Usually, I go with least expensive, as tranny fluids (like motor oil) all go thru the same standards testing.
Or else they could not print what they say on the bottle.
I'VE HEARD THAT
B & M tranny fluid increases friction between clutches in tranny, so stronger, firmer upshifts.
I do have to change the fluid & filter.
Fram gets the nod for the filter chore.
I already have 4 quarts of Union 76 tranny fluid.
Remember, any fluid over $.99 better be worth it!
Suggestions?

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

All tranny fluids are NOT the same. Yes there are specific requirements that they have to meet to put what they do on the bottle. THough this does not mean that they are as good as the other. Some are more pure and some have other additives that help them hold up better under high stres or prolong use.
Basically its all in what you want. The B&M Trick shift does make for harder shifts by increasing line pressure and has additives that reduce foaming and high RPMs in the tranny. This is verry good for performance oriented drivers.
If you really want the best get REDLINE. Nothing is better, it has the same qualities as the B&M but it has a Friction REDUCING agent to free up a few Horse power that is usueally lost in the drive train. I have seen test in magazines that show a reduction of about .2sec in a 14 sec car from replacing all fluids to REDLINE.

Now lets talk about what is on your shelf at the local parts store. Any synthetic is better that conventional petrolium based fluids because they are formulated better to not deteriorate like the conventional type.

Now all this is nice, but if you change you Transmission Fluid every 12,000 miles, or every 4 oil chanes, it won't matter what brand you use to make the tranny last, you will just be able to find a little better performance with the other stuff and have to change it less.
All in what you want to do.
I personally use Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W30 oil and Redline Tranny and rearend fluid. Though I put very little miles on the TTA, but in my Escort I use GTX oil (because in all truth it does perform better in high revving motors, don't use it in a pushrod V8) and since its a manual tranny I just used a synthetic tranny fluid. Forget which brand I put in it.

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89 Trans Am Turbo 3.8L All stock 43,000 miles #1053 of 1555

Past Thirdgen:
86 Trans Am w/ built 355TPI with SLP goodies and too much other stuff to List. One sweet *** car, wish I would have had a good enough Job to pay insurance on three cars so I could keep it, but for a 89 Turbo Trans Am w/ Low miles, I think I made the right choice!

 

A quick recap, then is

(THANKS KYLE!!)

You have used B & M fluid & the results are worth the extra dollars (my tranny has a soft shift between 1-2).

I have no desire to do a shift kit on THIS tranny, as I do not believe this tranny was rebuilt that well and making it "shift firmer" may decrease tranny longevity.

I DO NOT MIND A REBUILT TRANNY FROM A KNOWN TRANNY SHOP, WITH PERFORMANCE INCREASES installed from day one.

That is a completely different matter.

Plus, 700R4s are NOT TH400 trannys (or, my 135,000 TH400 tranny in my 1974 Corvette is still running perfect. I can get a chirp between 1-2 anytime I choose to)!

Since I did not specify tranny rebuilding when I bought this car (I got a whole car with a good recent rebuilt tranny, for $300), this tranny is an "unknown" factor.
But, by changing fluid, it seems, I can increase the "fun" factor a bit.
That is the desire, behind this question.



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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Keds there is a shop in the valley and fo 350 bucks they will put in corvette valves in your tranny and a shift kit.

 

B&M Trick Shift is basically Ford tranny fluid. The clutches Ford was using (do they still use 'em?) were very weak, and they needed all the "help" they could get. You could get the same results by buying some "cheap" Ford (Type "F") trans fluid & pouring it in.

I ran B&M Trick Shift; didn't notice a difference, and didn't put it back in. Plus that blue color makes it hard to diagnose a tranny by looking at the fluid... blue B&M fluid + red Dexron fluid = burnt-looking (brown) trans fluid!

I use Castrol trans fluid right now... I also don't like buying the $0.99/quart stuff. I think this stuff was $1.49 a quart.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

THANKS FOR THE COMMON SENSE TIPS!!
Honestly,
I'd rather spend $350 for a good used tranny, then, hop this one up, at this moment.

In a few months, SURE.

Please pass along that tranny shop name & phone number, please!

Hey Tom, making me spend more money LOL!!!!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Next tme i talk to my uncle ill ask him the name and all that. My uncle had his 94 Z28 tranny done there hes sellin his car too for 18,000 yes the price is high but it has around 750 ponys hehe ad is "street legal" lol. and when he passes on i will have a rice burner but its a 84 nissan 300zx turbo 50th anaversery addition

 

I use AC Delco Transmission fluid it seems to work fine....but whenever I change my filter I use the old fluid I just drain it through a small screen and then top it off with some fresh. A guy that builds transmissions told me to do that b/c if you use all new fluid it is to thin to get the right friction between the clutches.




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Dale Earnhardt was a scholar of the race track that drove with the spirit of a warrior.

My Camaro: http://home.earthlink.net/~singleton052095

 

That's the detail I am real concerned about, the fluid, increasing the friction between the clutches.
Right now, my probelms are line pressure (gas pedal floored, tranny hangs between 1-2) and the sometimes soft shifts under hard acceleration.
I do need to change the fluid, soon, I realize that.
Just getting prepared for the solution.
Interesting thought on the fluid/filter trick.

Besides that, tranny operates flawlessly, smooth upshifts and down shifts.
I do believe, that the TVC cable is properly adjusted, so I have no desire to mess with that good thing!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

[This message has been edited by KED85 (edited May 30, 2001).]

 

I use Quakerstate oil, and tranny fluid. I don't believe in the cheapest oil, or fluid. But I don;t believe in buying anything extremely expensive.

I'd say run a good tranny fluid in it. None of that $.99 a litre stuff. 12,000 miles is a long way on that $.99 cent stuff, that more than likely just barely passes all the standard testing. Think about it, its 4 and some odd litres, why not splurg and spend $12-20, on your tranny.

 

Btw..before u run out and get tranny fluid, PAW usually recommends redline as well. We reaaally dont like the B&M stuff, it gives weird properties to your trans with use, and have also seen some ppl with NOTHING but problems with it...btw.since u mentioned oil, i am using redline in my bird right now, and have noticed better fuel economy since using it.

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1989 Firebird
2.8 v6, t5 swapped in

Ram Hi-po clutch, Cold Air, 1.6 rockers,Lakewood LCA's, Lakewood Lift bars, Wonder Bar, 3" y-pipe, Random Tech Cat, 3" I-pipe, Flowmasters, MSd 6a, MSD Coil (Fireball in future) Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Ignition Module, Auto Meter Gauges (Water, Clock (needed one) Fuel Pressure, and 5" monster tach) 4th Gen Seats
--For Sale--
(Who says drumsets are cheap? selling my car to get a new one..) EMAIL ME!

" I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to NOT run at all ".

[This message has been edited by Graeme'sFirebird (edited May 30, 2001).]

 

Actually, the tranny fluid I have on hand (4 quarts) is Union 76 brand.
May be visiting for the Fram & Redline stuff (if the price is right, too).
8 & 1/2 Month olds consume alot of rocket fuel!
I do like the Ford tranny (Type F) idea, tho!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

I would've liked to try the Redline stuff, but since I change my fluid every year, I'd be in the poorhouse.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Let's go one better.

Suggested is Redline at a $$$$ a quart.
And it's good stuff.

Suggested is using a quality brand tranny oil, but TYPE F FORD, stuff, for the extra properties to improve shift feel.

Suggested is Fram Filters, because it's a great product.

Do I have that right?

Tom, how large a container to hold the fluid expelled by the "unhook line, turn on car, let the fluid out" method?

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA