What are the experts opinion on using the transgo 700r4 kit with the full manual option installed, and shifting while the tcc is locked. I have a manual lockup switch, should i leave it unlocked except for cruising? I much prefer the feeling of driving with the converter locked, the car feels much more responsive, and im planning on changing my prom to allow the tcc to stay locked until say 80% instead of the normal 18% for low gears and 39% for higb gears. But if this could cause harm shifting at higher loads/rpms/speeds with the tcc locked i wont do it.

[This message has been edited by nsimmons (edited November 19, 2001).]

 

I'm no expert but I will make a couple of comments until a real expert comes along. The full manual kit is good but you will have to be careful you don't take off in third gear as that will be bad for your tranny. The full manual really doesn't give you much over the auto kit except the ability to short shift at full throttle.

The standard locking coverters on the 700 are not really designed to be locked at large throttle openings, I would use it for cruise only. Some people have gotton better ETs locking the converter and some haven't.

 

I couldn't agree more with your response! The manual-automatic should really be a strip only setup. It gets old very quick and as you pointed out, if you forget once or twice your tranny is toast. The TC is not really meant to be driven like that either. ALso I don't see how it is more resonsive to lose your torque multiplication?

 

Its hard to explain unless you've tried it. Its more responsive at low part throttle to mid throttle, the car seems to pull perfectly in sync with the pressure on the gas pedal, is possible to make much finer throttle adjustment, i dont want to have to go to 1/2 throttle just to have the engine wind up then apply power after It drives just like my 91 6spd did. With it unlocked it takes a good deal of flooring to get the same effect, as the engine winds up, then i have to wait for the tranny to catch up. Try forcing lockup in second gear and cruise around town..its much more fun and you'll have alot better control of the car while entering and exiting turns. You'll see what i mean. As for the manual mode getting old, this auto is getting old. It is insanly boring and i manualy shift if all the time, the main reason i want from the transgo kit it to eliminate auto downshifts. I dotn see how i could forget and leav it in 4th from a stop. Most of my previous cars where stick cars and i never left them in 4th. And when i drive my auto, i always gear down( with the tcc off and a little gas to rais lne pressure)

[This message has been edited by nsimmons (edited November 19, 2001).]

 

Ok let me rephase this a bit, just answer me this.

I the car is not shifted with the tcc locked, is it bad to goto wot with it locked, as long as you stay in the same gear. I dont see how this could hurt it.

 

Without a multi-disc converter clutch, I'd say yes. Ever seen how tiny a stock clutch is? It wouldn't take a lot to make that thing slip.

 

Manually shifting ocassionaly and HAVING to do it each and every time is not the same thing. Plus as I said, it is not like a standard where you get to slip a clutch to engage properly, this just clunks up and down all the time, but if you want that the TransGo kit will provide it. Be forwarned that you may slide the car when downshifting if there is ANY slip on the road. As was stated too, the converter clutch is only meant to handle X amount of torque. That is why it unlocks after you give it throttle. Perhaps what you really need is a LOW stall converter? I have seen them really wake up certain vehicles that produce strong low end torque and from the sounds of it, yours does. Just a thought.

 

I just read this, and i'm curious... why would it be harmful to start off in a higher gear than one to the point that you'd threaten imminent tranny failure. The only negative i can think of is the extra heat the converter might take from the higher effective load it sees in a higher gear. I mean, if the third clutches/etc can hold a 300hp car pushing through 140mph wind, how would pulling from a stop hurt it?

I thought this would actually be one nice feature, you could for example only use 2nd and third in the rain/snow and have much better traction w/o hitting first gear. As it is in those conditions i usuualy purposely blow off the tires to spin them to 2nd gear shift, then back down and drive it in 2nd.

 

Good question, simple answer. IF you saw the piston that applies the 3-4 pack and compared it to the one that applies the Forwards you would be amazed at how small it is. You would either have to add a whole lot more than the max 9 frictions in there OR jack the pressure up to unsafe levels to get away with it. The bottom line is that the 3-4's are designed to be applied when the vehicle is already moving since it takes less power and thus less torque to hold it. Many trannies have designs that lower pressures in the tranny once you are moving since, as stated, it takes less to move the car then. Just like if you push a car from a dead start as compared to when it is moving- it requires a lot less effort. Hope I made this clear.

[This message has been edited by transfixleo (edited November 22, 2001).]