I took my 1985 Chevy k-10 into this shop since it was closest to where I lived and wanted to have a local business doing the work on my restoration project. My k10 is a rebuilt truck with a moderately high performance engine. I originally purchased a transmission online from Monster Transmission (a whole other story), and the tranny did not work correctly after I installed it. I told Andy that 4th gear never worked and 3rd gear was slipping as well. He pulled it out, told me that the 3-4 clutch was burnt up. I asked him to fix it, get the truck running like when it was new and $1800 later, he provided me with my k10 in running condition.
From the get-go, I knew there were going to be problems. First, he said he could not get the truck running at high enough speed to test if the lockup function of the 700R4 transmission and left that up to me to figure out. The lockup can be tested in the shop with the correct equipment -- which he does not have and apparently, he just does not do complete service on transmissions to the point that everything runs correctly.
To finish the restoration, it was time for me to drive the truck to Oregon to get it painted. About 60 miles to the East of home, the transmission starting dumping fluid from between the engine and tranny. After a $750 tow to Andy's Shop, he looked at the transmission and stated that it was probably running hot which forced the transmission fluid through the front seal. He said because the truck was not locking up, the fluid was overheating. He then tried to explain to me how the lock up works, which I was already fully aware of. After a heated and confrontational exchange, which included several profanene comments on Andy's part, he told me there was nothing he was going to do to solve the problem, or even look what was causing the fluid to come pouring out of the transmission. He then told me that because the truck has high performance parts on it, there is no warranty (something I will get to momentarily). and that the truck was my problem, my responsibility, and there was nothing he was going to do because it was no longer dumping fluid when he test drove it.
Andy has limited knowledge with transmissions when it comes to performance based applications. If you are looking for a performance transmission or assistance with one, do not go to this shop.
Andy has poor customer relations skills (an offshoot of the fact that he thinks he knows everything -- which he clearly does not). Andy also does not warranty his work like most shops do, and unfortunately, he did not tell me this until after he did the work on the transmission. Andy also does not do what he says he is going to do. It was my assumption that he completely rebuilt the transmission when it was brought to him the first time. For $1800, you would expect that -- what I found out however, is he just replaced the broken parts and reassembled the tranny with the old parts (and this is most likely why the tranny is leaking past the front seal). One look at the transmission and you can tell it is poorly put together (pan gasket hanging out and obviously broken, previously painted parts all scratched up).
Lastly, it is readily apparent that Andy believes he has no liability for his work. Courts recognize that customers pay for a service and expect to get something for that payment. While Andy believes his no warranty clause protects him, it will not. See you in Court Andy!
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