Alpha III Concepts - MBS FitzStick Transmission Dipstick Face-Off

[Sojourner]

My first thread!

Back in April/May - after reading about the issues with the 10R80 fluid levels (and prior experience with the 6R80 lead frame fail on my 2012 F-150) I decided I needed to install a dipstick like we used to have. And be done with the abomination that Ford gave us in the 6R80 and 10R80 (and I'm sure other transmissions) with the nub dipstick that sits right next to the catalytic converter (no chance that wasn't done on purpose, right?).

Anyway, I had been reading all the stuff here on the forum about the FitzStick prototypes. By the time I got to the end of the threads it seemed @Fitzmotor wasn't going to make anymore. Bummer, but needs must. So forge on.

I saw someone reference the Alpha III Concepts (A3C) kit and it seemed like it looked pretty good. So I ordered it paying the going price at the time ($119).

First impression was that it would meet my needs. I was a little disappointed in the design of the dipstick: too flimsy (wanted to get this written, so I'll add some more photos later). But after going through the complete install my disappointment with the dipstick increased. It seems to be too short; meaning I'm not sure they got the dipstick length correct (mid-stick on the Ford OEM stick (35) is at the low end (25) on the A3C stick so not sure I can get a correct reading).

The instructions are fairly straight-forward, but the quality of the pix was awful; meaning, it was hard to see what I was supposed to see (I don't think it's old age and bad eyes). And there doesn't appear to be any post-purchase support.

In the end, it worked. -ish.

About a week after installing the A3C kit FitzMotor posted that he was spinning up production again. Having seen some of his pix I jumped to it and today it showed up. Already installed.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. Bottom line, the FitzStick won every one of the criteria I weighed, but one. Not even close. From boxing up to instructions to professional end result, the FitzStick is the hands-down winner. Hardware, dipstick itself (materials and markings)..., it's was pretty close to a shut-out win for the FitzStick.

Okay, now to the only thing I thought the A3C kit has over the MBS kit. The A3C kit has the installer move the "T-wire" back to the unused bracket that the FitzStick mount uses. The A3C mount then is mounted on the silver (now empty) bracket and the other wire that plugged into the front of the silver bracket is plugged into the third hole on the A3C mount. See photo. Honestly, I liked the A3C location more than the MBS location (both for installation and fluid checking post-installation).

I told FitzMotor about this and his response was excellent:

I actually looked at the other bracket first as a mounting spot, if it had been a V8 engine I may have, but the harmonic vibrations out of a 4 cyl are good at cracking things, even with the balance shaft and with the heavier -10 hose I wanted something bullet proof. That tab is designed for a wire loom clip, not suitable for 100,000 miles of holding something heavier.

So, in the end, the MBS kit wins again. Not a near shut-out, a complete shut-out.

Bottom line, the MBS FitzStick kit is so good it's literally an OEM-quality accessory. The A3C kit can't hold a fire to the MBS kit in any aspect. Glad to see FitzMotor getting it patented. And at $179, I think it's a steal; MBS could sell it for $229 and it would be more than worth it.

In a 5-star rating scheme, 6 stars. YMMV, but if it does, you're flat out wrong (unless you're giving him more than 6 stars).

Cheers.

Sponsored

 

[RedlandRanger]

I'd argue it is BETTER than an OEM quality accessory. I kind of doubt the OEM (Ford) would put as much thought and attention into a dipstick as Mike has.

I love the "6 star" comment - it is totally true. The quality and attention to detail shows in everything he has done.

 

[Msfitoy]

MBS isn't making anymore Fitzstick? That's news to me...

 

[Sojourner]

Some pix:

Here's the A3C dipstick tube. Pretty nice. You can see the 3rd hole on the mounting bracket for the wire you need to take off in order to use the A3C mount:

You'll see it up close in another photo, but note how short the A3C dipstick is (they're both positioned relative to where they would be fully seated in their mounts):

No markings on the A3C dipstick; an "old-school" trans stick marking/identifier on the MBS dipstick (to include a nice reminder to use ULV trans fluid):

Here you can see the difference in lengths:

Here you can see that the A3C dipstick is actually a cable:

Here you can see the scales. The MBS stick mimics the Ford OEM nubby dipstick. The A3C doesn't and goes way up 2-3 times further up the dipstick than any reading you'd ever get in the 10R80. The A3C dipstick also counts backwards in comparison to the MBS or Ford numbering system; meaning, the bottom number is 20 going all the way up over 120 whereas the MBS starts at 6 and ends at 1:

Hope these pix help.

Cheers.

 

[Sojourner]

MBS isn't making anymore Fitzstick? That's news to me...

As I mentioned in the OP, back in April I thought I read he wasn't making anymore. Which is why I bought the A3C kit. A week after finally installing the A3C kit (June) Mike said he was. I bought one and hence, my review. Sorry for any confusion in my initial write-up.

