 3-2 control valve position
between fully open and fully closed,
combined with the diameters of the
small and large round holes, is much
larger than the optimum orifice size of
0.120 to 0.125.
How do we arrive at this orifice
size? First we discard the factory 3-2
control valve spring and install a pump
slide pivot pin spring to block the valve
closed. This forces all of the direct
accumulator oil through the separator
plate orifice (figure 15).
Next we remove checkball 2 and
seal off the large round separator plate
hole 5. Enlarge the smaller round sepa-
rator plate hole 5 to 0.120 0.125
to balance direct accumulator oil flow
rates in proportion to direct clutch
apply.
If youre using a billet shaft for-
ward drum, you can also dual feed the
direct clutch by leaving the center seal
out of the direct drum,
and plugging the hole
in the 10mm center
support retaining bolt
that feeds the reverse
side of the direct
drum.
If you dont want
to fuss with plugging
the holes in the plate,
weve developed a
low-cost replacement
plate with the work
already done. The
redesigned separa-
tor plate alone pays
big dividends in per-
formance. With these
modifications you can greatly extend
the power-handling capabilities of the
GM2004R transmission in any muscle
car.
Christoforos Kokkonis is the owner
and operator of CK Performance
Products Inc. They specialize in design
and manufacture of extreme duty trans-
mission and internal components, and
have a complete research and develop-
ment and CNC shop. Visit them on line
at www.ckperformance.com.
Figure 16
Figure 15
transgo plced5609.indd 47 4/30/09 2:06:38 PM
S
ince the inception of the Whats
Working program, ATRA has
been committed to looking for
ways to increase your business success
through a series of studies, with both
shop owners and consumers. Last year
we focused on two specific issues: the
marketing methods shops used and the
needs of the consumer. We then pre-
sented the findings of those studies at
last years ATRA Powertrain Expo.
This year we wanted to see how the
dramatic changes to the economy over
the last six months or so have affected
the buying habits of consumers, and
how it might affect the transmission
repair business.
We conducted a study of 1000
consumers and recently received some
preliminary results from the marketing
firm that conducted the study. Normally
wed save the results of the study until
Expo, but this information seemed so
time-sensitive that I didnt want to
wait.
During any study, we establish
criteria for choosing a target audience.
It might be the age of the participants,
the age of their cars, people whove
had major auto repairs, or even more
specifically, people whove had major
transmission repair.
This time, having had any auto
repair wasnt a consideration, but they
did have to have a car they used daily,
thats between 4 and 10 years old and
out of factory warranty. We wanted to
find out how many people had post-
poned auto repairs on their cars in the
past 6 months. Heres what we found:
Chart 1 shows the types of repairs
our survey respondents had on their
cars within the past year. It shows that
only 165 of the respondents had auto
repairs in the past year.
Chart 2 shows the number of peo-
ple who postponed auto repairs in the
past 6 months. As you can see, 262 of
the respondents postponed needed auto
repairs.
Think about that: 165 people
made repairs, 262 postponed necessary
repairs, and the remainder (573) didnt
need any auto repairs. This changes
our perception of the data significantly.
What this means is there were 262 of
the 427 people with broken cars who
didnt get them fixed. Thats 62%!
So when we ask why we havent
had much business over the past 6
months, all of a sudden the answer
isnt because the people took their cars
somewhere else; they just werent get-
ting their cars fixed.
This means something else, too:
It means theres a glut of broken cars
sitting around, just waiting to be fixed.
We also know from the study that 20%
of the people who postponed their nec-
essary repairs plan on fixing their cars
within the next 6 months. Keep in mind
that we did this study back in February,
while there was even more concern
about the economy than there is now.
So what does this mean to you? It
means that maybe the reason youve
been struggling to make ends meet isnt
that you arent getting your share of the
work. Maybe it means that theres still
a lot of work being held back, waiting
until they cant wait any longer. It may
mean that theres a lot of work getting
ready to show up in the near future.
Weve already talked about the
vast numbers of dealerships that are
expected to close over the next year.
So if consumers need repairs, and the
dealerships are closing, where are they
going to go for those repairs? Theres a
good chance that you could be seeing a
significant part of that work.
The evidence is piling up that our
glass may be more than half full that
we may be in for some tremendous
business in the months ahead. But just
because its out there doesnt mean that
its naturally going to find its way to
your door. You still have to get the word
out to let consumers know that youre
there for them that youre ready to
help them with their problems.
The work is still out there, wait-
ing for the right moment. And most
indications are that the moment is fast
approaching. You need to take the ini-
tiative, to help consumers find you, and
turn those consumers into customers
your customers.
The answer is going to be about
you. You need to make the effort to let
those customers know that you want
their business. You need to show them
that youll make the extra effort on
their behalf that you want to be their
friend in the business.
Dont let the last six months drag
you down. Because, with a little extra
effort, the next six may just be enough
to fill your glass all the way to the top.
WHAT'S WORKING
More Than
Half Full
by Dennis Madden
165 had repairs
262 postponed repairs
573 did not need repairs
1000 Total
262 427 = 62%
postponed needs
repairs
Chart 1: Types of Repairs: 835 of the 1000 people surveyed did not have any major auto repair within the past year
which means 165 people had repairs. Note: Some people had repairs in more than one catagory
which is why the total exceeds 100%.
Postponed Repairs
Type of Repair Completed
835
people
Chart 2: Postponed Work: 262 people postponed auto repairs,
738 did not which includes 573 people that did not have car trouble.
Regul ar safety
inspections using
site-specific check-
lists help to keep
workers safe by
identifying and
correcting hazards
in the workplace
before they can
cause an illness or
result in an injury.
How often you conduct a site inspection
depends on the workplace and its
hazards. Some sites may need checks at
every shift and others may need daily,
quarterly or annual inspections. After
any inspection, make sure you remember
to document the observations, identified
hazards, and corrective action.
At least annually, review your
administrative records and postings
at your workplace. Check to see that
safety programs, procedures, trainings,
MSDS binders, and other records are
up to date and accurate. Employer
postings required by Cal/OSHA,
Workers Compensation, and labor law
must be placed where they are likely
to be seen by employees. And, all
critical procedures (e.g. spill cleanup,
evacuation, etc.) should be posted in
prominent locations for employees to
quickly reference in an emergency.
Notice if workers consistently
practice good housekeeping which
is critical to a safe work environment.
Are chemicals being stored within their
compatible classes and are flammables
being kept in a secured flammable cabi-
net? Are exits clear of stacked material
and other impediments? Check to see
that items and debris are kept up off
floors and out of walkways and that
stored items are stacked properly on
shelving units firmly attached to the
wall; heavier items should be on the
bottom, lighter items stored on top
shelves. Limit the height of stacked
materials to ensure that they are stable
and self-supporting. Items stored on
tops shelves require 18 clearance from
fire sprinkler systems and electric pan-
els should have 36 clearance in front.
Inspect floor surfaces to assure
they are clean and free of slip hazards
such as dirt, granular substances, equip-
ment parts, water, or oil. Wet surfaces
should be covered with non-slip mate-
rials and holes in the floor, sidewalk,
carpet, or other walking surface should
be repaired properly, covered, or made
safe. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
(GFCI) outlets should be installed
around wet areas.
Check the condition of equipment
and tools to assure theyre in good
working order. Take out of service
or tag defective equipment. Examine
power cords to determine if they
are intact, need repair, or should be
replaced. Extension cords should not
cross walkways and should be used
only temporarily. Install additional
power outlets if extension cords are
necessary on a permanent basis or there
are daisy chained power strips. Check
that equipment guards and protective
coverings are in place. Is the personal
protective equipment clean and acces-
sible with available areas and materials
for decontamination and storage?
Test your safety and emergency
systems and equipment such as fire
alarms and sprinkler systems annually
and assure that your fire extinguishers
are charged monthly and recharged
annually. Periodically inspect all first
aid kits and replenish or replace sup-
plies when needed. Ensure areas under
desks and tables are accessible to allow
proper ergonomic seating and access in
case of an earthquake. Aisles and walk-
ways need 36 clearance in an office
and 44 in a shipping area. Emergency
exits should be clearly marked so they
can be seen from any point in the facil-
ity. Label doors that are not exits to
avoid confusion. Fire doors should not
be propped open.
Finally, encourage workers to make
daily site and equipment safety inspec-
tions and to correct or report observed
hazards.
Conduct a
Site Safety
Inspection
by Judy Kerry
State Compensation Insurance Fund
G
as prices are climbing fast, and it wont be long
before people everywhere begin searching for
ways to save at the pump. Now you can earn more
while helping your customers wring every mile
out of every dollar with the new mpg-MAX
program!
This isnt some sort of magic formula or silver
bullet: The mpg-MAX program is a profes-
sional marketing and service program that
takes you through a logical series of over
two dozen checks, to show you where a
car may be wasting gas.
The mpg-MAX program comes with
all of the marketing support you need to
get the word out, and start bringing more
customers in. And it can help you build
those customer relationships that are so
important for improving your business
and your bottom line.
Become a Gas Mileage Specialty Shop
with the All New mpg-MAX Program!
And not just marketing: The mpg-
MAX program disk comes with a
complete, 90-page technical manual, to help your tech-
nicians learn everything they need to get the best gas
mileage for your customers while earning more
money for your shop.
The mpg-MAX program lists for just
$495
; a terrific
price that would easily pay for itself with just one or two
sales. But now, for a limited time, you can start taking
advantage of this additional service work for a low,
introductory price of just
$
395!
Thats a discount of over 20%!
To learn more about the mpg-MAX program, or to order a kit for
your shop, call Auto Tech Now toll-free, at 1-800-259-1745, or
stop by the web site at www.AutoTechNow.com.
So dont wait until gas prices have gone through the roof:
Order your mpg-MAX program today, and help your cus-
tomers wring every mile out of every dollar tomorrow!
www.AutoTechNow.com 1-800-259-1745
2009 ATRA Technical Seminars
Registration Costs:
Prepaid, preregistered ATRA members $149
Prepaid, preregistered non-ATRA members $189
On-site registration $210
Register online and save $10 per person
One free registration with every four paid.
ATRA Seminar Registration
2400 Latigo Avenue
Oxnard, CA 93030
805.988.6761
8
*
800.428.8489
www.ATRA.com
Register Today!
Dates Locations
5/30/09 Des Moines, IA
5/30/09 Dallas, TX
6/13/09 Vancouver, BC
8/1/09 San Antonio, TX
8/8/09 Los Angeles, CA
8/15/09 Albuquerque, NM
8/22/09 Cincinnati, OH
8/29/09 Chicago, IL
9/12/09 Billings, MT
10/3/09 Portland, OR
10/17/09 New York, NY
11/7/09 Baltimore, MD
Check ATRA.com for more dates and
locations to come!
www.ATRA.com
A Changing Industry
Todays business climate is more challenging than ever
before and reliable technical training is a key factor in
remaining up-to-date and proftable. As technology
changes, you can be sure ATRA will be right there helping
you help your customers. Because...
Our goal is your success!
The transmissions well
be covering are:
Helping you get your customers back on the road...FAST!
GM:
4T40/45 TCC Surge Updates
4T65E Sprocket support issues
4T80E TCC Buzz noise
4L60/65/70E P0756 issues
5L50, 6L50/80/90
LCT 1000
Updates--all units
CHRYSLER:
68RFE
AS68RC
MERCEDES:
722.6
722.9
FORD:
AWF-21B
6F50N
4R70W-4R70/75E
Torqshift
Erratic
speedometer
operation EMI
issue
TOYOTA:
U250E
4X4:
Chrysler
GM
2009 ATRA Technical Seminars
Registration Costs:
Prepaid, preregistered ATRA members $149
Prepaid, preregistered non-ATRA members $189
On-site registration $210
Register online and save $10 per person
One free registration with every four paid.
ATRA Seminar Registration
2400 Latigo Avenue
Oxnard, CA 93030
805.988.6761
8
*
800.428.8489
www.ATRA.com
Register Today!
Dates Locations
5/30/09 Dallas, TX
8/29/09 Chicago, IL
11/7/09 Baltimore, MD
Check ATRA.com for more dates and
locations to come!
www.ATRA.com
A Changing Industry
Todays business climate is more challenging than ever
before and reliable technical training is a key factor in
remaining up-to-date and proftable. As technology
changes, you can be sure ATRA will be right there helping
you help your customers. Because...
Our goal is your success!
The transmissions well
be covering are:
Helping you get your customers back on the road...FAST!
GM:
4T40/45 TCC Surge Updates
4T65E Sprocket support issues
4T80E TCC Buzz noise
4L60/65/70E P0756 issues
5L50, 6L50/80/90
LCT 1000
Updates--all units
CHRYSLER:
68RFE
AS68RC
MERCEDES:
722.6
722.9
FORD:
AWF-21B
6F50N
4R70W-4R70/75E
Torqshift
Erratic
speedometer
operation EMI
issue
TOYOTA:
U250E
4X4:
Chrysler
GM
ATRAs Powertrain Expo 2009
Registration opens June 1!
Trade Show Golf Tournament Technical Seminars Management Seminars ATRA Luncheon Cocktail Reception ATRA Lon
Riviera Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
Kick off Industry Week
with
October 29 November 1, 2009
Industry week is the most concentrated gathering of automotive
professionals for the entire year. ATRA has teamed up with APRA
(Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association) to make this a
weekend you wont want to miss! With over 150 exhibitors & over 2
full days of seminars youll never nd a better opportunity to grow
your business!
ATRAs Powertrain
Expo 2009!
2009 Expo Brochure2.indd 1 5/4/09 3:36:01 PM
October 29 - November 2, 2009 55 ATRAs Powertrain Expo 2009 54
Management Seminars
Technical Seminars
Get Em In The Door
From Consumer to Customer: Key Processes in Turning
Strangers into Your Core Business!
Last year we learned how to Get em in the Door helping consumers find your
shop, and getting them to stop by. But once theyre in the door, what then? How do
you turn those curious consumers into customers, wholl pay you to fix their cars,
and even send more work your way?
Thats what this years ATRAs Powertrain Expo is all about: Learning the processes
involved in making more than just a sale to develop the trust thats critical in
turning those consumers into customers.
Over the last 12 months, ATRAs management team has expanded its quest to
identify what consumers are looking for in a shop. Sure, price has its place, along
with dozens of other secondary issues. But, in the end, the one thing everyones
looking for is someone they can trust their friend in the business the guy whos
going to make everything right again.
Thats what this years management track is all about: Building the trust thatll turn
those consumers into customers.
Over the next year or so, as many as 3000 dealerships are expected to close. That,
combined with the dramatic changes to the economy, has created a new business
climate that promises a rebirth to the auto repair industry. Will you be ready to turn
those displaced consumers into customers your customers?
Thats our goal for the Expo 2009 management track, beginning on Thursday,
October 29. Make it your goal too, by reserving your spot at ATRAs Powertrain
Expo do it today!
Management Seminars
Technical Seminars
Get em Out The Door Fast!
From Consumer to Customer: Key Processes to Get Em Out
The Door with a Timely Repair!
How fast can you fix a car? Most consumers believe you should be able to fix and
return their cars within a couple days even if they need a complete rebuild. Thats
one of the things we discovered in ATRAs 2009 Consumer Survey.
For the last few years, ATRAs been working with shop owners and managers to
bring more cars in. But thats only half the job; to turn a consumer into a customer
your customer you have to fix the car right and fix it fast.
ATRAs Powertrain Expo has always been a terrific source for technical training,
and this year is no exception: with a total of over 21 hours, 18 industry specialists
bring their unique blend of expertise to Las Vegas, to provide you with a wealth of
technical know-how.
The real problem has always been choosing which programs to attend, and which
youll have to skip. But not this year because for the first time, ATRA is putting all
of the technical programs together in one place. Every program will be presented
consecutively, in a single presentation hall.
Youll receive two full days packed with technical training, all in one room. No more
picking and choosing, because at ATRAs Powertrain Expo 2009, you wont have to
miss a thing.
So dont wait: Make your plans today to attend ATRAs Powertrain Expo in fabulous
Las Vegas, and get ready to get em out the door and get em out fast!
Sponsored by Toledo Trans-Kit
Saturday, October 31
6:00 am-2:00 pm

