Remote Transmission Dip Stick Aftermarket Support?

[2021Ranger]

Just said Yes, going to order a pan when it’s ready for a service but will be installing the new tube and dip stick as soon as possible. Fantastic job on the etching.

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[Big Blue]

Just said Yes, going to order a pan when it’s ready for a service but will be installing the new tube and dip stick as soon as possible. Fantastic job on the etching.

I've already got the pan and ready to order filter, gasket and filter. Just waiting on the stick. I want to install it first to get a good read on the level. My transmission runs great at 30K and I want to keep it that way.

 

[RCMUSTANG]

What are we looking price wise for the first batch?

 

[Russd]

Nice work!

 

[Fitzmotor]

Oh yes, the how much question, good question indeed, my initial target was $150.

Not a realistic goal for a small batch of 60, my new target is $169, still a lean number.

In reality I shouldn't try to add things up, it will make me crazy, I knew that it would get more complicated when I went down the pre-marked stick path, I probably would have been done by now if I had left that for the customer.

It's the time it takes to get things right, I have 32 emails back and forth with just the stencil company, over 50+ with the CAD guy, coming up on 20 with the mfg guy, this has almost been a full time job for months, I have a whole tray of hand made and 3D printed brackets and fittings, up to version 8 on the bracket and version 4 on the fitting.

Here is a good example, I bought 63 sticks from Dorman, 38 of them are made wrong, whoop... new problem, gotta get around that one, it also required a last second panic change to the top fitting drawing, so another problem and a another delay, normal.

I have R&R the stick and or different versions of the stick over 40 times, those tools just live on the bench, they never get put away.

I should stop making it sound so bad, it's okay, I'm all in, it's one of those things where I am out to make a product, in turn hopefully make a little money and especially deliver a product that people want.

 

[Msfitoy]

Oh yes, the how much question, good question indeed, my initial target was $150.

Not a realistic goal for a small batch of 60, my new target is $169, still a lean number.

In reality I shouldn't try to add things up, it will make me crazy, I knew that it would get more complicated when I went down the pre-marked stick path, I probably would have been done by now if I had left that for the customer.

It's the time it takes to get things right, I have 32 emails back and forth with just the stencil company, over 50+ with the CAD guy, coming up on 20 with the mfg guy, this has almost been a full time job for months, I have a whole tray of hand made and 3D printed brackets and fittings, up to version 8 on the bracket and version 4 on the fitting.

Here is a good example, I bought 63 sticks from Dorman, 38 of them are made wrong, whoop... new problem, gotta get around that one, it also required a last second panic change to the top fitting drawing, so another problem and a another delay, normal.

I have R&R the stick and or different versions of the stick over 40 times, those tools just live on the bench, they never get put away.

I should stop making it sound so bad, it's okay, I'm all in, it's one of those things where I am out to make a product, in turn hopefully make a little money and especially deliver a product that people want.

I'm sorry but not sorry I opened up this can of worms for you, Mike lol...but it looks like you're the right OCD pro to engineer this product...even if it ends up closer to 200, this'll be a jewel of a equipment to have under my hood just knowing it's history and development!

 

[Fitzmotor]

Ah yes, the OP, I think about you on occasion, the "simple CAD exercise" line rattles around in my head at times

If you have ever known any designer who has had to do hoses in CAD, they don't like it, at Honda after enough mistakes of 1/4" long, short, bad bends, we would make the first hoses by hand (or chop up the poor fitting hose) to fit the engine properly, then send them to Brown and Miller to make the production versions.

Thanks for the compliment, it's been very helpful to have the support here, as well as potential customers.

Thanks to all!

 

[TJC]

It is ALWAYS harder than it first appears. Making a one off dipstick is relatively easy.

Manufacturing small runs that are accurate is a much more complicated endeavor.

Mass producing would be much easier, as the manufacturing process is fully automated, but that is not going to happen.

Fitz is attempting to achieve the accuracy of a mass produced product using small run cottage businesses. A challenging and frustrating process.

I have to give major kudos to him for hanging in there this long. I would have had everyone marking their own dipsticks and called it a day!

I have a feeling that the cost of achieving accurate marking will exceed the cost of everything else before this is over.... as the quality control is difficult to maintain with small runs.

Excellence doesn't come easy, and it is never cheap.

"Ever Onward!"
(From the IBM Rally Songbook of the late 1930's - 1960's)

 

[Racket]

For the time and work put into this, the notion you'll 'make a little money' is kind of selling yourself short. Materials aside, I hope the forum's appreciation and knowing (hopefully) hundreds of 10r80 owners benefitting from this will warm the cockles of your heart ?

 

[Wytchdctr]

Oh yes, the how much question, good question indeed, my initial target was $150.

