trans is fine, but i want it like new again with out spending the money
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54
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From: Southfield,Michigan,U.S.A.
trans is fine, but i want it like new again with out spending the money
the trans is find but it is around 15yrs old. it from a 86 camaro z28. it is a automatic. i just want to know what i could do to make it like new again without spending the big bucks. that way the trans will be fine for a while.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,767
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From: Vereinigten Staaten
Car: Take
Engine: Your
Transmission: Pick
What do you mean its fine but would like it "new"? In a perfect transmission, clutches DO NOT wear. AT ALL, PERIOD. They either apply, or release. There isn't much transition, unlike the clutch of a manual transmission, where there is alot of transition, and thus alot of wear. All the trannies I tore down w/ 100,000+ miles, all of the clutches still had the original ink stamped part numbers on them (except for the ones w/ burnt up 3-4 clutches).
If your tranny is fine, don't mess w/ it, unless you plan on upgrading. For example, your '86 foward sprag is of the 26 element type, and you can put the new 29 element type in its place for added strength, but that requires removal and teardown. While you are in there, you may as well replace all the seals, and upgrade other parts, but then thats where the "big bucks" came in, and its not "new", its upgraded.
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'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey,
22# injectors,
Whatever chip I feel like burning,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
TB Coolant Bypass, Custom Cold Air,
SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
8mm Accel wires,
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-->14.97 @ 94.9 MPH<--
'97 Bonneville SSE
If your tranny is fine, don't mess w/ it, unless you plan on upgrading. For example, your '86 foward sprag is of the 26 element type, and you can put the new 29 element type in its place for added strength, but that requires removal and teardown. While you are in there, you may as well replace all the seals, and upgrade other parts, but then thats where the "big bucks" came in, and its not "new", its upgraded.
------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen
GM Master Tech
ASE Master Tech + L1
Savannah, GA
'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey,
22# injectors,
Whatever chip I feel like burning,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
TB Coolant Bypass, Custom Cold Air,
SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
8mm Accel wires,
Flowmaster Exhaust,
16" GTA rims,
Corvette Servo,
-->14.97 @ 94.9 MPH<--
'97 Bonneville SSE
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Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 17,274
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
If you read your owners manual you'll see that you should be changing the tranny fluid every 2 years.
Like GMTech said, the clutches don't usually wear out but old oil and contaminates don't help it. Change the oil and filter every couple of years and the tranny will survive normal usage.
The biggest cause of tranny failures other than abuse is overheating. When the oil gets too hot the seals in the tranny become brittle. Once they're burnt like that they'll leak and cause tranny failures. A simple thing like an external oil cooler can add years to the life of a tranny.
------------------
Follow my racing progress on Stephen's racing page
and check out the race car
87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
461 Big Block installed and ready for the 2001 racing season
Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662
Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association
87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley
Like GMTech said, the clutches don't usually wear out but old oil and contaminates don't help it. Change the oil and filter every couple of years and the tranny will survive normal usage.
The biggest cause of tranny failures other than abuse is overheating. When the oil gets too hot the seals in the tranny become brittle. Once they're burnt like that they'll leak and cause tranny failures. A simple thing like an external oil cooler can add years to the life of a tranny.
------------------
Follow my racing progress on Stephen's racing page
and check out the race car
87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
461 Big Block installed and ready for the 2001 racing season
Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662
Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association
87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley
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