Start your Expo week with a good walk, spoilt, at the 5th Annual Red Girdley
Memorial Golf Tournament, sponsored by Toledo Trans-Kit. This years tourney
is being held at the world famous Wildhorse Golf Club; a beautiful course that
was featured in Golf Digest as one of the best places to play. Sign up today; the
early bird gets the best start times and well see you on the links.
Sunday, November 1
9:00 am
Included with your paid full registration!
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this
years full registration features a full breakfast on Sunday morning.
Start your day of right with delicious breakfast in the company of your
peers and the technical and marketing gurus who keep you at the top
of your game.
ATRA Power Breakfast
5th Annual Red Girdley Memorial
Golf Tournament
Sponsored by Transtar
6pm
After a long day of intense training and product introductions, its time
to kick back with a drink and a nosh at the annual Transtar reception on
Saturday evening.
The reception features an open bar, tasty appetizers, and world class
entertainment. Its a cant-miss event thats sure to be one of the
highlights of an event-flled weekend.
Cocktail Reception
Discounted Room Rate
$119 single/double
Mention ATRA to get discounted rate
Riviera Hotel & Casino
2901 Las Vegas Blvd., South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: (800) 634-3420
ATRA has reserved a block of rooms at $119 per
night, but you must make your reservations
before October 9, 2009.
When making your reservations be sure
to mention you are with the Automatic
Transmission Rebuilders Association group or
ATRA to get your room rate.
Sunday, November 1
9:00 am
Included with your paid full registration!
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this
years full registration features a full breakfast on Sunday morning.
Start your day of right with delicious breakfast in the company of your
peers and the technical and marketing gurus who keep you at the top
of your game.
ATRA Power Breakfast
5th Annual Red Girdley Memorial
Golf Tournament
Hotel Accomodations
Sponsored by Transtar
6pm
After a long day of intense training and product introductions, its time
to kick back with a drink and a nosh at the annual Transtar reception on
Saturday evening.
The reception features an open bar, tasty appetizers, and world class
entertainment. Its a cant-miss event thats sure to be one of the
highlights of an event-flled weekend.
Cocktail Reception
Exhibitors as of 4/27/09
APRA
Auto Suppliers Limited
Boles Parts Supply
Car-Part.com
D & V Electronics Ltd.
Dixie Electric Ltd.
Goff, Inc.
Guspro, Inc.
HG/Cargo-Holger
Christiansen North America,
Inc.
International Automotive
Trading
J & N Auto Electric
Jadausa
L. R. Miller Company
Lester Catalog Co., Inc.
Lewis Tool & Die, Inc.
Phoenix Automotive Cores
Pro Ultrasonics
Quality Equipment Sales
RCP, Inc.
RIT (Rochester Institute of
Technology)
Rebuilders Automotive
Supply
Recycler Core Company
Regitar USA, Inc.
ReMaTec News
Roadway Express/Meridian
One
S & S Truck Parts
STC Automotive, Inc.
Siriani & Associates
Sunair Products, Inc.
US Department of Commerce
WAIGlobal
A & Reds Transmission Parts
Alto Products Corp.
Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants
ATI Performance Products
BorgWarner Morse Tec
Bosch Diagnostics-Robert
Bosch, LLC
Central Valve Bodies
Certified Transmissions
Chrysler-Mopar
Dacco Transmission Parts,
Inc.
DCM Tech Corp.
Drive On Technologies, LLC
Ease Diagnostics
Educational Seminars
Institute (ESi)
Elite, The Success Tool
Company
ETE Reman
EVT Parts
Exedy Friction
Ford Motor Company
G-Auto
G-Cor Automotive Corp.
GES
GFX Corp.
G-Tec, Inc.
HGM Electronics/PML, Inc.
Jasper Engines &
Transmissions
JDS Worldwide Corp.
Lubegard by International
Lubricants, Inc.
Management Feedback
Systems, Inc.
Management Success!
Mustang Dynamometer
NATPRO National
Transmission Products Co.
Northland Transmission, Inc.
Oklahoma Transmission
Supply, Inc. (OTS)
Omega Machine & Tool, Inc.
Power Pusher-Div. of Nu-Star,
Inc.
Precision International
Precision of New Hampton,
Inc./ Hot Flush
ProfitBoost Software
Reman Industries, Inc.
Rostra Precision Controls,
Inc.
Seal Aftermarket Products-
Parker Hannifin Corp.
Slauson Transmission Parts
Smart Blends by Life
Automotive Products, Inc.
Sonnax Industries
SuperFlow Technologies
Group
Superior Transmission Parts,
Inc.
Trans Brite / Allen Woods &
Associates, Inc.
TransGo
Transmission Rrebuilders
Network International (TRNi)
Transmission Specialties
Transtar Industries, Inc.
Transtec by Corteco
Tri Components Products
Corp.
TRNW, Inc.
Valve Body Pros
VBX - Valve Body Xpress,
Inc.
Whatever It Takes
Transmission Parts, Inc.
ZF Sales & Service NA, LLC
APRA Exhibitors
ATRA Exhibitors
ATRAs Powertrain Expo 2009 58
ATRA Websites:
Bringing in Better Business
and Bigger Bucks
I
n an ever changing world filled
with technology and new ways
of thinking, businesses and their
marketing strategies must adapt to
change. If they choose not to, they
automatically run the risk of being left
in dust by their competition. While you
may not think that this applies to the
hands-on transmission business, it most
certainly does. Technology, evolution,
and new ways of thinking do not stop
for any industry in todays world.
Reports from news networks and
the Audit Bureau of Circulations show
that print newspaper readership is on a
steady decline and it has been for many
years. The same decline is being seen in
the use of print magazines and phone-
books. It just goes to show that people
are starting to get their information
from somewhere else.
That somewhere else is the World
Wide Web. Everything anyone could
ever want is right out in the open on the
Internet. For the transmission business,
that means a new, trusted environment
is the key to spreading our information
to the masses.
ATRA is doing everything it can to
provide this new and trusted environ-
ment for everyone in the industry who
needs it. The goal is to provide mem-
bers with an effective presence on the
World Wide Web.
Making Websites Simple
A website is only as good as its
content and it is hard to develop good
content if you dont know how to
operate your own website. That is why
ATRA makes it easy for all its members
to do themselves.
The easy to use website system is
one of Oregon member Jason Faust,
owner of Bradshaws Transmissions
(www.bradshawstransmission.com),
favorite perks of being an ATRA mem-
ber. He says, I like the ability to make
changes when I want and how I want.
In business since 1938, Bradshaw
Transmissions is just one of the many
businesses that have modified them-
selves to change with the way the world
now finds and receives information.
An ATRA associated website offers
members a variety of features to make
it easy for them to change and custom-
ize the message they want to spread to
potential and existing customers. One
of these features is a password protect-
ed toolbox for easy site modifications.
If web technology is not your
strongest suit, there is no need to worry.
ATRA makes things simple for web-
site owners along with the customers
who visit the sites. Even those who
are not the savviest when it comes to
computer technology will have an easy
time navigating around their own site
along with easily making changes when
necessary.
For customers, an ATRA run site is
simply perfect. All the information they
need about a business is easy to find
and just as easy to access. From a mem-
bers homepage, customers can easily
find and access information about a
business, including its:
Location & Contact informa-
tion
Cost Calculator
Provided services
Service Specials including
coupons
Testimonials from other cus-
tomers
Request an Appointment
With these features online cus-
tomers are able to get to know your
business and its operations before it
enters your shop. Building a sense of
comfort for your customer is certainly
a good way to build their trust and earn
their business. By viewing testimonials
from customers that have done business
with your shop it helps the customer to
by Kelly Hilmer
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
put their mind at ease knowing other
customers have had a good experience
with the services provided.
One of the features on the websites
provided to ATRA Members is the Cost
Calculator which offers the customer
the opportunity to enter information
about their vehicle to determine wheth-
er repairing the vehicle or purchasing
a new vehicle is in their best interest.
With the change in our economy many
consumers have decided to repair their
vehicles and with this exclusive tool for
ATRA Members, it helps the consumer
to see the benefits of repairing their
vehicle. To see how the Cost Calculator
works visit www.atraprofessional.com
Once theyve decided on repairing
their vehicle, they are able to request an
appointment straight from the website
that sends an email to the shop imme-
diately.
Happy with customers respons-
es to his website, Ed Doyle of A+1
Transmission Specialists says,
Transmission work cant be done over
the Internet. A website creates a sense
of establishment to help get a business
name out there. And with the features
of an ATRA site, getting a business out
there has never been easier.
Judging a Book by Its Cover
When you market your compa-
nys services, appearance is important.
Every business strives to set itself apart
from the rest of its competition and
show its uniqueness to potential clients.
At ATRA, we fully understand this
concept.
When ATRA members set up their
websites, they have numerous options
at the simple click of a button. Members
can select templates and color schemes
from over 15 different options. They
can also view working samples of dif-
ferent websites before they make their
selection. As an added bonus, members
can also customize their sites by includ-
ing pictures of their businesses as a way
to make a more personal experience for
web users.
As a general tip, the more personal
your website is, the more business you
will see. Consumers like to feel like
they already know you before they
contact you. If the appearance of your
website shows them who you are before
you even meet, you are already one step
ahead of your competition!
Increasing Your Business
Not only do websites allow those
who normally wouldnt find you to get
to know your business, but they also
allow customers to see all the infor-
mation they need right in front of you
before tying up your phones lines or
office manager.
ATRA websites have proven to
help members businesses. Kit Lindsay
from Missouris Lindsay Transmissions
(www.lindsaytransmission.com) says,
We have definitely picked up some
appointments and customers from hav-
ing a site.
Jason Faust of Bradshaws
Transmissions agrees. He says that one
of the most frequent things he hears
from new customers is, Found you on
the web.
Faust also found that dur-
ing Christmas time, Bradshaw
Transmissions got a better response
than normal, a fact that he attributes
to his ATRA website. He explains,
There was an influx of calls and
appointments set around the Christmas
season. According to Faust, this influx
was in direct correlation with his ATRA
built website.
These are just two stories among
many that show how much people are
really starting to use the Internet to find
businesses and get the services they
need. More importantly, these are just
two stories among many that show how
ATRA makes that possible for shops
and customers alike.
Boosting Search Engine
Rankings
You may wonder how people are
going to find your business among the
millions of other businesses advertising
themselves over the Internet. This ques-
tion can be answered with three simple
words: Search Engine Rankings.
When potential customers look for
Having a website
not only leads to
increased business
opportunities, but
having one made for
you leaves even
more time for
you to actually do
your job...
a shop, they type in a set of words to
reflect what they need. If a website
is not built to increase search engine
rankings, the site could disappear at the
bottom of the Google pile. However,
when a website is built to incorporate
the keywords that make a site soar, the
site will end up at the top of the list.
Since part of ATRAs marketing
goal is to make sure its members web-
sites are seen, search engine rankings
play a large role in the way we help
you create your sites. As Jason Faust
says, We have been working on search
engine rankings and it works!
ATRA works with the members to
increase search engine position under
their city, state and the terms trans-
mission shop, transmission repair
and/or automatic transmission. First
page listings in the search engines are
where most internet users stop clicking,
so by making sure your business has a
first page ranking in the search engines,
you are more likely to receive website
users.
And as part of the setup process
when ordering a member website from
ATRA, your site gets submitted to
the top three search engines, including
Google, Yahoo and MSN, at no
additional charge. In addition, taking
advantage of Google Analytics, the
FREE tool provided by Google, your
business has the ability to track users
and gives you the opportunity to see
trends that help you to make changes to
your website for turning your users into
customers.
Being a part of the ATRA helps
members generate more business as it
is. With an ATRA website, you can be
sure that your business will become
more visible and successful than ever
before.
Letting ATRA Help You
Opportunity is a key word when
it comes to marketing your business
and service to those who want your
help. Having a website not only leads
to increased business opportunities, but
having one made for you leaves even
more time for you to actually do your
job without having to worry about
maintaining whats going on in the
realm of the computer world.
The importance of getting your
name out there and becoming a force
in the transmission industry cannot be
stressed enough, nor can the impor-
tance of marketing yourself in a way
that speaks to the world right now. Time
has proven that even the Transmission
Industry is affected by the worlds
obsession with visuals in modern day
advertisements. Consumers want to be
able to see where they are going, dis-
cover who they are meeting, and do a
little background search before they
pick a service specialist.
ATRA member websites make that
all easy on businesses and consumers.
As Ed Doyle of A+1 Transmission
Specialists says, The website is great
for starting contact with customers.
The helpful nature of his site has made
it possible for him to connect with
customers he never would have met
before.
Another perk Doyle has found
is the effectiveness of meeting new
customers through his website email
address. He explains, I receive more
emails and phone calls. It gives more
opportunity for appointment scheduling
and potential clients. For Doyle and
the many other ATRA members who
use their websites to the fullest, busi-
ness gets better every day and that is
what every aspect of ATRA strives to
do for its members.
Making Websites Affordable
ATRA members are not only given
the advantage of being displayed online,
but are also offered online services that
cannot be beat anywhere else. For a
small set-up fee of $150 and an even
smaller $10 monthly charge, ATRA
will purchase and renew your domain
names, host your website, and best of
all, set your website up for you. ATRA
administers your site, trains you on how
to update your site and takes care of all
the little details for you, so you can do
what you do best - fix transmissions.
ATRA Your business Partner
for a Changing Industry
Being involved in the marketing
world has taught me a lot about what
people want and how they want to get
it. From what I have learned, people
want things that are easy, accessible,
and at the tip of their fingers. With
ATRAs website services, consumers
can get exactly what they want and
businesses can easily help them get it.
Better marketing equals better busi-
ness. Its that simple. Thats why we at
ATRA strive to help our members take
their businesses to a whole new level.
And with the advent of our new website
services, that level has already proven
to include more profits and more work
than some shops ever thought possible.
To learn more about ATRAs
mission and achievements, please visit:
http://www.atra.com/about
ATRA Websites: Bringing in Better Business and Bigger Bucks
Owning a website on the internet is not the
end of your marketing efforts for your business.
Its necessary to keep track of your website
performance using a website tracking tool.
Google Analytics is one of the best tools that can
be used to track and monitor the traffic
performance of your site.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that helps
you gain a better understanding on why web
visitors visit your site. With the
tools available from Google
Analytics you will find out which
keywords are most effectively used
in the website. Then it will be
possible to enhance the number of
visits to the site based on these
keyword results.
Google Analytics makes it
possible to gain information on the
way visitors visit the site and
interact with it. The SEO campaigns
also help to deliver the best return
on investment to the site.
In addition, with Google
Adwords service it is possible to get
high search engine rankings to your
site. This is because Google Adwords provides
you with the major keywords in the website, and
guarantees that your website will appear in all
search engine results.
Here are seven other benefits
that Google Analytics offers:
Its FREE! Unlike other visitor tracking
services this tool is offered at no charge.
It is a very easy to use. There are several help
documents available online to get you started and
walk you through the steps as well.
Find out how many recurring users and new
users are visiting your website.
Determine which pages are the most
requested pages in your site.
Find out where your visitors are coming
from. Which site sends more customers to your
site than others?
Discover which pages your visitors leave
your site. What You Can Do With this
information: Adjust the pages to encourage sales.
Find out where your visitors are located with
the geographical information provided.
So it can be seen that Google Analytics is a
service that all webmasters should not forsake,
but use to enhance the performance of the site on
the internet.
Read the Internet Hot Spot on page 66
for more information on Google Analytics.
www.atra.com
Analyzing Your Website Statistics
Analyizing the use and patterns of
your website visitors is easier now
than ever with Google Analytics.
Its FREE, uses sophisticated
analytics, easy to use, and scalable for
any size website.
Google is a trusted source and has
pledged to safeguard the privacy of
your data. They lead the industry in
data integrity and protection and have
always used first party cookies to
ensure consistent tracking.
Learn more about how Google
Analytics can help you find out what
keywords attract your most desirable
prospects, what advertising copy
pulled the most responses, and what
landing pages and content make the
most money for you.
Here are some of the features of
Google Analytics
Custom ReportsCreate, save, and
edit custom reports that present the
information you want to see
organized in the way you want to see
it. A drag and drop interface lets you
select the metrics you want and define
multiple levels of sub-reports. Once
created, each custom report is
available for as long as you want it.
Fast ImplementationPaste the
Google Analytics tracking code into
each of your website pages and
tracking begins immediately.
Keyword and Campaign
ComparisonTrack and compare all
your ads, email newsletters, affiliate
campaigns, referrals, paid links, and
keywords on Google and other search
engines.
Custom DashboardsNo more
digging through reports. Put all the
information you need on a custom
Dashboard that you can email to
others.
AdWords IntegrationBuy
keywords on Google AdWords and
use Google Analytics to learn which
keywords are most profitable to your
business.
Internal Site SearchFind out how
your visitors search your site, what
they look for, and where they end up.
Funnel VisualizationFind out
which pages result in lost conversions
and where your would-be customers
go.
Site OverlaySee traffic and
conversion information for every link
as you browse your site. (no
download required).
Email reportsSchedule or send ad-
hoc personalized report emails that
contain exactly the information you
want to share.
GeoTargetingFind out where your
visitors come from and identify your
most lucrative geographic markets.
These are just a few of the features
available with Google Analytics. For
more detailed list of features, visit
their website at: ________
With features as detailed as these,
your website is very simple to
analyze. You can do it yourself or
have your office manager do it for
you without the need to hire a
professional website designer.
Other Related Sites:
analytics.blogspot.com
www.google.com/support/analytics
Internet Hot Spot
by Kelly Hilmer
www.google.com/analytics
Read the Internet Hot Spot on the next page
52 GEARS April 2009
Whether you are located in California or New
York, you are most likely facing the same prob-
lems another shop is facing. The demographics
do play some part on issues you face, yet the
basics of running a shop are part of the everyday
process that all shop owners have to find solu-
tions.
With the support of the ATRAWhat's Working
Forum, ATRA Members have the ability to post
topics and receive many replies to their questions
or concerns that other shop owners have already
found the solutions.
Each day the What's Working forum receives
several new topics and several posts on the exist-
ing topics from shop owners around the world
looking for help and just a general support to
know that you aren't facing these issues alone.
Recent topics being discussed on the ATRA
Forums include:
Marketing letters
Marketing your Warranty
Women's Care Care Clinic
Effective Advertising
Website Improvement
And more new topics posted daily!
What's working is about sharing business
ideas, processes and methods for running your
shop and reaching new customers. If you've been
thinking about any of these topics consider dis-
cussing them with other business owners
New process for running your shop and mak-
ing it more efficient and profitable.
New sources or methods of reaching new
customers.
Methods of increasing customer satisfaction.
Ways of tracking your business.
New advertising approaches have drawn
attention to your business.
New features to your web site that customers
have commented on in a positive way.
Ways to reach your community that is cost
effective and maybe even resulted in a press
release or news coverage.
Perhaps you've made physical improvements
in your shop that has receive positive com-
ments from customers, and you'd like to share
them.
Have you attended any classes or been
involved with any trainers or consultants that
have had a positive impact on your business
or personal outlook about your business, that
others could benefit from?
Have you discovered or implemented any
employee program that has resulted in better
out put and spirit in your work team?
These are just some of the ideas that are regu-
larly posted on What's Working forum.
For information on how to start participating
in these informative discussions, visit ATRA's
website at www.atra.com/ww and get started
solving business problems today!
But that's not all. ATRA has two other forums,
designed for technical and general industry dis-
cussions. You'll find them both at
www.atra.com/ww
We've just completed our recent internet sur-
vey of over 1000 customers related to their buy-
ing habits and how this current economy has
effected their buying decisions. These results,
along with ideas generated from the What's
Working forum will steer the content of this
year's What's Working program at Expo. The pro-
gram details
will be out in
the May issue
of gears maga-
zine.
www.atra.com
ATRA Forums Discussion Topics
Owning a website on the internet is not the
end of your marketing efforts for your business.
Its necessary to keep track of your website
performance using a website tracking tool.
Google Analytics is one of the best tools that can
be used to track and monitor the traffic
performance of your site.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that helps
you gain a better understanding on why web
visitors visit your site. With the
tools available from Google
Analytics you will find out which
keywords are most effectively used
in the website. Then it will be
possible to enhance the number of
visits to the site based on these
keyword results.
Google Analytics makes it
possible to gain information on the
way visitors visit the site and
interact with it. The SEO campaigns
also help to deliver the best return
on investment to the site.
In addition, with Google
Adwords service it is possible to get
high search engine rankings to your
site. This is because Google Adwords provides
you with the major keywords in the website, and
guarantees that your website will appear in all
search engine results.
Here are seven other benefits
that Google Analytics offers:
Its FREE! Unlike other visitor tracking
services this tool is offered at no charge.
It is a very easy to use. There are several help
documents available online to get you started and
walk you through the steps as well.
Find out how many recurring users and new
users are visiting your website.
Determine which pages are the most
requested pages in your site.
Find out where your visitors are coming
from. Which site sends more customers to your
site than others?
Discover which pages your visitors leave
your site. What You Can Do With this
information: Adjust the pages to encourage sales.
Find out where your visitors are located with
the geographical information provided.
So it can be seen that Google Analytics is a
service that all webmasters should not forsake,
but use to enhance the performance of the site on
the internet.
Read the Internet Hot Spot on page 66
www.atra.com
Analyzing Your Website Statistics
Analyizing the use and patterns of
your website visitors is easier now
than ever with Google Analytics.
Its FREE, uses sophisticated
analytics, easy to use, and scalable for
any size website.
Google is a trusted source and has
pledged to safeguard the privacy of
your data. They lead the industry in
data integrity and protection and have
always used first party cookies to
ensure consistent tracking.
Learn more about how Google
Analytics can help you find out what
keywords attract your most desirable
prospects, what advertising copy
pulled the most responses, and what
landing pages and content make the
most money for you.
Here are some of the features of
Google Analytics
Custom ReportsCreate, save, and
edit custom reports that present the
information you want to see
organized in the way you want to see
it. A drag and drop interface lets you
select the metrics you want and define
multiple levels of sub-reports. Once
created, each custom report is
available for as long as you want it.
Fast ImplementationPaste the
Google Analytics tracking code into
each of your website pages and
tracking begins immediately.
Keyword and Campaign
ComparisonTrack and compare all
your ads, email newsletters, affiliate
campaigns, referrals, paid links, and
keywords on Google and other search
engines.
Custom DashboardsNo more
digging through reports. Put all the
information you need on a custom
Dashboard that you can email to
others.
AdWords IntegrationBuy
keywords on Google AdWords and
use Google Analytics to learn which
keywords are most profitable to your
business.
Internal Site SearchFind out how
your visitors search your site, what
they look for, and where they end up.
Funnel VisualizationFind out
which pages result in lost conversions
and where your would-be customers
go.
Site OverlaySee traffic and
conversion information for every link
as you browse your site. (no
download required).
Email reportsSchedule or send ad-
hoc personalized report emails that
contain exactly the information you
want to share.
GeoTargetingFind out where your
visitors come from and identify your
most lucrative geographic markets.
These are just a few of the features
available with Google Analytics. For
more detailed list of features, visit
their website at: ________
With features as detailed as these,
your website is very simple to
analyze. You can do it yourself or
have your office manager do it for
you without the need to hire a
professional website designer.
Other Related Sites:
analytics.blogspot.com
www.google.com/support/analytics
Internet Hot Spot
by Kelly Hilmer
ATRA lost one of its shin-
ing lights early last year; long-
time ATRA Member, past Board
Member, and Southwest Chapter
President Jimmy Shine passed
away suddenly on May 5, 2008
from a pulmonary embolism. He
was 57.
Jimmy is survived by his sis-
ter, Glenda, and his brother, Glen.
Jimmy and his sister owned and
operated Shine Transmissions,
Inc. in Houston, Texas, for over
30 years.
Jimmy never planned to be in
the transmission business. After
college he went to work for a
chemical company in the Houston
area. But he grew up in the auto
repair business; he began rebuild-
ing engines when he was 13.
Jimmys father, Glen Shine,
opened Shine Transmissions in
1974. Hed been in the engine
rebuilding business for years, but
went into the transmission busi-
ness because he believed it would
be easier and more profitable.
Shortly after opening, Glens
health began to deteriorate, so
Jimmy left his job to come work
for his dad and help run the busi-
ness. Glenda came on board soon
after.
Glen taught Jimmy the ins
and outs of transmission repair.
Back then, their standard fair was
350s, 400s, C4s and Torqflites,
and Shine Transmissions used
to rebuild any transmission for
$99.50. According to Glenda,
they made a lot of money doing
it.
As Glens health continued
failing, Jimmy and Glenda took
over the business: Jimmy in the
shop, and Glenda in the office.
While the auto repair business
may not have been Jimmys first
choice, he dove in wholeheart-
edly. And he was an innovative
technician: When electronic units
first started showing up, Jimmy
created his own, rudimentary shift
box, using a series of switches,
alligator clips, and an old cigar
box.
But Jimmys involvement in
the transmission industry didnt
end with his shop and ATRA
membership. Jimmy was active in
the Association, first as the presi-
dent of the Southwest Chapter,
and then later as a member of
ATRAs International Board of
Directors, from 1996-2001.
Why would Jimmy devote so
much time and effort to ATRA
and the local Chapter? According
to his sister Glenda, Jimmy was
a very giving person, and he
enjoyed helping people. There
was nothing he wouldnt do if
someone asked him to. Its the
way we were raised; to give back
to the business thats been such an
important part of our lives.
In the beginning, Jimmys
work to build up the Chapter was
fun. Later he took pride in seeing
the growth that hed been a part of
creating.
Jimmy also enjoyed teach-
ing, and passing his knowledge on
to others. There are several small
shops in town that are owned by
technicians who learned the busi-
ness from Jimmy. Thats a good
feeling.
By 2005, after over 30 years
of standing on concrete floors,
Jimmy was experiencing a lot of
leg pain, so he and Glenda sold
the shop.
Jimmy was also involved
with the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo for over 20 years. He
would spend time working with
children who were raising calves
for the show, helping them learn
how to care for and show their
animals.
And Jimmy loved animals;
he kept a bag of dog food in his
truck and would stop to feed
strays while he was driving
around town. And he took large
bags of food to the local animal
shelters, to make sure they always
had enough to feed their charges.
Jimmy Shine was a giving
man who shared his knowledge
and his time with the industry a
man whod do whatever he could
to help others, and who devoted
his time and effort to teach chil-
dren and care for stray animals.
Not a bad way to be remembered.
James R. Jimmy Shine
March 14, 1950 May 5, 2008
ATRA News

