new tranny install

[incoma]

I FINALLY got to drive my truck yesterday. I had a new 3.42 posi unit installed, and my 200 4R was installed after a brief tear down and cleanup. The tranny shop and axle shop are part of the same outfit here in town, but they're at different locations and apparently don't talk a whole lot.

The guys that installed the tranny into the truck, used my turbo 350 kickdown cable as a tv cable for the 200 4R. I then had the truck towed to a tire shop for an alignment and some new rubber, and drove hit home afterwards. I wish I knew that it wasn't right, b/c I wouldn't have driven the truck the 5-6 miles home last night.

Does anyone have any idea how much damage have I done to the tranny? The whole reason I payed them to install the tranny was so they would get the proper pressure measurements for adjustment.

I'm a bit irritated that they did this. They're supposed to be a good shop, but they definitely didn't do this correctly. I'm going to be paying them a visit Monday.

[72MARIO]

but they're at different locations and apparently don't talk a whole lot

We might be seeing why they dont talk alot.... The first thing you can do is check that at wide open throttle(motor off) the TV cable is pulled tight.

Then drive it to the shop

[Longhorn Man]

I wouldn't go back there personally, maybe to raise a little hell, but they wouldn't get to touch my truck after that.
In all reality, there is no telling how much damage you did. However, it is most likely minimal, if any.

[incoma]

My feelings about the situation mirror yours longhorn man. My issue, frankly, is that I don't want to spend any more money on the transmission if its banged up. They should fix it, even though I would prefer for another shop to correct their error.

[krue]

I've been told that if you unhook the tv cable you can drive it (it will shift VERY hard though)

[Longhorn Man]

normally, an overdrive tranny with a poorly adjusted TV cable will last for 25,000 miles, and THEN it'll crap out. Soime guys who have adjusted it 'by ear' have had it shifting just right (seat of the pants) and were shocked to discover it was wrong 25,000 miles later.

Now, in the shop's defence.... In a stock set up, there isn't much reason to check out the line pressure. It's a good idea, but not really needed. Becouser of this, some shops aren't aware of the importance of adjusting it while watching the line pressure. After market intakes, carbs, and brackets make all the variables jump into your face and that's when the damage happens.

While there probably is a little added wear on your tranny, think of it more as like the wear on a tire. Sure, spinnong the right rear a little bit going around the corner DID leave some rubber on the road, however, you can look, inspect, measure, and complain, but in all reality, that right rear is still a brand new tire, and the wear put on it is minimal at best.

My opinion on this, would to say do it yourself. Non stock aplications call for added caution, and onless the shop you pick knows what you are talking about, they'll just agree with you pretending to know what you are talking about, (becouse shop owners LOVE to hear how things work from a customer) and then they'll go and do pretty much the same thing trannay shop #1 did.
You can check out bow tie overdrives, and get the kits they offer. ONless you have a quadrajet, you should probably go ahead and get the kit that has the throttle bell crank in addition to the kit for adjusting the cable.

I know it'll set you back a little more money...just as you thoguht you were done spending on it, but IMO, this is the ONLY way you'll KNOW it is right. (if the hands on part is a little above your level of work, I'd get the kits and there is bound to be a gear head around at work or even a local board member who will help you out, maybe at the cost of a 12 pack or so)