Drove down to Florida to have my brother (ASE certified tech), and his buddy (ASE certified master tech and former Viper tech) to fix my TOB problem. Bought new SPEC clutch kit (TOB, pilot bearing, stage 2 clutch and Pressure plate), had my flywheel turned. They took 35 minutes to get the tranny out (those crooks in NC charged me 4 hours!). Found the problem 10 minutes after that. All the crap Ford TOB's have worn a spot on my TOB retainer (metal tube sticking out from the tranny nose). Tried getting a new TOB retainer from EVERYWHERE (even aftermarket Tremec dealers). As some of you know, Tremec has a deal with Ford and will not sell 03 specific parts to anyone. This is no joke. I couldn't get the part. The asshole dealership in NC (Earl Tindol Ford) put a flag on my VIN as well stating "All powertrain repairs to be examined by SVT rep before service is rendered". So, Ford won't sell me the $50 part to fix my tranny, all they will sell me is a new tranny for $3,000. They will most likely void my warranty when I take it in, even though three ASE certified techs have told me that there is NO WAY an increase in HP over stock can kill a TOB. Someone, please give me some advise, I haven't been this angry in a long, long time. I will most likely let this thing go back to Ford credit if they do not replace my TOB retainer under warranty. I WILL NOT pay 3K for a $50 part! :cuss: This is such BS, no one should be allowed to sell you a car that they don't have parts to repair.
Oh, and anyone who wants to pull out the "pay to play" crap, get off it. I have already paid $1,300 to diagnose and attempt to repair something that Ford techs should have seen and fixed back when it was stock, were they not so damn incompetent. Besides, I TRIED to pay to play, I bought the new stuff to fix the problem, paid for the install, and so on, BUT I CAN'T PAY TO PLAY WHEN THEY WON'T SELL THE PART!!!!!
Oh, and anyone who wants to pull out the "pay to play" crap, get off it. I have already paid $1,300 to diagnose and attempt to repair something that Ford techs should have seen and fixed back when it was stock, were they not so damn incompetent. Besides, I TRIED to pay to play, I bought the new stuff to fix the problem, paid for the install, and so on, BUT I CAN'T PAY TO PLAY WHEN THEY WON'T SELL THE PART!!!!!
As fo right now, I doubt I will ever buy another Ford product. I don't care if they make a 8,000,000 HP car and sell it for $25. I have NEVER had this much BS to wade through for something so simple. With my C5, Chevy didn't even ASK what happened to it, they just fixed it, no questions. Hell, I even blew it up (MY FAULT) by getting pissed off because it wouldn't start, and got flustered and mixed up the jumper cables. Blew the battery, half of the electrical system, and like 3 computers. Told the dealer what happened, he said don't worry about it and took care of me. THAT is the level of service I expect from a big 3 auto maker. Not this bullshit. I tell you one thing, if they do screw me out of 3K for a new tranny, I will become the most VOICIFEROUS anti-Ford person they ever imagined. I will write letters to EVERY mag, contact the BBB, hit the news papers and TV, start anti-Ford websites, you name it. I will not be screwed and just smile about it. 