62-atraKEL509.indd 64 5/4/09 3:27:08 PM
Adapt-A-Case Introduces
the All-New Power Wedge
for A727, A518, A618
An unbreakable intermediate band
anchor, when durability is a must!
OEM anchors are a compromise
between functionality and cost. The
material is brittle, and as the band
wears, the angle of the anchor changes
slightly. This moves the pressure to an
area that isnt designed to handle it,
often resulting in failure.
The anchor may also break when
line pressure is increased for perfor-
mance modifications to the valve body
or computer reprogramming.
Larger aftermarket servo pistons
certainly take their toll. Diesel applica-
tions have a higher clamping load with
a different geometry to the apply lever,
adding even more stress. It all makes
for a failure waiting to happen.
But now Adapt-A-Case offers you
a bit of peace of mind, with the new
Power Wedge.
The Power Wedge arrives milled
from super-tough AISI 1018 steel and
will never suffer failure. It has the capa-
bility of handling literally tons of pres-
sure; this simple installation eliminates
a known weak link in the transmission
chain.
For more information, visit the
Adapt-A-Case web site, at www.adap-
tacase.com.
VBX Announces New
International Distributor
VBX ValveBody Xpress the
worldwide industry leader in guar-
anteed remanufactured valve bodies,
is proud to announce the addition of
RusTrans-Automat to our growing fam-
ily of international distributors.
The addition of RusTrans posi-
tions VBX well in the growing Russian
market, says Tim LaCerra, President
of VBX. Weve realized significant
growth in foreign sales during the last
three years and are shifting internation-
al sales to localized distributors such as
RusTrans in an effort to reduce the cost
burden on our end users.
In addition, distributors like
RusTrans understand the sales potential
of the VBX product line and their cus-
tomers realize that installing a remanu-
factured valve body from VBX can sig-
nificantly reduce their overall costs, as
well as improve their shop efficiency.
For more information, please visit
VBX on the web: www.valvebodyx-
press.com, or contact them, toll free, at
1-866-2GET-VBX.
H&A Transmissions
Launches Its New
Warranty Program
Realizing the effects that a faltering
economy presents to shop owners and
their customers, H&A Transmissions
has launched its new multi-tier war-
ranty program for 2009.
Knowing the diverse concerns that
consumers now have when it comes
to warranty coverage and associated
costs, we have retooled our program to
give customers a warranty option to suit
the car owners driving and financial
needs.
The customer can now choose from
a 1-year, 2-year or 3-year, unlimited
mileage warranty, as well as one of five
warranty tiers that provide the labor
coverage of their choice, depending on
their regional shop labor rates.
This hybrid warranty program
addresses each customers needs case
by case; in so doing, it gives the shop
owner a whole new set of tools to use
that will raise both profits and customer
satisfaction.
H&A Transmissions specializes in
remanufactured replacement transmis-
sions for Honda and Acura. For more
information, call toll-free, 1-866-4-A-
TRANS, or visit their web site at www.
hnatrans.com.
Tracerline Introduces
Vacuum/Micron Gauge
with Advanced Pirani
Sensor
T h e
Tr a c e r l i ne
TP-9365 PRO-
Vac Vacuum/
Micron Gauge,
with its tech-
n o l o g i c a l l y
a d v a n c e d
Pirani sensor,
accurately displays the vacuum level
at every stage in the evacuation cycle,
from atmosphere down to one micron.
It allows the user to know instantly if
the connections are tight!
The PRO-Vac features a large LCD
for easy viewing, even in direct sun-
light. It has a wide operating range
from 760,000 microns down to 1
micron and can display readings in
microns, Pascal or millibars. Additional
features include a low-battery warn-
ing indicator, an automatic shutoff to
conserve the battery life, and an indus-
try-first inline filter to protect the sen-
sor from contaminants. The unit works
with any standard vacuum pump.
The PRO-Vac comes complete with
a 9V battery and spare filter, all packed
in a rugged storage case.
For more information about the
Tracerline TP-9365 PRO-Vac
Vacuum/Micron Gauge, call toll-free
1-800-641-1133. Outside the United
States and Canada, call 516-333-1254.
Web site at www.tracerline.com.
Rostra Precision Controls
and EchoMaster Enter into
Strategic Relationship
Rostra Precision Controls and
EchoMaster announce a new busi-
ness relationship that combines their
resources to become the leading sup-
plier of reverse sensing systems in
North America.
POWERTRAIN INDUSTRY NEWS
GEARS does not endorse new products but makes this new information available
to readers. If you have a new product, please email the press release information
with applicable digital photo or drawing to fpasley@atra.com or send by mail to
GEARS, 2400 Latigo Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93030.
The
An intermediate band anchor;
.
Their chosen material is brittle. As the band wears, the angle of
the anchor changes slightly. When this occurs pressure is
applied to an area not designed to contend with it, often result-
ing in failure. Breakage may also occur when line pressure is
increased due to performance modifications to the valve body
and/or computer reprogramming. Larger aftermarket servo
pistons certainly take their toll. Diesel applications have a
higher clamp-load from different geometry of the apply lever
adding even more stress. A bit of peace of mind is now
available!
The arrives milled from super-tough AISI 1018
Steel and will never suffer failure. It has the capability of
handling literally tons of pressure; by its installation the custom-
er will have
Adapt-A-Case
Failed OEM compromise for reference.
The Power Wedge, when durability is a must!
POWER INDUSTRY NEWS
EchoMaster and Rostra Precision
Controls are leading manufacturers of
reverse sensing systems. Rostra also
specializes in safety and convenience
products worldwide, including cruise
control, reverse cameras, comfort seat
heaters, lumbar and more.
This partnership combines the two
leaders in reverse sensing products to
provide the market with a multitude of
solutions for obstacle sensing.
Mark Swannie, EchoMaster
President/Owner said, I started
EchoMaster to make driving safer and
easier. Safety around kids and a happier
driving experience has always been our
focus. I feel Rostra will help us meet our
objective: a sensor in every car. When I
met Tom Petrillo, I realized we had
similar visions, and partnering made
perfect sense for both companies.
Tom Petrillo, President/CEO
of Rostra said, We feel that the
EchoMaster products will make a great
addition to the Rostra line and further
solidify our place as the leaders in this
industry. Were committed to the safety
and convenience products market, and
youll see Rostra continue to bring new
products to this growing market.
Rostra Precision Controls is part
of Aftermarket Controls Corporation
and operates out of Laurinburg, North
Carolina (www.rostra.com). EchoMaster
is located in Rancho Santa Margarita,
California (www.echomaster.com).
For questions, please contact Pete
Kallgren, VP of Sales, Rostra Precision
Controls at (248) 960-8500 x18 or
Mark Swannie, EchoMaster President,
at (949) 680-9245.
Performance Servos
from Superior
S u p e r i o r
Tr ans mi s s i on
Parts offers
a number of
r e p l a c e me n t
servos designed
exclusively for
p e r f o r ma n c e
applications.
727-518-618 (P/N K080)
Provides 11% more holding power
than the factory servo. Creates a firmer
12 and a more positive 23 shift. The
kit includes the band strut, and is per-
fect for heavy duty and performance
applications.
AOD-A+ Super Servo (K011)
Delivers better holding capacity
than the factory servo. Helps eliminate
overdrive band failure, and provides a
more positive 4th gear apply.
700-R4, 4L60-E Super Servo
(K012)
Offers the largest apply area avail-
able. Provides a super positive 12,
improves the 23, and creates a positive
32 kickdown.
200-4R Super Servo (K014)
Provides 11% more apply area than
the Grand National servo. Provides a
super positive 12, improves the 23,
and creates a positive 32 kickdown.
C-6 R Super Servo (K016)
Provides a positive 12 and 23
shift, and cleans up the 32 kickdown.
4L60 4L60E Overdrive Super
Servo (K034)
Offers a larger apply area than the
stock servo, and a lip seal on the piston
to reduce leakage. Creates better hold-
ing capacity in 4th gear and a proper
43, with no drag on release.
In addition, Superior offers a com-
plete line of Super Servos for everyday
use, including servos for these units:
AOD-E/4R70W
4L30E Low Band
727-518 RH RE Low/Reverse
904-500 Low/Reverse
For more information, call toll free
1-800-451-3115, or visit their web site
at www.superiortransmission.com.
TransTec Introduces
JATCO 5-Speed JF506E/
5F31J/09A Gaskets
Tr a n s Te c
overhaul kits 2445
and 2467 have
been updated to
include the high
clutch balance
piston. For added
convenience, TransTec has also made
this item available separately under
TransTec part number B81899.
Kits built on or after March 2, 2009
include this item.
For more information on this or any
other TransTec kits or components, visit
their web site at www.transtec.com
CKPerformance Offers
New, Close Ratio Gearset
for 700R4s and 4L60s
T h e
main prob-
lem with the
700R4/ 4L60
transmission
series for per-
formance applications is the wide gear
ratio.
CKPerformance has created a
2.84/1.55 front planetary that lowers
1st and 2nd gears, and brings the ratios
closer together for a huge increase in
performance.
The one-piece planetary carrier is
CNC machined from a billet blank of
E4340 steel and the gears from 9310
steel. The gearset is a 6-pinion design
and features all-new sun and pinion
gears.
The new, close-ratio gearset is a
direct drop-in for all 700R4/4L60E
transmissions.
For more information on this or
other CKPerformance products, call
(631) 218-1989 or visit their web site at
www.ckperformance.com.
Corteco Introduces
Allison HD Series
4th Generation 2006-up
C o r t e c o
is proud to
announce the
availability of
a new over-
haul kit for the
Allison HD
series HD4060/
P, HD4560/P, B500/P, and 4000MH 4th
Generation Controls.
TransTec overhaul kit 2527 cov-
ers 4th Generation 2006-up units, and
includes the redesigned C3/C4 clutch
bonded piston.
Coverage for overhaul kit 2418
will now end at 2005. TransTec valve
body kit number 4990 will cover both
early and 4th Generation units.
Kits are in stock and available for
immediate delivery.
For more information on this or any
other TransTec kits or components, visit
their web site at www.transtec.com.
65-pins5609.indd 66 5/6/09 8:45:20 AM
Posi Lock Introduces
25-Ton Hydraulic
Internal/External Puller
Posi Locks
hydraulic line,
featuring the
patented Safety
Cage, has been
expanded to
include a 3-jaw,
25-ton internal/
external puller. The PH-113IE offers
even more versatility to meet your
needs for internal and external pulling
jobs.
The internal puller jaws reach
from 2.5 (63.5mm) to 7 (177.8mm)
and spread from 8 (203.2mm) to 21
(533.4mm).
The external jaws reach 12
(305mm) and spread from 2 (64mm)
to 18 (457mm) with the standard
jaws.
The optional long jaws reach
20 (508mm) and spread from 1
(38mm) to 30 (762mm).
To replace the jaws, simply remove
the ball lock pins and insert the desired
jaws. The internal and external slots are
lined up, so you can go from internal to
external in seconds.
Posi Lock hydraulic pullers effi-
ciently solve problems associated with
the removal of gears, bearings and other
press-fit items in diverse industries,
providing substantial time and cost sav-
ings. Using the correct dismounting
equipment greatly reduces the chance
of damage to the shaft and related
components, which in turn minimizes
maintenance downtime.
For additional information please
contact Posi Lock at 701-797-2600, or
visit their web site at www.posilock.
com.
Alto Announces
New VP of OE Sales
Alto is pleased
to announce the
appointment of
Craig Cooke to
the newly created
position of Vice
President of OE
Sales. Craig has
been in aftermarket sales for over twen-
ty five years; the last 10 of which have
been with Alto. Hell be responsible
for coordinating all sales activities with
Altos OE customers.
David Landa, President of Alto,
said Craigs strong background in
sales along with his technical expertise
make him a great candidate for this
position. With our increase in OE sales
activity and focus on this market, its
become necessary for us to dedicate
more resources to this sector of the
market.
Alto Products is the oldest and
largest independently-owned-and-oper-
ated clutch manufacturer in the world.
Alto has manufactured over a billion
clutches over the last 50 years for auto-
motive, high performance, heavy duty,
marine, and motorcycle applications.
Altos corporate headquarters are
in Alabama and the company operates
three US manufacturing plants, four
North American distribution facilities,
and international offices in Mexico,
The Netherlands, UAE, India, China,
Taiwan and Australia.
For more information please visit
www.altoUSA.com.
Sonnax Develops
KRYPTONITE Stator
Support Bushing
Original 4L60,
4L60-E/ 65-E/ 70-E
rear stator support
bushings commonly
fail or wear out pre-
maturely. Many after-
market bushings offer a poor quality fit
and are also prone to wear.
Addressing these fit and wear con-
cerns, The Sonnax KRYPTONITE
Rear Stator Support Bushing 77002BT-
01 is the best option for supporting
those heavy input housings. In addition
to being even wider than the traditional
wide rear bushing for greater support,
our extremely wear resistant Teflon
lining stops future wear in its tracks.
This drop in replacement bushing does
not require machining, but our preci-
sion manufacturing methods provide
the tight tolerances on the ID bore that
are typically found in finish-in-place
bushings.
MAHLE Clevite Inc. Offers
Technical Updates for
Clevite H-Series Bearings
MAHLE Clevite Inc. now offers a
number of technical updates specific to
its Clevite H-Series racing bearings
the premium choice for most sprint
car and midget racing engines.
Clevite H-Series racing bearings
technical updates:
H to HN designation:
Changed designation from H
to HN on the rod bearings.
Removed large chamfer and
narrowed the bearing by the corre-
sponding amount.
The bearing area, crush, and
relief for large radii remain the same.
Ford and Chevy bearings:
MAHLE Clevite now offers 0.009,
0.011, 0.019, 0.021 undersizes in
connection with the traditional 0.010
and 0.020 under offering. This allows
engine builders to dial in clearances
with reground crankshafts.
MAHLE Clevite continues to offer
X bearings, which provide more clear-
ance than standard bearings. These
bearings are useful for coated bear-
ings and aftermarket crankshafts on the
large size of standard.
Coating color is now black
instead of blue.
There is now a stronger bond
between the bearing and the coating.
MAHLE Clevite Inc. is dedicated
to providing the best product support
in the industry. MAHLE Clevite now
offers a number of online training and
support features including eLearning
classes on all products, a 24/7 online
technical resource Ask MAHLE
Clevite (answering most questions in
the same day) and the new Online
Bearing Distress Guide. Currently, the
guide outlines and illustrates 23 differ-
ent types of bearing distress, all with
multiple digital photos to help identify
the cause. For more information, visit
www.mahleclevite.com/support.asp.
And the Winner Is
Certified Transmission!
ASA MO/KAN has recognized
Certified Transmission with the Green
Star Service Facility Award, in recogni-
tion of the companys commitment to
PH 113IE 25 Ton Hydraulic Internal/External Puller
New Product Release Story
Posi Locks hydraulic line featuring the patented Safety Cage has been
expanded to include a 3-jaw, 25 ton internal/external puller. The PH-113IE offers
even more versatility to meet the needs for internal and external pulling jobs. The
internal puller jaws have a reach from 2.5 (63.5mm) to 7 (177.8mm) and a
spread from 8 (203.2mm) to 21 (533.4mm). The External jaws have a reach of
12 (305mm) and a spread of 2 (64mm) to 18 (457mm) with standard jaws.
The optional long jaws offer a reach of 20 (508mm) and a spread of 1 (38mm)
to 30 (762mm).
To replace the jaws simply remove the ball lock pins, and insert the desired
jaws. The internal and external slots are lined up, so you can go from internal to
external in a matter of seconds.
Posi Lock hydraulic pullers efficiently solve problems associated with the removal
of gears, bearings and other press fit items in diverse industries, resulting in
substantial time and cost savings. By using the correct dismounting equipment,
damage to the shaft and related components is greatly reduced, which in turn
ensures that maintenance downtime is minimized.
For additional information please contact:
Posi Lock Puller, Inc.
PO Box 246
Cooperstown, ND 58425
Phone: 701-797-2600
Fax: 701-797-2706
E-mail: myrtle@posilock.com
Web: www.posilock.com
POWER INDUSTRY NEWS
operating in an environmentally-sound
fashion. Key points considered include
recycling and safely disposing waste
products. Other factors considered:
Does the facility use environ-
mentally-preferable products and ser-
vices?
Does the facility practice gen-
eral pollution prevention?
Does the facility strive to edu-
cate its employees in environmentally-
safe practices?
President and CEO Peter Fink
accepted the award at the Vision EXPO,
stating, When you think about it, the
automotive repair is a green industry.
We help the environment by keep-
ing vehicles running longer, which is
a form of recycling in itself. And by
keeping them running cleaner, we also
help reduce pollution.
Certified Transmission has a great
environmental track record. Fink added,
Weve always taken the high road in
how we use and dispose of hazard-
ous materials, waste oil, and other
byproducts generated by our business.
And weve found it makes good eco-
nomic sense, too. If you balance the
costs against the savings related to
employee safety and health issues, and
the tax benefits and revenues generated
through recycling waste materials and
scrap metals, were actually money
ahead.
Certified Transmission remanufac-
tures high-quality, competitively-priced
transmissions and transfer cases for
the automotive aftermarket. Theyve
received the prestigious BBB National
Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
and the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Award
for Automotive Aftermarket Industry
Leadership. For more about Certified
Transmission, contact Thom Tschetter,
Director of Marketing at 402-558-0267
ext 173.
TransGo Introduces
AW55-50 Shift Kit
TransGo is pleased to introduce the
newest in its long line of transmission
modification and shift correction kits:
the AW55-50 Shift Kit. This new kit fits
all these units:
2001-2007 Volvo
2004-2007 Nissan RE5F22A
2002-2007 Saab and AF33-5
2003-2004 Saturn
2005-2006 Chevrolet Equinox
2006-2008 Pontiac Torrent
You choose: $700 $900 for a new
valve body, or fix it better than new
with the all-new TransGo Shift Kit.
The new Shift Kit reduces, corrects
or prevents these common conditions:
Delay or bang drive engagement
4-3 and 3-2 coast clunk
2-3 and 3-4 cutloose
Kickdown runaway
Converter slip
Each kit contains:
Drills necessary to resize the sole-
noid bushings
End caps for rebuilding EPC
Lockup and accumulator control
solenoids
New steel lockup relay valve and
sleeve
New solenoid relay valve and
sleeve
For distributor location or more
information, call TransGo at 626-443-
7451.
New mpg-MAX Program
Turns You into a Gas
Mileage Specialist!
Southampton, PA April 6, 2009
Gas prices are back on the rise again;
by Memorial Day theyll probably be
pushing $4 a gallon and maybe more.
Wouldnt it be great if you could help
folks save on gas while bringing more
customers into your shop?
Now you can.
The mpg-MAX program is a
complete, turnkey system designed to
turn any auto repair shop into a gas
mileage specialty center. It provides
everything you need to attract more
customers, and help them wring every
mile out of every dollar they spend on
gas.
No Magic
Everywhere you turn, someones
offering an additive or device that
claims itll have your car running on
water or getting 100 miles per gallon.
The mpg-MAX program isnt
one of those gas mileage scams. There
are no magic wands no silver bullets.
Its about good old-fashioned diag-
nostic and maintenance strategies, all
wrapped up in a professional, targeted
marketing package.
Most importantly, it works.
Whats Included
The key to the program is the mpg-
MAX Checklist; a computer-based
form that provides:
1. A worksheet for your techni-
cians to follow as they check the car.
2. An attractive, professional
sales tool to help you sell the services
youre recommending.
The object is to bring the custom-
ers car back to like-new operating
condition.
The mpg-MAX program comes
with complete marketing support,
including an 8-foot vinyl banner, a
2 x 3 poster, an easel sign, buttons
proclaiming Ask Me How to Save
Big $$$ on Gas! and 25 full-color bro-
chures offering customers 6 Easy Tips
to Save You Big Bucks at the Pump!
It also comes with customizable
flyers, print ads and radio spots on the
included CD. The CD also features a
35-page sales manual and a 90-page
technical manual, with a test to let your
technicians become mpg-MAX certi-
fied gas mileage specialists.
Introductory Special
The mpg-MAX program lists for
just $495 a great price thatd pay for
itself with just one or two jobs. But for
a limited time, you can put the power of
mpg-MAX to work in your shop for
just $395 a savings of over 20%!
To learn more or to order your mpg-
MAX program, call toll-free, 1-800-
259-1745, or visit www.AutoTechNow.
com.
Dont wait! Order your mpg-
MAX pro-
gram today,
and start
helping your
c u s t o me r s
wring every
mile out of
every dollar
tomorrow!
Drills
Solenoid Relay
Announce
Upgrade copy 4
Patent Pend
New End Caps
Grind off crimped end
Lockup Relay Control
Parts furnished
Patent
Pending
65-pins5609.indd 68 5/4/09 2:23:25 PM
ERIKSSON INDUSTRIES
1 YEAR UNLIMITED MILE WTY
1-800-388-4418
Division of Wentworth Engineering
Authorized Parts Distributor
Remanufactured Units * DYNO TESTED*
5HP30, 5HP24, 5HP19, 5HP18, 4HP24, 4HP22,
4HP18, 4HP14
Specializing in SAAB 900/9000 5SP,
as well as T-37 A/T
Hard Parts: NEW / USED / REMANUFACTURED
Soft Parts / Friction Kits / Steel Kits / Repair Manuals
Lifetime Fluids / Rebuild Kits / Valvebody Kits
1-800-388-4418
Fax: (860) 395-0047
www.erikssonindustries.com
146B Elm St., Old Saybrook, CT 06475
**COMPUTERS**
Transmission Control Module
E C M & T C M
Mitsubishi-Honda-Hyundai-GEO
Kia-Mazda-Nissan-Suzuki-Toyota
BOSCH ECM
GM - Ford - Chrysler - Dodge
Next Day Air Shipping Available
One Year Warranty
Best Customer SVC&Return Policy
Ford *GM * Chrysler off vehicle
ECM reprogramming available
8 8 8 - 2 1 7 - 4 0 7 2
Autocomp Technologies, Inc.
8515 N. Freeway, Houston, Texas
Automatic Soft Parts
Rebuilt Standards Transfer Cases
Clutches Bearing Kits
NEW & USED PARTS
Foreign
or
Domestic
800-578-8726
Sanford, FL
866-798-8726 800-773-8726
Tallahassee, FL Saucier, MS
D
y
n
o
T
e
s
te
d
R
e
b
u
ilt
U
n
its
Make ONE Call and
F
in
d it A
ll!
www.g-tec.com
www.g-tec.com
Heated Cooler
Line Flusher
Transmission
Dyno/CV
Tester
800-725-6499
417-725-6400
SHOPPER CLASSIFIED ADS
GEARS Shopper advertising costs $300.00 for a one time insertion ad, (2 1/4 X 3) 2.25 X 3. Larger ads can be placed
elsewhere in the magazine and are charged at comparable rates. Check or money order must accompany all orders.
For information on Shopper advertising in GEARS, contact GEARS, 2400 Latigo Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93030, or call
(805) 604-2000.
Standard
Transmission
1960-2007
Automatic
Transmission
1946 - 2007
Tools
Equipment
Supplies
Soft Parts
New & Used
Hard Parts
Transfer
Case
1970-2007
A
M
E
RIC
A
N

