OK, my tranny is completely fried, and I got about $1500 for a new one. What should I get? Give me you opinions and give me as much insight on aftermarket rebuilt trannys as you can.

(P.S. - I was thinking about getting a TRE tranny. They are located about 45 min. from me which means 'no shipping', and I hear they do excellent work. Let me know what you guys think)

Thanks -Paul-

Go with TRE! You wont be dissapointed!

OK, after one phone call with TRE, I have decided I am too smart than to give that a$$hole $1200+ of my dollars. He didn’t even try to act professional. We are currently in the customer service era, not the production era. I don't care if you have been doing this for 17 years, if you act like a complete d1ck, all you're doing is turning business away.

I have since called Shep Racing. Very nice, very professional, very courteous, and very knowledgeable. (Also, Shep Racing didn’t criticize TRE, as TRE did Shep) I would much rather spend money with a shop like Shep Racing.

Jon, I hope you read this and learn from it. You own a business..... act like it!



-Paul-

99gst_racer said:

We are currently in the customer service era, not the production era.

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That may be the case, but it doesn't mean that you're entitled to him kissing your butt.

99gst_racer said:

(Also, Shep Racing didn’t criticize TRE, as TRE did Shep)

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What wrong with critisizing? Who brought up Shep Racing when talking to TRE? You or them?

Morphius said:

That may be the case, but it doesn't mean that you're entitled to him kissing your butt.

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I dont want my butt kissed. I also dont want to be swore at. I dont want my questions shot dont with vulgar criticism. If I were wanting a potential customer to spend $1200+ with me, the last thing I would do is degrade them.

Morphius said:

What wrong with critisizing? Who brought up Shep Racing when talking to TRE? You or them?

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Constructive criticism is OK. He was a complete d1ck. I brought up Shep. He then glorified himself and shamed them. He is a car-smart vulgar hillbilly, not a professional businessman. It's OK though. He made my decision much, much easier.

Thanks -Paul-

One time when I talked to Jon at TRE he was cussing at the hot tank machine for breaking down. I thought it was shocking, but I recognizd it as a character quirk, not an insult.

BTW The tranny he sent me works very well.

1500. A sheperd tranny with new shift forks, stainless steel clutch fork, shep 2nd gear, GVR4 1st gear (ull love it), and double synchro's on every gear you can afford it for that's not included in a basic rebuild.

I havnt heard of one person unhappy with sheps work.

Thats why im spending 2600 bucks there for a tranny and engine work.

The GVR4 1 st gear is weaker than stock,just to let you know if you plan on running a lot of power

Don't know where your at in MI, but Shep probly is within 2-4 hours of you too, hes one of the nicest guys your ever meet and knows what hes doing.

I thought he was in Ohio?

Shep is in southern ohio. But Michigan is on the border of Ohio so shep could easily be 2-4 hours away depending on where 99gstracer lives in Michigan.

Actually I live in the far southwest corner of MI and Shep's shop is near Akron, OH. It's about a 5 hr. drive. Shipping is only about $70 one way, but I still think I'd rather drive it there. It's too bad it didnt work out with TRE......... they are about 45 min. from me.......

-Paul-

99gst_racer said:

I dont want my butt kissed. I also dont want to be swore at. I dont want my questions shot dont with vulgar criticism. If I were wanting a potential customer to spend $1200+ with me, the last thing I would do is degrade them.

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Well, if it was a simple case of he was swearing in your presence, all I can say is, welcome to the real world. Maybe he was having a bad day and you need to take it with a dose of humor. Now, if he said you are a F-ing idiot for.... then yea, I can see your point.

99gst_racer said:

Constructive criticism is OK. He was a complete d1ck. I brought up Shep. He then glorified himself and shamed them. He is a car-smart vulgar hillbilly, not a professional businessman. It's OK though. He made my decision much, much easier.

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You brought up Shep and then you wonder why he would glorify himself and shame them? Are you crazy? Why on God's green earth would he praise and talk up Shep? Paleaaazzee. Pull the same scenario at ANY buisness and would they handle it the same. SURE. Dam, I hear this on a daily buisness. It's front page here is Detroit. Nightly ads on ever night. One car company talking down another. Does it stop at Automobiles? Uh, no. How about radio stations, impliment compaines, contruction companies, paper towels, pop, water, beer, pizza...... need I continue.

If you talked to Shep and he "praised TRE" then, woo hooo , hats off to him. It doesn't make him more professional because he did. Hmm, did shep talk up stuff he does that may be TRE doesn't? Can you say the inverse for Shep?

I respect Shep and TRE. It just happens they are on the opposite ends of the spectrum, but still within the "limits". Jon at TRE is simply "wild". Have you seen the stereo he has in the building? It's like 1K or 3K Watts. LOUD. And he listens to it like that everyday. Shep, more reserved.

