Upgrades and Aftermarket - 6.0L EngineUpgrading and adding aftermarket equipment to your 2003-Up Super Duty or Excursion with 6.0L Power Stroke diesel engine. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 6.0L Power Stroke engine.
57k on the truck and 10k since i put in an ATS 5 star converter.
Just last friday my truck sheared off every converter bolt, cracked the flexplate and the debris kocked out holes in my bellhousing. Then the flexplate and converter welded themselves together trashing it.
What do you think would cause the flexplate to do all that. I have had a sqeaky belt issue that ford has fixed about 5times and say theres no play in the crank but i dont beleive they really check it.
ATS strikes again!!! Their torque converter does NOT fit the flex plate properly.... I just went through one on a customer pay job and ATS blew me off....
You will find that the lip around the outside of the flex plate bottoms against the outside rim of the torque converter. This leaves nearly a 1/4 inch gap between the mounting holes in the converter and the face of the flex plate. The unwary wont notice - especially since it is so hard to see up in there.
Nearly two weeks later, I am still waiting for ATS tech support to phone me back. This customer spent a LOT of money on this trans and it has been a cause for concern since day one.
It has cost our shop over $4000 CA to deal with the ATS lack of support and their apparent desire to avoid backing their product quality. They denied warranty claims where significant particulate matter existed in the trans even though the OTA cooler was replaced and the OTC cooler was back flushed and forward flushed. They instructed our tech to disassemble and repair the trans and then denied that warranty claim.
In the abscence of any input from ATS, I had this flex plate machined so that the lip was flush with the ring gear..... I am still not happy with the result but it is much better than what we had.
There will be no more purple transmissions in our shop unless these folks change their ways.....
If anyone from ATS reads this... check me out boys.... I'm the guy from Alberta that phoned you early on a Monday morning. Thanks for all the help....
For anyone else with one of these converters..... I can only suggest a close inspection.... It's not the flex plate that is at fault...
Couldn't agree more. I spent about $7,000 (yes thousand) dollars on ATS products for my old Dodge and when my high $ ATS trans took a crap 13 months after it was installed they wouldn't even return my email.
They also lied to my shop numerous times during the process of trying to get my truck back on the road....my shop couldn't believe how bad they were.
People need to know that a fancy add in a magazine and a booth at SEMA doesn't mean you'll get quality engineering, quality manufacture, or in ATS's case definetly doesn't mean you get good customer support.
IMO, these guys got too big too fast and are caught up in TV programs, trade shows, and doing fancy magazine ads to give a crap about the customer.
__________________
05 F-350, PSD, 4x4, Crew Cab,6-Speed
2" Front Level Kit, Pro Comp ES9000 Shocks
Firestone Model 2400 Airbags (horrid engineering)
Tow 30' Toyhauler
*-Friends don't let Friends run Crap-lisle Trailer Tires
I'd like to reply to this thread, but I'm too busy reading magazines and internet posts.
I just know I can out-engineer Ford and International! After all, they purposely down-rated the performace of my truck to keep their warranty costs low!
__________________ Stan
2005 F250 4X4 SD R/C Power Stroke / Torqshift
Oxford White, Medium Flint 40/20/40 Vinyl, Prefered Equip. Pkg. 600A , 3.73, Limited Slip, XL Decor Pkg., Jeweled Headlamps, Chrome Rear Step Bumper, 9600# GVWR Pkg., Engine Block Heater, Sliding Rear Window, Speed Control / Tilt Wheel, Camper Pkg., FX4 Pkg., Air Conditioning, Forged Aluminum Wheels-17", Tow Command, Telescoping TT Mirrors. Using this vehicle to produce an ambulance voids Ford warranty. Added: Ford factory upfitter switches, Go Industries Rancher Grill Guard (hammered powdercoat), Hella 4000 Rallye lighting (one Cornering Beam, one Euro Beam), SnugTop Super Sport camper shell.
Man I shure hope somone from ATS can give us some answers to this. No amount of advertising in the world can cover up some word of mouth like this. Mods, please don't do us all a diservice by removing this thread.
Justin
__________________
Current 2002 F-250 Crew Cab SB 7.3 Auto 4x4 White FX4 131k
2000 F-250 7.3 Auto Shorty Extended Cab 4x4. Bought brand Spankin new. Zoodad, Hypertech tuner, straightpipe. Sold @ 69k miles. Bought New in 2000 sold 07/03 to get a 2003 Crew Cab. Needed room for the baby.