I
M
P
ORT
E
D
Next day delivery to
KS OK NE SD MN IL IA MO AR
on orders called in by 4pm.
800-835-1007
Helping rebuilders get the
job done for over 33 years
73shoppers5609.indd 69 5/4/09 9:36:29 AM
(805) 604-2000.
Tol l Fr ee: 800- 822- 2375
Over 1,000 in stock
New, Quality Rebuilt
Kits available to rebuild your
own: Bearings/Gears/Hard Parts
Parts Specialists
Driveline Specialists
and
Transmissions
Axles
BMW Mercedes-Benz Audi
Remanufactured to
Perfection
Hundreds of Transmissions in-stock.
Immediate installation available.
2 year unlimited warranty.
Dyno-tested.
Remanufactured torque converter included.
Toll free 800 - 372 - TRANS
1331 Rollins Road Burlingame, CA 94010
tel 650 - 348 - 3990 fax 650 - 348 - 3019
www.partsbyweller.com
H & A Transmissions, Inc.
Quality Remanufactured
Transmissions
Automatic Transmissions for
Honda & Acura
Automobiles
Our new Tier warranty program offers
you and your customer flexibility to
meet your collective needs.
All these options still have the same
Great nationwide coverage for:
1 Yr. Unlimited mileage
Our Units
Are Built
To Last!
*Car Rental & Towing Included with
Parts & Labor Warranties
*Prices Include Torque Converter,
External cooler & Inline Filter
where applicable.
*Shipping & Core Return Included
*Friendly & knowledgeable staff
*Technical support available
Need Parts?
Coming Soon
Look for our on-line parts store
At
www.gearspeedinc.com
www.hnatrans.com
Call Toll Free: 1-866-4-A-TRANS
73shoppers5609.indd 70 5/4/09 9:37:11 AM
NATIONAL
EMPLOYMENT
HEADQUARTERS
for the transmission industry
We make it easy to relocate
Employees and shop owners
call
1-888-412-TEAM
or visit our website
www.transteam.com
24
HOURS
7
DAYS
www.transteam.com
1-888-412-TEAM
30 Years Same
Area
>Reman Transmissions
w/converters
>722.6 Electronic
Transmissions
Dodge Sprinters
and all other
DaimlerChrysler Nag 1's
www.silverstartransmission.com
M
E
R
C
E
D
E
S
Silver Star Transmission
800-369-6601 or fax 405-330-9446
BOOKSTORE
Your Source For Technical And Management Publications
To order, Email the Bookstore at bookstore@atra.
com or call Shaun or Ron at 1-800-428-8489.
ATRA Bookstore, 2400 Lat i go Avenue,
Oxnard, CA 93030 www. at raonl i ne. com
Marketing Without
Money -
Second Edition
This management book
will show you cheap and
easy ways to boost sales,
networking tips, ways to
increase sales, and many
other useful tips to help
your business.
$16.95
INSTA-CLEAN
PARTS WASHERS
INSTA-CLEAN
PARTS WASHERS
INSTA-CLEAN
PARTS WASHERS
INSTA-CLEAN
PARTS WASHERS
INSTA-CLEAN
PARTS WASHERS
w
w
w
.
i
n
s
t
a
c
l
e
a
n
.
c
o
m
8
0
0
-
3
3
1
-
6
4
0
5

