Keisler Engineering Bankrupt, Chapter 7

69RRGTX · Jan 24, 2014

From an email newletter I received today:

"Last Thursday January 16, I ceased operations of Keisler Engineering Inc by filing it into a Chapter 7 Liquidation Bankruptcy. This was a sad day for our customers, vendors, employees and families, many of which had been with us for 5-10 years. And this brought to a close a 22 year long run of the company I started in my garage in 1991 that grew to become the innovator and leader of the 5-speed overdrive transmission market for muscle cars and Corvette. "

A shame in a way, but when you can't deliver a rather strait forward transmission package for 6 months.......This is what happens. I am just thankful I did not order one and give a half down deposit last fall.

I hope nobody I like buys into the proposed new company

Dennis H · Jan 24, 2014

A shame too that the TKO will not do a 2-3 shift over 3000 rpm. A shame that Passon can't deliver the much touted no cutting overdrive for Mopar E bodies. Someone somewhere has one but we have not heard from them lately. Excuses and delays.

1cre8iveguy · Jan 24, 2014

Dennis H said:
A shame too that the TKO will not do a 2-3 shift over 3000 rpm. A shame that Passon can't deliver the much touted no cutting overdrive for Mopar E bodies. Someone somewhere has one but we have not heard from them lately. Excuses and delays.

Dennis, my name is Bruce Kepley, sales manager for Legend Gear and Transmission...further I'm a die hard Mopar guy (bs23rob242385, ws23r1a121756 export car, former owner) and can assure you that the transmission exists in the form of our Legend Gear LGT700...call Jeff Spraker at Spraker Racing, 704-799-1300...first visit his web page...thanks, Bruce

Jnelson · Jan 25, 2014

Dennis H said:
A shame too that the TKO will not do a 2-3 shift over 3000 rpm. A shame that Passon can't deliver the much touted no cutting overdrive for Mopar E bodies. Someone somewhere has one but we have not heard from them lately. Excuses and delays.

Passon has them. I was at his place last weekend and saw two ready to ship on the floor. I am thinking it will take a while for him to put together the 400 that are back ordered. I'm not sure what the ones I saw were for but he did say that the test mule for the 5 speed was his 72 Barracuda.

He is a real nice guy and showed me around the shop. Saw his 72 Barracuda and his dad's 65 belvedere.

Cranky · Jan 25, 2014

And what about stuff like this happening? A quote from one of their 'customers'......

"Weasels. They called me last week for approval to charge another $4000 to insure a slot in their suppliers production schedule. Luckily I refused and advised my card not to accept additional charges."

And according to the customer, that happened the day before the filing. And why wouldn't a customer be in 'the slot' with the down payment to start with? Sure sounds like a little bit of fraud going on there if that's true but it wouldn't be the first time to hear about something like that going down when some company is about to file. And seems like ever since I first heard the name Keisler, I've heard rumbles in the background about them having a lousy reputation. Now I've never heard anything bad about Passon but have never heard of Spraker Racing...

Revhendo · Jan 25, 2014

OK, just popped in to make sure the news was out. I know and like Shafi, but there has been some unhappy stuff going on for awhile. Looks like the end. It is kind of sad for a company that did a lot for the hobby.

Revhendo · Jan 25, 2014

Dude! Nice post on Facebook. My ol' lady is reading some of it to me now....

Moparsmitty · Jan 25, 2014

Cranky said:
And what about stuff like this happening? A quote from one of their 'customers'......

"Weasels. They called me last week for approval to charge another $4000 to insure a slot in their suppliers production schedule. Luckily I refused and advised my card not to accept additional charges."

And according to the customer, that happened the day before the filing. And why wouldn't a customer be in 'the slot' with the down payment to start with? Sure sounds like a little bit of fraud going on there if that's true but it wouldn't be the first time to hear about something like that going down when some company is about to file. And seems like ever since I first heard the name Keisler, I've heard rumbles in the background about them having a lousy reputation. Now I've never heard anything bad about Passon but have never heard of Spraker Racing...

The April Car Craft that I just received has a tech article about a trans swap (Chevy of course) that uses some Keisler parts. As usual they list the part numbers and contact info for the vendors in the article including Keisler. What's interesting is that the usual paid for ad that usually follows these type of articles isn't there. Makes me wonder if CC might of had a sniff of what might be coming.

