“You can’t buy the kind of experience that comes from years behind the wheel or under the hood.” – Ford v Ferrari (2019)
In a town like Edwardsville, Illinois, where word travels faster than any fancy ad campaign, you either build a good name, or you don’t last long. For nearly four decades, Al’s Transmission has built one of the best names in town. It’s a place where neighbors trust each other, and where the staff behind the counter know your car, your kids, and probably where you grabbed coffee that morning.
When Al Dunaway first opened the doors to Al’s Transmission in 1987, he wasn’t a polished businessman in a suit. He was a young man with a passion for cars, a head full of know-how, and a stubborn streak that wouldn’t quit. Even as a kid, Al figured he’d be self-employed one day. He wasn’t dreaming of corner offices or corporate ladders, he was dreaming about turning wrenches and building something he could be proud of.
That dream followed him to college, where he spent just as much time in his garage as in the classroom. Before long, he picked up a job at a local transmission shop, then at Aamco, building transmissions from the ground up. Four years in, he knew it was time to step out on his own.
Of course, starting a shop takes more than heart. Al walked into the bank, full of ideas and grit, without the polished business plan or stack of spreadsheets they were expecting. The loan officer turned him down. “Looking back, I probably should’ve had more paperwork in hand,” Al says with a chuckle now. Instead of giving up, he rolled up his sleeves and made it happen anyway. “I did everything out of pocket,” he says. “Bought what I could, used what I had, and figured the rest out along the way.” That kind of determination still defines the shop today.
Over the years, Al’s Transmission has rolled with the changes – not just the ones under the hood. Before COVID, they would occasionally perform general repairs, if requested by their customers, while their vehicle was being serviced by the shop. When the world shifted, so did their focus. These days, it’s all drivetrain work, all the time. This isn’t just your granddad’s transmission anymore.
“We’ve invested a lot in staying current,” Al says. “CVTs, hybrid drivetrains, you name it. We learned how to rebuild them all.”
Eventually, Al figured out that buying some of the more complex components remanufactured made better business sense. “Still, we wanted to know exactly what we were working with first. I like knowing what I’m dealing with,” Al states.
That hunger for knowledge runs through the whole team. You won’t find clock punchers here. The shop’s crew reads more like family: Rod Heinlein builds transmissions, Jonathon Chappell, shop manager keeps operations running smoothly, Jeremy Wineinger handles R&R, and Madison Hicks, manages the shop and answers the phones with a smile. Of course, Al’s wife, Terri, does the books and keeps the office humming, just as she has since the beginning. “We’re real fortunate,” Al says. “Everybody here cares. You can’t teach that.”
That care extends beyond the shop walls. Al’s been giving back to the trade that’s given him so much. He serves on the advisory board at Lewis and Clark Community College, the very same place he earned his degree over 40 years ago. “I want those students coming out of school ready for what shops are actually seeing,” he continues, “the real-world stuff.”
Inside the shop, customers walk through the door expecting two things, straight talk and quality work. That’s exactly what they get. Whether it’s a rebuilt unit with a standard warranty or a pricier reman with extended coverage, Al and his team lay out the options with no pressure. “We’re not here to twist arms,” Al says. “We just explain it, plain and simple. Customers appreciate that.”
They certainly do. Just scan their glowing reviews and you’ll see why. One Yelp reviewer called Al’s “a top-notch transmission shop… fair, honest, and efficient.” A Carfax reviewer praised the crew for going “over and above when helping me with troubleshooting my 4WD issues,” adding, “I would definitely recommend them to anyone!” On Facebook, another customer shared, “Jonathan at Al’s was extremely professional and helpful with my husband’s Nissan truck.” That kind of feedback isn’t an outlier – it’s the rule. It highlights what Al’s values most, honesty, expertise, and genuine care. “When someone trusts you enough to send their family here,” Al says, “you know you’re doing it right.”
Over the years, Al has watched customer expectations shift. He credits the “Cash for Clunkers” program as a turning point. “People started looking for longer warranties after that,” he says. “We adjusted and gave them choices. That’s what good business is.”
You won’t see flashy billboards or TV ads for Al’s Transmission. In fact, Al doesn’t advertise much anymore. He doesn’t have to. In a town of about 30,000, where businesses stick together and word of mouth means everything, his name carries weight. “I always tell people, I have customers come from hundreds of miles away for our services,” Al says. “That’ll carry you a long way.”
Giving back comes naturally here. The shop sponsors youth sports teams and supports local causes, not for recognition, but because that’s what neighbors do.
When asked what advice he’d give someone dreaming of opening a shop, Al doesn’t hesitate. “Surround yourself with excellent help. Stick to your goals, even when it’s hard. Don’t just own a business, be part of it.”
That mindset hasn’t changed after nearly 40 years, though the technology, the cars, and the complexity of the work certainly have. The heart of the shop – honesty, hard work, and hometown values remain as solid as the day Al first opened his doors.
Al’s Transmission isn’t just a place to get your car fixed. It’s a living example of what happens when you stay true to your word, do the job right, and never stop learning. Whether it’s a hybrid in need of a CVT or a heavy-duty truck needing a full rebuild, you can bet the professionals at Al’s will get it done, and get it done right.
Because in any shop, it’s not just the tools or the tech. It’s the hands, the heart, and the experience behind them. At Al’s Transmission, that makes all the difference. Al may have started this business from the ground up, but it has been a group effort with Al, his wife, and all the employees along the way to get Al’s Transmission to be the success it is today.
Have you ever wondered how shops are chosen for this column? We know there are many deserving ATRA shops out there – you might be one of them. Sometimes, we hear about shops and their unique stories through the grapevine. However, most of the time, we end up being detectives. We ask our industry contacts for recommendations, and then we contact the shops they’ve suggested.
You’re invited to tell us about an ATRA shop that you think has an interesting story to tell – maybe your own shop. There’s no cost. It just takes about an hour for a telephone interview and a visit by our photographer. We’ll do all the heavy lifting. To get the ball rolling, send an email to Dennis at dmadden@atra.com.
