[59megawagon]

Hi all: I have a 5000lb. 59' ford wagon that has a 460 Twin Turbo, fuel injected, Intercooled, motor and it eats transmissions. I get about 200 miles before it rips out 3rd gear.

Tranny has A4od first gear and a 2.5 in. Kevlar band and a r servo and a custom high gear drum to hold more drive plates. It is a 1973 Lincoln tranny case with a manual valve body too. Any ideas????? I am on tranny # 4 with the second tranny builder that says he is the man that can build C6 trannys???? Thanks for any ideas....

[DeputyDawg134]

Give the guys over at Performance Automatic a call, the have a Reverse manual valve body C4that is guaranteed to hold 1000 hp, and comes with a lifetime warranty. Part #PA26108.

Their phone# is 301-963-8078

[techinspector1]

I live in Tempe and would love to go for a ride in that beast.

[59megawagon]

Remember guys it is 1000 FT. Lbs of torque..... Not HP. at about 3500 RPM. The torque is what is killing the tranny. This car is a blast to ride in on the freeway. 60mph to 120mph in about 3 seconds. Yes i give test rides!!!!

[briscoe]

Are you spinning this engine up over 6000 RPM's much? I saw the 60-120mph in 3 secs.

If you do, the high gear clutchs may be centrifugally applying.

A bleed orfice in the direct drum may help.

[59megawagon]

I only spin this big block to 5500RPM I dont think it will handle much more than that with 16lbs. of boost.

[fitzwell]

Mikes Trick Shift, Weatherford Tx.

817-221-2400

[59megawagon]

So what can these guys do that my other tranny Bozos did not???

[Crosley]

for many years Big Foot the monster truck ran c-6 trans behind blown alcohol motors.

Since we do not know what your bozos(your word) are doing , we really can not comment on that.

I imagine you meant that you have a low gear set from a E4OD trans... hopefully the high strength gear set.

I am curious about the custom direct drum... what brand? What material? Aluminum , steel , cast iron?


Kevlar material is something I do not like... the high energy material works better IMHO. Every hard working trans with a Kevlar band in it , the band material is black when the trans is disassembled for inspection.

[59megawagon]

I think I have valve body problems because the tranny does not seem to shift exactly as fast as I pound the lever. Seems to be a bit of a lag there. So at high rpm in 2nd gear shifting to third it takes longer than it should and after ten shifts it melts all the high gear plates together. After that it skids to a stop trying to down shift into first gear when all the plates are welded together in high gear???? It gets everyones attention at the stoplight when the car comes skidding to a stop. For the car to move again you have to flash the gas pedal to get the high gear plates to unstick??? I am thinking of putting a adapter plate and running a TH400. I raced a truck with a TH400 for 5 years and had no problems at all.

[Crosley]

Check with ATI for a ford bell housing on their power glide case.... it would bolt on to the engine with no adapter IF they offer the bell housing.

1.80 straight cut gear set, 10 friction drum and you would be flying.

[59megawagon]

Hmmmmm???? Sounds interesting but I bet I would have to change the rearend gears for a 2 speed powerglide??? I have 3.25 gears now with 29 in. tall tires. 19.5 wide. The Car right now does 12.3 in the 1/4 at 115mph spinning the tires for the first 2 gears with 60FT. times of 2.50 It really spins the tires out of the hole. I will buy slicks for the track next time.

[Chazmac]

Incredible....

No-one knows what has happened here without line pressure readings. I know Crosley knows better, he just didn't want to say....

I do not believe a C6 will work in your application. I have built transmissions for this kind of power for 15+ years and every time a T400 is all that will work. A true and DEEP understanding of trans function is required to appreciate that statement. Please accept it as stated.

Your application builds so much torque, so fast that a true RACE trans will be required. If you called my shop I would spec several particular parts and interview you about engine and car specifics. I also think you need a 3 speed trans, given the car specs you have already supplied (gear ratio, etc).

There are several options about the trans in your car. I would be cautious about the ATI 'glide thing. I have reservations about gear ratio, weight and power. Secondly, I have heard there are issues with their bell housing depth and flywheel config causing great concern. I have not seen this with my own eyes, but have very credible sources for the info. FYI

Given this car is street driven, there are issues with the specs on the trans that any reputable shop needs to address. These issues are complex and may take several turns/twists based on answers to raised questions.

Check your PM for my contact info....

[Crosley]

the t-400 would best serve with the 4T80 race/sprag setup in the intermediate. Not sure if I would use the aluminum direct drum.... if you get some traction with the car. 300M or Vasco input shaft , intermediate shaft too... the list goes on, price too. LOL

Seen / heard of no issues with ATI units.. about 30-40 of them out the door so far. Looks stronger than the Reid units of similar design... i could be full of it though. They both meet test specs obviously

We do sell more of the powerglides in Reid cases... about a dozen cases on the shelf at any one moment

I see on the Reid web-site they offer a big block Ford bell housing.

We need a new replacement super case with removable bell housing for the t-400 offered... chazmac what about that??

[59megawagon]

It is too bad I have wasted so much money on trannys that I could have spent on other things. My motor seems to hold up pretty good so far..... and my drive line too. 4 wheel disk with air bag suspension and a 4 link rear. 9" narrowed rearend with a detroit locker. All done at home.