 

[Msfitoy]

As I mentioned in the OP, back in April I thought I read he wasn't making anymore. Which is why I bought the A3C kit. A week after finally installing the A3C kit (June) Mike said he was. I bought one and hence, my review. Sorry for any confusion in my initial write-up.

I'm a poor speed reader...lol

 

[AzScorpion]

I'm a poor speed reader...lol

Must be bad eyes from all those lights

 

[Fitzmotor]

Wow, the side by side is interesting, this is the first real look at the competition, completely different, but application wise the same.

The fluid scale backwards is odd, it must have been an off the shelf part he applied to his application, that's exactly what I did, I started with a replacement Ford stick and then had the mfg mark it to my specs.

It looks like the bracket is sandwiched between the hose collar and the fitting, usually there is not that much room between those, but the bottom fitting has even a larger gap like there is too much hose under the collar or the fittings are for different thickness/type hose.

Hey, either way, he's just trying to pay the bills, he brought it to market faster than I managed.

Hopefully my long slow efforts, with all the reworking and redesigns before I even made it to market, will speak to the customer who want's quality and design over price, but that does not work for everyone, some prefer to buy on price, so this leaves options for the Ranger owner.

Thanks for posting this up I have often wondered how I stacked up, to both him and B&M!

 

[Grumpaw]

That A3C simply looks like a take-off of the B&M cable type generic dip stick while the Fitzstick is a true dip stick with proper markings to coincide with the 10R80 pan's fluid capacity.
Prior to my Fitzstick I had a B&M and can state there is NO comparison....Mike's product is the best you can install....
Comparing the A3C to Mike's...again, no comparison !!!

 

[Blue Streak]

Wow, the side by side is interesting, this is the first real look at the competition, completely different, but application wise the same.

The fluid scale backwards is odd, it must have been an off the shelf part he applied to his application, that's exactly what I did, I started with a replacement Ford stick and then had the mfg mark it to my specs.

It looks like the bracket is sandwiched between the hose collar and the fitting, usually there is not that much room between those, but the bottom fitting has even a larger gap like there is too much hose under the collar or the fittings are for different thickness/type hose.

Hey, either way, he's just trying to pay the bills, he brought it to market faster than I managed.

Hopefully my long slow efforts, with all the reworking and redesigns before I even made it to market, will speak to the customer who want's quality and design over price, but that does not work for everyone, some prefer to buy on price, so this leaves options for the Ranger owner.

Thanks for posting this up I have often wondered how I stacked up, to both him and B&M!

I can safely say that when your website is available for all to see if there is a review section the site will be flooded with great reviews & probably crash. Which would be a compliment to a job well done.

 

[Fitzmotor]

Thanks you guys

I never thought about a review section, I can’t even figure out how add a second page, I’m lame with the whole website thing.

 

[Sojourner]

For me the frustration with the A3C kit is the dipstick itself (which is the whole reason for buying the kit!).

As I mentioned, there is very little usable stick at the low end (meaning a cold measurement might not even show, while the hot measurement would only show at the lower third). Then there is the huge amount of markings that go way above where the trans case cap would be that are useless. So I'm getting measurement ticks where I don't need them and virtually no ticks where I do.

So, as much as I wanted to like the A3C kit it just doesn't do the job. So while I agree with @Fitzmotor's comment about price/affordability my "counter comment" is that any money spent is wasted money if the part doesn't do the job. Better to revert back to OEM and just do it with cap, nubby dipstick, burn protection, sweat, wrenches, and profanity than to be frustrated by the A3C kit.

That A3C simply looks like a take-off of the B&M cable type generic dip stick while the Fitzstick is a true dip stick with proper markings to coincide with the 10R80 pan's fluid capacity.
Prior to my Fitzstick I had a B&M and can state there is NO comparison....Mike's product is the best you can install....
Comparing the A3C to Mike's...again, no comparison !!!

I have the B&M kit for my F-150. Yup, same cable. At least A3C put a scale on the lower dipstick; the B&M one comes tabula rasa and you have to score the stick yourself. And the measurement area is only 1 1/2 inches long.

Why I'm hoping MBS/Fitzmotor offers a F-150 version down the road.

 

[Fitzmotor]

I am starting to look at finding a Bronco and maybe F150 local to me that I can use as a test mule!

 

[IRISHTREMOR]

Great comparison amongst the two I was hunting for one and found the thread about the build. I’m glad I did cause I had to go through 155 pages to find the website ordered one today. Look forward to getting it next week.

 

[got3fords]

I would think a poorly designed stick like the A3C could potentially lead to issues due to improper level. I hope no one with warranty remaining installed that.

Sponsored