8
0
0
-
3
3
1
-
6
4
0
5
G
EARS
G
EARS
THIS COULD BE
YOUR AD!
call
(805) 604-2000
and find out how!
FOR THE TRANSMISSION REBUILDING INDUSTRY
73shoppers5609.indd 71 5/4/09 9:38:18 AM
(805) 604-2000.
1.877.888.5160
Local 614.444.5160 Fax 614.444.5165
www.transmissionhardparts.com
Columbus, OH
WE STRIP 500+ TRANSMISSIONS A DAY
AUTOMATIC HARD PARTS WAREHOUSE
Specializing
in Late
Models
Se Habla
Espaol
ATRA is much
more than just
a HelpLine...
Nationwide Inter-shop Warranty
ATRA Online's Tech Center
Technical Seminars
Testing & Certication
GEARS Magazine
Customer Referral Services
Bankcard Services
Check Verication Services
Consumer Financing Services
Point of Sale Support
Consumer Complaint Arbitration
Health Insurance Services
Garage Liability Services
Shipping / Freight Services
Web page Design / Hosting
Industry EXPO
Technical BookStore
www.atraonline.com
(866) GO-4-ATRA
This cd contains over 1200 pages of Gears
technical articles, there are 4 years, 260 articles
and 45 issues all on this on cd!
Please mention this ad when placing your order. Place your order before
12pm PST and receive same day shipping.
Award Winning Gears Magazine Acticles
For S
ale
C
all N
ow
!!!
(800)-42
8-8489
4 New Ford & GM Manuals
Available on CD
These books are compilations of information gathered from our 2000 - 2008 Seminar Manuals. There are 8
different transmissions covered in each of these manuals.
Please mention this ad when placing your order. Place your order before 12pm PST and receive same day shipping.
These manuals are available only in cd format. Sale ends 6/30/09
Toll Free (800) 428-8489 Fax (805) 604-2001
Email bookstore@atra.com Website www.atrabookstore.com
Reg Price: $49.95
176 pages
Reg Price: $49.95
144 pages
Reg Price: $49.95
187 pages
Reg Price: $49.95
330 Pages
Special Introductory Price!
$25 each
73shoppers5609.indd 72 5/4/09 9:39:22 AM
G
EARS
G
EARS
THIS COULD BE
YOUR AD!
call
(805) 604-2000
and find out how!
FOR THE TRANSMISSION REBUILDING INDUSTRY
WANTED: WANTED:
Automatic Transmission Cores
Torque Converter Cores
ALL TYPES!
Early Domestic
Early Foreign
Late Domestic
Late Foreign
REMAN INDUSTRIES
1551 Pratt Blvd.
Elkgrove Village IL 60007
1-800-729-8726 ask for Dino!
email: dcardone@remanindustries.com
HARD PARTS FOR
Domestic and Foreign
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
TORQUE CONVERTERS
TRANSFER CASES
WE HAVE OVER 500,000 PARTS IN STOCK
CALL 602-971-0477
getithardparts.com
WE SHIP UPS DAILY
U1aIe1 iIl