Better perspective might be, Shep it the calm, cool, collected drag racer. Jon(TRE) is the wild, hot, unwound Rally driver that is pushing the limits at every corner, for fun.

Am I a proponent of TRE? Yes. I'm running a TRE tranny with all the goodies and have 50K trouble free miles on it. Would I reccommend him again? Yes. Where will my next tranny go, to TRE. Less than a week turnaround. Reworked 90 tranny for just over 1K with double syncros, steel forks. He even threw in a mainshaft and VC for free, because mine was toast.

I am on the wrong coast for my opinions to count in this matter. . . but the proper school of business is that you do NOT downgrade your competition just because they are your competition. you dont have to sing their praises. but stooping to low brow tactics does little to encourage a customer to trust you. since it leaves the impression that when spoken about (usually behind your back) you will be degrated.

Moreover, it is a sign that impatience and off the cuff outbursts can (in theory) effect the quality of work done on your investment (be it tranny, or car). I would do the exact same thing that this person has done, take my business elsewhere. to further prove that this business tactic is not acceptable in an economy as poor as ours, this guy has lost at least 2 customers plus every person that is offended by this story. that is why i shopped for a good mitsu dealer before i went to one locally (we are blessed with 2 terrible dealers, and 1 superb one)

Ryan Kauzlarich.

I agree I will go with shep.

I knew there was a reason I called Shep.

thanks for reminding me.

We took my tranny to Shep yeaterday. I'm too impatient to wait for shipping, so we drove it there. It was a 12 hr. round trip and then I had to go straight into work the next day. It was worth it though. Roughly two weeks, I'll be driving back to pick it up. I just wish it was a litle closer......

heh, i plan on goin with shep when my tranny blows... for two reasons... he has a FAST dsm, and his website is nicer!

I just got my tranny back from shep. He was great to work with. He answered all my questions, replyed to all my emails, and took the time to explain what I needed and didnt need for my goals. My buddy went with TRE and we decided to go with shep on this project. I have yet to run it tho as my car is still being put back together from all the parts I bought. Customer service was top notch, which is very important to me on any part I buy, even if its 5 bucks for a keychain to 1500 for a tranny.

I would have to agree with being good with customer service. But after spending a few days at F2uning, I can see why some shops can come off rude. Jason at F2uning could come off like a dick if you caught him at the wrong time. His dad handles the customers, but when they pull him away from important work, for questions that could be answered with a little research, it rubs him the wrong way as it would anyone. The guy is just so damn busy it is not even funny. Gets there at 9 am and stays til 7 or 8pm.

As far as trannys go. I have seen the TRE piece and it is well done. But then again numbers do not lie. For bang for the buck and concidering what he has done with his. I will be going shep here myself. Every shop has someone out there that has some sort of gripe. You cannot make everyone happy, but you can make yourself very unhappy attempting to do so. Even the shops I go to, I cannot say I never had a complaint about somethin somehwere. Nothin big but still. One thing I like about TRE is you can just buy the tranny outright. No need for a rebuild type thing. But i cannot afford their prices.

Either way, for whatever their reasons, anyone who goes to TRE or Shep , will not be disapointed

Colossus said:

1500. A sheperd tranny with new shift forks, stainless steel clutch fork, shep 2nd gear, GVR4 1st gear (ull love it), and double synchro's on every gear you can afford it for that's not included in a basic rebuild.

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Right. That's exactly what shep told me and this is exactly why I didn't go with a gvr4 first gear myself. I trust his word because he's been doing it alot longer than anyone else I can think of that builds trannies.

Honestly guys if you don't want to spend a couple g's on your tranny then call up shep. But DONT bring up a company to another company and expect them to praise that other company. That's just sheer stupidity flat out. The company is wanting to make money and bussiness and you bringing up another company to them is a direct "slap-in-the-face" to them. That's probably what got you two off on the wrong foot.

Guys, please don't bash shep or tre. There both awsome companies and I myself have called both when I was getting my tranny done and shep was definatly cheaper and had just as quick of a turnaround for me (1 week).

Goodluck on either.

I could not have said that better myself, um, so I guess that is why you did

badboyr66 said:

One thing I like about TRE is you can just buy the tranny outright. No need for a rebuild type thing. But i cannot afford their prices.

Either way, for whatever their reasons, anyone who goes to TRE or Shep , will not be disapointed

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You can get a brand new tranny with mods from shep. I was at his shop saturday and he had a brand new tranny there still in the box.


ps his car looks INSANE in person

Ya I have talkt o him a few times and he seems like a cool guy. I am using his link and a shot of his car in a video I made, the "Mexican Bus" track. I called him to make sure I had his permission. I wish I was closer I would love to see what he has going on there. But ya, real cool guy. I did not know he had new trannies there either