03 F-250 Crew Shorty Torqueshift 4x4. Bought 05/03 brand spankin new, Traded in 10/06 As of 10/06 111k Tuned by Innovative, Mbrb Turbo back with extra whistle, Airraid intake, Guages. **Update** 10/06 Oil cooler sprung a leak and caused the entire cooling system to fill with oily water. Dealer quote -- 4900.00. Injectors were missing on cold start sometimes took as long as 5-10mins. for them all to start firing. Come on ford! Traded truck in one week later for 2007 Dmax/Allison LBZ
2007 Silverado Classic Duramax LBZ. Bought brand spankin new. 6 speed ally, crew, Longbed, 4x4 charcoal grey. Stock for reliablity. Sold (Crew Cab Long Bed is impossible to drive in town, and missed the fords. 7.3 here i come)
I would love for them to step or something to happen. I mean I payed $1,400 for a converter that is now trashed and they also took my core so I cant even just toss a stock one back in. Either way im screwed and its gonna cost me. I spent alot of money to avoid this sort of thing it sucks. I really liked that converter too, the truck shifted and locked up great.
Not sure where you're coming from.... The hottest VT365 you can get from CornBinder is 230 horse advertised.... Ford "derated" this motor to 325 advertised....
[ QUOTE ]
ATS strikes again!!! Their torque converter does NOT fit the flex plate properly.... I just went through one on a customer pay job and ATS blew me off....
You will find that the lip around the outside of the flex plate bottoms against the outside rim of the torque converter. This leaves nearly a 1/4 inch gap between the mounting holes in the converter and the face of the flex plate. The unwary wont notice - especially since it is so hard to see up in there.
Nearly two weeks later, I am still waiting for ATS tech support to phone me back. This customer spent a LOT of money on this trans and it has been a cause for concern since day one.
It has cost our shop over $4000 CA to deal with the ATS lack of support and their apparent desire to avoid backing their product quality. They denied warranty claims where significant particulate matter existed in the trans even though the OTA cooler was replaced and the OTC cooler was back flushed and forward flushed. They instructed our tech to disassemble and repair the trans and then denied that warranty claim.
In the abscence of any input from ATS, I had this flex plate machined so that the lip was flush with the ring gear..... I am still not happy with the result but it is much better than what we had.
There will be no more purple transmissions in our shop unless these folks change their ways.....
If anyone from ATS reads this... check me out boys.... I'm the guy from Alberta that phoned you early on a Monday morning. Thanks for all the help....
For anyone else with one of these converters..... I can only suggest a close inspection.... It's not the flex plate that is at fault...
[/ QUOTE ]
So you are saying that the design of their 5-star is bad? because I just purchased a 5-star and a billet flexplate for my truck so this whole thread concerns me. I have not had any problems with my ATS tranny or service but you guys have me wondering what if the tranny or converter fails.
I'm going to have a stroke before this is all said and done.
__________________
2001 F350 extcab 4x4 (My truck is slow)
[ QUOTE ]
Not sure where you're coming from.... The hottest VT365 you can get from CornBinder is 230 horse advertised.... Ford "derated" this motor to 325 advertised....
[/ QUOTE ]
I was being sarcastic Grampy. The Ford version of the VT365 is already hot rodded. That's why I'm leaving my 2005 STOCK.
__________________ Stan
2005 F250 4X4 SD R/C Power Stroke / Torqshift
Oxford White, Medium Flint 40/20/40 Vinyl, Prefered Equip. Pkg. 600A , 3.73, Limited Slip, XL Decor Pkg., Jeweled Headlamps, Chrome Rear Step Bumper, 9600# GVWR Pkg., Engine Block Heater, Sliding Rear Window, Speed Control / Tilt Wheel, Camper Pkg., FX4 Pkg., Air Conditioning, Forged Aluminum Wheels-17", Tow Command, Telescoping TT Mirrors. Using this vehicle to produce an ambulance voids Ford warranty. Added: Ford factory upfitter switches, Go Industries Rancher Grill Guard (hammered powdercoat), Hella 4000 Rallye lighting (one Cornering Beam, one Euro Beam), SnugTop Super Sport camper shell.
I just talked to a International rep that was driving one of their super pickup trucks around showing it off. He said the only reason the VT365 is low HP is for fuel economy and it puts enough power out to make their market happy. The toy truck he had was "worked".
__________________
2005 Lariat,CC,SB,6.0,auto,4X4,Black/Silver accent,Lt slip,ESOF,moonroff,FX4, SCT,Hog 4"exh, Firesone Riderite, Grove air horm, x-monitor, AFE,headlight mods,etc(NASCAR=325/60r18nitto&weld evo mags,full blk,gry leather,blk carbon dash trim,liquid billet grille,chrome handles,fuel cap,tailgate,tonneau cover,IronCross running bds)
2006 Ford Five Hundred LTD, AWD
200l Honda Rubicon 500
1999 28 Thor TT
I have ran our converter for over a year now without issue. We do have billet flexplates being machined but the purpose is for high horsepower.