Not a realistic goal for a small batch of 60, my new target is $169, still a lean number.

In reality I shouldn't try to add things up, it will make me crazy, I knew that it would get more complicated when I went down the pre-marked stick path, I probably would have been done by now if I had left that for the customer.

It's the time it takes to get things right, I have 32 emails back and forth with just the stencil company, over 50+ with the CAD guy, coming up on 20 with the mfg guy, this has almost been a full time job for months, I have a whole tray of hand made and 3D printed brackets and fittings, up to version 8 on the bracket and version 4 on the fitting.

Here is a good example, I bought 63 sticks from Dorman, 38 of them are made wrong, whoop... new problem, gotta get around that one, it also required a last second panic change to the top fitting drawing, so another problem and a another delay, normal.

I have R&R the stick and or different versions of the stick over 40 times, those tools just live on the bench, they never get put away.

I should stop making it sound so bad, it's okay, I'm all in, it's one of those things where I am out to make a product, in turn hopefully make a little money and especially deliver a product that people want.

I'm still gonna buy from you BECAUSE it is premarked, unlike the B&M. I don't trust my current level to use as a reference. That and the work done in general. I just need to get in early as I have a change coming up. The local shop gave me a rather heafty quote so I can pull off the stick and a pan and legit claim to the wife I am saving money.

Especially as I am gonna stick with the Ranger. Between interest rates and everything having transmission problems it seems.. (holy crap the number of things with serious issues is crazy... stop trying to stick so many freaking gears in them) I'll stick with the 2wd pavement wonder until I pay it off and will probably give it to a kid (minus the tune.. I wonder if LMS could do a kids tune.... hm....)

Also, found a reasonably priced core to rebuild the trans with when does take a crap. I can do a clutch I should be able to do that.

 

[TJC]

Also, found a reasonably priced core to rebuild the trans with when does take a crap. I can do a clutch I should be able to do that.

I am considering my options, replacing either the solenoids, or the entire valve body before the transmission destroys itself.

There's a lot more pieces in a modern automatic transmission than in a standard transmission/clutch setup. Not to mention the PCM Update required to keep from destroying the transmission. Simply swapping out the valve body in the 10r80 requires the Solenoid Body Strategy registration number on the datasheet supplied with it to be entered into the vehicle PCM.

I just finished watching a swap of the valve body. It is not a simple as it used to be.

The final comment from the tech.... "looks like the Ford 10r80 10 speed is going to be our gravy job, our bread and butter. Ha ha!"

 

[Wytchdctr]

I am considering my options, replacing either the solenoids, or the entire valve body before the transmission destroys itself.

There's a lot more pieces in a modern automatic transmission than in a standard transmission/clutch setup. Not to mention the PCM Update required to keep from destroying the transmission. Simply swapping out the valve body in the 10r80 requires the Solenoid Body Strategy registration number on the datasheet supplied with it to be entered into the vehicle PCM.

I just finished watching a swap of the valve body. It is not a simple as it used to be.

The final comment from the tech.... "looks like the Ford 10r80 10 speed is going to be our gravy job, our bread and butter. Ha ha!"

Thank you for saving me time researching the valve body. The core of it, to replace the clutches and drums and stuff, is a bit silly easy if you get the thing rebuilt for you as a unit (omg the core charge). I figured the valve body would also need to get swaped if I see a failure in the clutch(s)/drum/etc.

The based on doing a clutch was just in reference to being able to get a trans on the ground.

This will take me a solid two weeks and at least 6 thrown wrenches and 15 lost 10mm sockets. (One probably in the trans).

But watching videos of this one seems easier than most autos (with the rebuilt core bit that comes out as one piece) I might be wrong.

 

[Big Blue]

@Fitzmotor, any updates on timing and cost of the first batch? I'm just waiting to hear when, how much and where to send the money. Hoping supply issues aren't slowing this down.

Hope it's not design tweaks slowing it down. As a retired designer I know it's hard to let your baby out into the wild. But, the bird has to leave the nest eventually. With the forum members here you have some of the best early adopters to give you honest feedback. You've already taken to B&M stick to the next level and beyond.

Point is "I want one!"

 

[Fitzmotor]

Dude, that's so funny, I had to have that same talk with myself, analysis paralysis it's called,

I sent off the money, I dont have a delivery date yet on the sub-components , I'm going to put the price at about $169 unless there is some unseen costs that arise, I dont have the box sorted out yet, but I think I can get them for less than $5, it's a long skinny custom one.

Thanks for rattling the cage, I'm in here working away, as soon as I have any sense of timing I will post it up here, Ive stepped on my pecker a few times quoting anticipated timing, so now the next time I quote a delivery time it will be solid.

Thanks again.

 

[RCMUSTANG]

Damn, I'm about to do my tranny pan and service next weekend.

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