Budnicks · Jan 25, 2014

Damn this is the third posted thread started on this Keisler Bankruptcy now... $4400+ for a 5 speed LGT700, then 2-3 month lead time, for a O/D trans... Is Ridiculous !!, still not good IMHFO... So far Passon Performance has been promising the world, for 5-6 years now, I've seen only one thread about a guy who has one of theirs in actual possession... It's referenced on one of the other 2 threads now about Keisler's bankruptcy... I guess we will soon see, if they {Passon} can actually deliver on the back orders 1st before, they fill any new orders {or Spanker Racing whom I've never even heard of except for in another post about Keisler's bankruptcy}... I would highly suggest waiting to see what actually happens, before putting down near $5000 just for a 5 speed O/D... you could always as an option call Gear Venders too... reputable company that can deliver

Dennis H · Jan 25, 2014

I called them about a year ago to get the Pistol Grip set up that was advertised for my TKO. Was told that they had to call several vendors to gather the parts to assemble and would take several weeks. You can't expect to survive operating that way. In any business.

1cre8iveguy · Jan 26, 2014

Budnicks said:
Damn this is the third posted thread started on this Keisler Bankruptcy now... $4400+ for a 5 speed LGT700, then 2-3 month lead time, for a O/D trans... Is Ridiculous !!, still not good IMHFO... So far Passon Performance has been promising the world, for 5-6 years now, I've seen only one thread about a guy who has one of theirs in actual possession... It's referenced on one of the other 2 threads now about Keisler's bankruptcy... I guess we will soon see, if they {Passon} can actually deliver on the back orders 1st before, they fill any new orders {or Spanker Racing whom I've never even heard of except for in another post about Keisler's bankruptcy}... I would highly suggest waiting to see what actually happens, before putting down near $5000 just for a 5 speed O/D... you could always
as an option call Gear Venders too... reputable company that can deliver

Bruce Kepley here, sales manager for Legend Gear...
The LGT700 price is $3,450.00, see Spraker Racing for price list...lead time is 6-8 weeks...the tranny can be had in any one of 8 colors for a $295 option...we stand behind our products...Jeff Spraker has driven modifieds, NASCAR cup cars, Busch cars, builds cars for K&N circuit and ARCA series, he has his own axle design line, he has 3 shops, one in NY state and 2 in Mooresville, NC...phone 704-799-1300...
Dale Earnhardt Senior brought him south in 2000...he sells to Rousch, Hendrick, Childress, Ganassi and many, many street rod and resto mod guys...he does installs for Legend Gear as well (including me)...

Relax360 · Jan 27, 2014

Hey Bruce did you guys move the mech speedo location on your case so it would clear the B-body crossmember?

Budnicks · Jan 27, 2014

1cre8iveguy said:
Bruce Kepley here, sales manager for Legend Gear...
The LGT700 price is $3,450.00, see Spraker Racing for price list...lead time is 6-8 weeks...the tranny can be had in any one of 8 colors for a $295 option...we stand behind our products...Jeff Spraker has driven modifieds, NASCAR cup cars, Busch cars, builds cars for K&N circuit and ARCA series, he has his own axle design line, he has 3 shops, one in NY state and 2 in Mooresville, NC...phone 704-799-1300...
Dale Earnhardt Senior brought him south in 2000...he sells to Rousch, Hendrick, Childress, Ganassi and many, many street rod and resto mod guys...he does installs for Legend Gear as well (including me)...

thanks for the information & correction

watermelon · Jan 27, 2014

glad i went and did an Atomic EFI upgrade for the Coronet instead of the Keisler.

1cre8iveguy, i guess i could call Spraker Racing and find out but i wanted to see if you knew anything about multiple shifter positions for the LGT700 offering. i would be looking to convert a 66 Coronet 440cu w/727 autotrans to manual. i have a center console setup and would like to keep it.

watermelon

MarPar · Jan 27, 2014

Revhendo said:
Dude! Nice post on Facebook. My ol' lady is reading some of it to me now....

Holy Crap!! Rev!!!

Good to see you're still lurking around, Man!! :wav:

Budnicks said:
I would highly suggest waiting to see what actually happens, before putting down near $5000 just for a 5 speed O/D... you could always as an option call Gear Venders too... reputable company that can deliver

Oh yeah, back on topic...I know it's not rowing thru the gears yourself (I have a 727 currently), but I would rather buy a gear-vendors overdrive unit and wait a few years to see it all shake out than have to mess around. .02

Keisler Engineering Bankrupt, Chapter 7

69RRGTX

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Dennis H

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1cre8iveguy

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Jnelson

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Cranky

Banned Henchman #27

Revhendo

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Revhendo

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Moparsmitty

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Budnicks

Jackstand racer #1 & proud of it, Sir Posts A Lot

Dennis H

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1cre8iveguy

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Relax360

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Budnicks

Jackstand racer #1 & proud of it, Sir Posts A Lot

watermelon

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MarPar

If it weighs, it pays

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