[ QUOTE ]
ATS strikes again!!! Their torque converter does NOT fit the flex plate properly.... I just went through one on a customer pay job and ATS blew me off....
You will find that the lip around the outside of the flex plate bottoms against the outside rim of the torque converter. This leaves nearly a 1/4 inch gap between the mounting holes in the converter and the face of the flex plate. The unwary wont notice - especially since it is so hard to see up in there.
[/ QUOTE ]
The early TripleLoks required the 6.0 flexplate to be machined. The outer lip would contact the converter. This is an old issue that went away before the Triplelok did. With the 5-star this is not an issue.
[ QUOTE ]
In the abscence of any input from ATS, I had this flex plate machined so that the lip was flush with the ring gear..... I am still not happy with the result but it is much better than what we had.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sounds like what I mentioned. Was this a Triplelok or 5-Star?
I know who SL Ford Sales is because we just did a set of Fire Ringed 6.0 heads for you.
There are always two sides to every story.
[ QUOTE ]
57k on the truck and 10k since i put in an ATS 5 star converter.
Just last friday my truck sheared off every converter bolt, cracked the flexplate and the debris kocked out holes in my bellhousing. Then the flexplate and converter welded themselves together trashing it.
What do you think would cause the flexplate to do all that. I have had a sqeaky belt issue that ford has fixed about 5times and say theres no play in the crank but i dont beleive they really check it.
[/ QUOTE ]
You sheared all the converter bolts but had no signs of this happening?? No noises?? I have seen the Cummins Dragster and some Duramaxs shear the bolts. My 6.0 at 700hp hasn't sheared the bolts. Were the converter bolts tight?? Once something starts to loosen its gonna trash everything. Without seeing the parts it is very had to say but I have driven vehicles with loose conveter bolts and you can hear it. Tell us more.
Tadd
__________________ Elite Diesel Custom Tuning www.elitedieseleng.com tadd@elite-diesel.com 1-866-631-8518
Elite Diesel SCT Tuning for 6.0 and 7.3's with Cylinder Pressure Adjusted tunes, Programmers or 6-position chips, Custom 6.0 Injectors, 2 Stages of 6.0L Fuel Systems, H-11 Head Studs, Fire Ring Kits, Single and Compound Turbos for the 6.0L, Engine Internals
04 F350 XLT SPORT CC DRW
Elite Diesel SCT Tuner,AFE Stage 2, 345cc Injectors, 6" Stacks, S400 turbo. 701hp on #2
Look in the september issue of Diesel Power Mag.
Ford Senior Master Technician
[ QUOTE ]
So you are saying that the design of their 5-star is bad? because I just purchased a 5-star and a billet flexplate for my truck so this whole thread concerns me. I have not had any problems with my ATS tranny or service but you guys have me wondering what if the tranny or converter fails.
I'm going to have a stroke before this is all said and done.
[/ QUOTE ]
Freddy, just because Grampa Jim says its so doesn't mean it is. Just because one person here says there opinion doesn't mean its gospel (the statement that 400hp is the max on PMR in a 7.3, comes to mind). SL Ford sales has a history with ATS and he talks like they have had all these issues, then why did they just have us do head work? Like I said, two sides to every story.
Tadd
__________________ Elite Diesel Custom Tuning www.elitedieseleng.com tadd@elite-diesel.com 1-866-631-8518
Elite Diesel SCT Tuning for 6.0 and 7.3's with Cylinder Pressure Adjusted tunes, Programmers or 6-position chips, Custom 6.0 Injectors, 2 Stages of 6.0L Fuel Systems, H-11 Head Studs, Fire Ring Kits, Single and Compound Turbos for the 6.0L, Engine Internals
04 F350 XLT SPORT CC DRW
Elite Diesel SCT Tuner,AFE Stage 2, 345cc Injectors, 6" Stacks, S400 turbo. 701hp on #2
Look in the september issue of Diesel Power Mag.
Ford Senior Master Technician
This is good to hear! and these guys made is sound like you guys did the opposite of everything I had known about ATS. We plan on giving the tranny a real testing over at BWD so I can once again sleep well knowing that you guys will take good care of me. I know that BTS replaces his tranny if it bites the dust pretty much no questions asked and they have had some fail so as long as ATS will do the same I have no worries and this should rid others of these worries.
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2001 F350 extcab 4x4 (My truck is slow)
Linear Mode