lr1t:Ir CrmrrerI:
SliI KiI
'
Yal1e Br1ie:
Urarallele1 Frr1trI StrrI
IZ rrIl UrlimiIe1 harrarI
C9K raIalr
htr1re1: r Yal1e Br1ie: Kea1 Ir Sli
877--FkO5 (777)
|mail: :ale:@1al1eLr1rr.rrm
www.vovebodypro.com
NEED QUALITY
CONVERTERS?
Overhaul System!
Call for a free catalog
877-298-5003
www.atiracing.com
73shoppers5609.indd 73 5/4/09 9:40:13 AM
BUSINESS FOR SALE: Extraordinary op-
portunity, transmission/motorcycle shop
in North East Ohio, near I-76 & I-71. Owner
retiring after 52 great years. One acre prop-
erty, 80 x 84' building includes machine
shop, ofces, parts stand and service area.
Please contact: Bob501@aol.com .
ATRA Mbr
BUSINESS FOR SALE: California You
need to take a look at this one! 40 years of
excellent business transmission & general
automotive service. Same great location,
central California, this is not your ordinary
shop. Large building with latest equipment,
owner ready to retire. Contact (209) 602-
7250. ATRA Mbr
EQUIPMENT WANTED: FOR IMMEDIATE
PURCHASE - Zoom Technology solenoid
and valve body testing equipment. Call
TOLL FREE! (866) 243-8829. ATRA Mbr
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: Heavy duty trans-
mission dyno test business for sale, de-
signed for Allisons, heavy duty trucks and
cars and any RWD units with solenoid block
test capabilities. All in excellent condition,
included are dyno tester with 392 Ford gas
engine with Zoom Technology window
based computer system, valve body cali-
bration tester designed by Aidco Company
for Allison. New Allison diagnostic scanner,
complete paint booth system, 454 and 643
reman units, cores and inventory stock,
SHOPPER CLASSIFIED
GEARS classified advertising cost $95.00 for up to 50 words for a one time insertion. ATRA members are eligible to receive up to three (3) FREE classified
advertisements in GEARS annually (per 9 issues). Members wishing to place ads once their three FREE ads have been placed may do so at the cost listed above.
Ads exceeding the maximum word count will cost $1.50 for each additional word (not including phone number and address).
May/June 2009
customer/client list. Asking $75,000 for all
or will sell separately. Northwest Ohio area.
Contact Jim at (419) 215-5504. ATRA Mbr
POSITION WANTED: Money Maker/Cus-
tomer Producer Center Manager position
sought by a leader with over 23 years in
the transmission industry. Talented, inde-
pendent and up to date with what it takes
to make a modern day shop run smoothly
and make prot. Experience includes re-
building, diagnosing, and shop ownership.
Contact Michael Ryan at his updated phone
number: (928) 566-4307 for more informa-
tion.
Valve Body Kits
RatioTek
RT
AX4S
Also fits AXODE
RT
4F50N
Also fits AX4N
RT
4L60E
Fix Code
1870 Fast
Adjust 1-2
shift firmness
without re-
moving VB.
RT
E4OD/4R
Kit fits
E40D and
4R100
Easy to Install - Low Cost - Great Results
Billet retainers
your gonna love!
Saves main booster.
Includes a bypass
booster valve &
sleeve.
Includes a bypass
booster sleeve.
Saves main booster.
3 High Tech
Regulator Valves.
Adjust shift firmness.
www.ratiotek.com 626-968-2754
-- Kits At Part Suppliers Now --
WE HAVE WHAT YOU NEED
FOREIGN & DOMESTIC
Standard Transmissions
Transfer Cases
New & Used Parts
Rebuilt Units
*ONE CALL DOES IT ALL*
CALL
BRIAN OR ALBERT
866-571-GEAR
4 3 2 7
800-461-5396
COHllTT\l S|TllT\0 l/TlS
|lS,D|,llDl\ c T./\/T/bl
/ llT/T c "|OlS/l DTSTlTb|TOl
ST\Cl !981
"l |/\l l/lTS T\ STOCl lOl
|!10l blb0l b80l 10l 1013l
USED , OEM NEW &
AFTERMARKET HARD PARTS
KNOWLEDGEABLE & COURTEOUS
SALES STAFF
FOREIGN & DOMESTIC
MACHINE SHOP WITH 30 YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE

T\ STOCl \O"!
/llllH/lllT |!10l S|\ 0l/l c lT\0 0l/l!
CORES
Weve Got Yours!
CORES
Weve Got Yours!
With over 150,000 transmission,
engine, and internal part cores on the shelf, we
have the cores you need ready to ship today!
Find vintage cores on *Memory Lane*
aamidwestcores.com
Las Vegas, NV Chicago, IL
800.426.8771 800.826.7403
702.649.7776 773.624.6111
702.649.6777 FAX 773.624.6660 FAX
74classfd5609.indd 74 5/4/09 10:37:10 AM
Name___________________________________________
Address_________________________________________
City_____________________________________________________
State_____________________________ Zip___________________
Phone___________________________________________________
Signature________________________________________________
HELP WANTED: Seeking Rebuilder High
quality suburban California shop seeks ex-
perienced builder. Must have top diagnos-
tic skills. Suburban area with top schools.
Wages competitive, commensurate with
skill level. Fax resume to (805) 522-0232.
ATRA Mbr
HELP WANTED: Grand Junction, CO - Re-
builder must have ve years rebuilding ex-
perience in domestic, import, transfer cas-
es, automatics and manual shift. Strong
diagnostic skills including electrical are
required. In the heart of a beautiful recre-
ation area skiing, hunting, shing, biking,
rafting, etc. Great schools in a wonderful
family setting. Largest, busiest, high-tech
shop on the western slope, with 30 years
in business. Health Insurance, Bonuses.
Self motivated people with a desire to be
successful. Contact Monte McCall, Monte's
Motor City Transmission, Inc. (970) 242-
8726, e-mail: montelm@yahoo.com, Fax
(970) 243-4282
HELP WANTED: Colorado Springs- Trans-
mission Rebuilder for well established,
reputable shop. Must have ve plus years
rebuilding experience in domestic, import,
transfer cases, automatics and manual
shift. Strong diagnostic skills, including
electrical are required. Certications are
favorable. Must be a team player, clean
cut, and possess a higher than standard
work ethic. Full benets package for the
right person. Mon-Fri work week. Pay DOE.
Please contact (719) 494-8098 leave mes-
sage, or fax resume to: (719) 494-8097. If
you ever wanted to live in one of the most
desirable places to hunt, sh, 4 wheel in
USA, NOW is your chance!! ATRA Mbr
HELP WANTED: Seattle, Washington
Transmission rebuilder needed in well
established, well equipped transmission
shop of over twenty years. Rebuilding
and diagnostic experience required. Mon-
day through Friday, benets include paid
vacation, holidays and health insurance;
pay $30 to $35 dollars per hour depending
on experience. Contact Mark at (206) 624-
1859. ATRA Mbr
HELP WANTED: Twin Cities Transmis-
sion in Niceville, Fl is looking for a Swing-
Man. Medical available! We work 5 days.
Please, call Brandy at (850) 729-6629.
You can also email or fax your resume to
tctransmission@embarqmail.com or fax
(850) 729-1529. ATRA Mbr
HELP WANTED: SuperFlow Technologies
Group, www.superow.com has an immedi-
ate need for a Sales Executive. Sales expe-
rience in capital equipment market a must.
Degree in automotive eld or equivalent
work experience preferred. Mechanically
and electrically inclined, ability to read blue
prints. Must be able to travel. Contact: hr@
superow.com, Fax: (515) 254-1656.
ATRA Mbr
HELP WANTED: TransTeam Employment
USA, The National Employment Headquar-
ters for the transmission industry wants
you! We offer a low cost internet recruit-
ing service for our registered transmission
shop owners and deliver nationwide job
opportunities to our registered employees.
Always a free service to all industry em-
ployees. Visit our web site www.transteam.
com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to see
how it works or call (888) 412-TEAM (8326).
We make it easy to relocate! ATRA Mbr
X
Please enclose check or money order in U.S. funds and send to:
GEARS 2400 LATIGO AVENUE OXNARD, CALIFORNIA 93030
or call: (805)604-2000
U.S. $30 ~ Canada $45 ~ Other Areas $65
I want my very own subscription
to the next 9 issues of GEARS.
Subscribe Today!
Grab Your GEARS Now!
74classfd5609.indd 75 5/4/09 10:37:47 AM
ADVERTISERS
Name Page Name Page
ATRA .................................................................... 43,52
www.atra.com
ATRA's Powertrain Expo ...................................... 53-58
www.atra.com
Auto Tech Now! ........................................................ 51
www.autotechnow.com
Certified Transmission ............................................... 15
www.certifiedtransmissions.com
EVT Parts .................................................................... 3
www.evtparts.com
First National Merchant Solutions ............................. 39
www.fnms.com
Heffernan Group ........................................................ 29
www.heffgroup.com
Jasper Engines & Transmissions ............................ IBC
www.jasperengines.com
Life Automotive Products Inc. .................................... 27
www.smartblend.com
LUBEGARD
By International Lubricants, Inc. ..... OBC

www.lubegard.com
Precision European Inc. ............................................ 79
www.peius.com
Precision International ................................................. 7
www.transmissionkits.com
Raybestos Powertrain ................................................. 9
www.raybestospowertrain.com
Seal Aftermarket Products-Parker
Hannifin Corporation .............................................. 35
www.parker.com
Slauson Transmission Parts ...................................... 39
www.slauson.com
Sonnax Industries .................................................... IFC
www.sonnax.com
SuperFlow Technologies Group ................................ 23
www.superflow.com
Superior Transmission Parts ..................................... 33
www.superior-transmission.com
Transgo ..................................................................... 47
www.transgo.com
Transmission Specialties ........................................... 31
www.transmission-specialties.com
Transtar Industries, Inc. ............................................. 25
www.transtarindustries.com
TransTec By CORTECO ............................................ 13
www.transtec.com
TRNi Inc. ................................................................... 30
www.transbuilder.com
Whatever It Takes Transmission Parts, Inc. .............. 21
www.wittrans.com
2
0
0
9
ATRA Technical Seminar Schedule
CALENDAR
Check ATRA.com for more information!
5/30/09 Dallas, TX
8/29/09 Chicago, IL
10/29-11/1/09 ATRA's Powertrain Expo
76LISTo5609.indd 76 5/4/09 3:11:29 PM
jasper ibc.indd IBC2 1/8/09 9:03:00 AM
ILI-obc1208.indd OBC2 11/14/08 4:06:04 PM

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May/June 2009

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COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS ELECTRONICS REPROGRAMMING

transmission kits have grown to become

kits are installed than

kits were introduced

GEARS May/June 2009 39

By International Lubricants, Inc. ..... OBC

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