The Whole Tranny Thing

[steve_m]

Hey guys,

I have a question, and please don't take this as an attempt to start a flame war but I think it is a legitimate question as this whole "weak tranny issue" has been bothering me for some time.

I have seen a ton of people on here and other boards say that the trannys that come with the GAGTs and Alero's are weak, simple performance mods will cause you problems etc etc...

The question I have is, are there any actual documented cases where it was proved that putting more ponies to the road caused a tranny failure? And when I say proved I don't mean that the dealer used a CAI as an excuse because I have heard lots of those, even for the 2.4 people.

The reason I ask this is because I have done some moderate mods and have definately increased the HP on my car and the tranny has yet to cause me any problems and I am doubting that it will as I have seen other cars double their HP to the ground and not even consider the tranny. Of course you have to do the basics like better fluid and a tranny cooler.

Here is what I have done to my 3.4

Ported upper and lower intakes
Massive cylander head work (better than the Streen Arsenal stage 3)
CAI (of course..)
SA Underdrive pullies
FFWD Underdrive pully
3 inch exhaust (no cat, no resonator, no muffler, nice tips)
TOG Headers

and coming soon;

Custom Cam
DHP ECU
Custom Turbo Kit or NOS (depends on timing)
Tranny cooler
larger aluminum rad
Performance MAF
larger TB
A bit of "botton end" work.
Torque converter

As it is I have zero traction if I punch it -- which is fun but my tranny is working great, clean crisp shifts and all that...

[Blackrider]

Just ask JakeTuff He has been having problems.

[steve_m]

Originally posted by Blackrider
Just ask JakeTuff He has been having problems.

And are they directly related to performance mods? Yes, I know many GAs and Aleros have had tranny issues but I am thinking this is more of a QA problem at GM than a not being able to handle some HP.

[Blackrider]

To be honest man I really dont know how weak they are. I mean IrateGT has been running a 14 with the RSM SC and not been having any problems. But i also depends on how you treat it with that much power.

[steve_m]

Originally posted by Blackrider
To be honest man I really dont know how weak they are. I mean IrateGT has been running a 14 with the RSM SC and not been having any problems. But i also depends on how you treat it with that much power.

Yeah, so in my case I guess I have to worry. The car is waay to much fun to drive "nice".

[Blackrider]

Originally posted by steve_m
Yeah, so in my case I guess I have to worry. The car is waay to much fun to drive "nice".

LOL I know what you mean man:cheers: You stuck at work on a sat. night to?

[steve_m]

Originally posted by Blackrider
LOL I know what you mean man:cheers: You stuck at work on a sat. night to?

Nah, just finished up dinner, gonna head to the strip bar then off to a bar I haven't been to since I was young and stupid (compared to old and stupid) - The Back Alley. :cheers:

[Blackrider]

lol Have Fun

[Fast Eddie]

<--- still waiting for a dyno post that supports ur power gains

[steve_m]

Originally posted by Fast Eddie
<--- still waiting for a dyno post that supports ur power gains

I know Eddie, so am I. :D

There will be some soon, as some of you know I took the car to a mustang dyno and had weird results consistant with what that dude with the Tubo Alero was having -- check engine and ABS light coming on and real crappy numbers so no point in posting those.

I'll get to another dyno here in Calgary soon and hopefully will have better results. I'll post some pictures of the headwork in the meantime though...

[jaketuff]

Originally posted by steve_m
And are they directly related to performance mods? Yes, I know many GAs and Aleros have had tranny issues but I am thinking this is more of a QA problem at GM than a not being able to handle some HP.

Insane Performance Parts+Mileage+occasional hard driving....

= Premature Tranny Failure.

Essentially the clutchpacks are somewhat shredded everytime that you lay into it hard... The stock tranny shifts so slowly that you are always "wearing it out" on the stock PCM. The shift time/duration must be shortened, and heavy duty clutchpacks as well would be ideal (raybestos, see my sig;)) I can tell you right now that I am on a stock PCM and second tranny - when I lay on the throttle 90-100% the tranny will slip. A PCM tune, tranny cooler, and a specific hard parts are the only way to accomodate the power and sustain tranny life, and the "excitement.":D

Pat

[steve_m]

Originally posted by jaketuff
Insane Performance Parts+Mileage+occasional hard driving....

= Premature Tranny Failure.

Essentially the clutchpacks are somewhat shredded everytime that you lay into it hard... The stock tranny shifts so slowly that you are always "wearing it out" on the stock PCM. The shift time/duration must be shortened, and heavy duty clutchpacks as well would be ideal (raybestos, see my sig;)) I can tell you right now that I am on a stock PCM and second tranny - when I lay on the throttle 90-100% the tranny will slip. A PCM tune, tranny cooler, and a specific hard parts are the only way to accomodate the power and sustain tranny life, and the "excitement.":D

Pat


Interesting. I drive my car hard most of the time. To quote a friend; "Steve drives that Alero like he stole it". and I have done a lot of performance mods including some insane headwork. But I haven't had any tranny problems yet. I guess I am just lucky.

I have however emailed Raybestos as this is an obvious concern of mine because boost is being added soon as well as the DHP chip when it is done.

[Doug]

I'm going to an INtense Performance day at the track here soon. Gonna try to talk with scott some more about serious tranny mods.

[jaketuff]

Originally posted by Doug
I'm going to an INtense Performance day at the track here soon. Gonna try to talk with scott some more about serious tranny mods.

I hope to meet Scott one of these days too.;) Until then, I think Raybestos may be the savior of many a HO 3400's 4t45...

JOUT

[Doug]

If Raybestos does make stuff for our tranny it wil be easier to convince scott. Thats what he uses in his rebuilds.

[FastSteve]

One wheel wonder burn outs are hell on the diffs. Its not if but when you will ruin it doing burnouts like that. I am working on getting a tranny package put together and hopefully in the car before the gathering, though I cannt it will be done by then. I will share with all here once its done. The clutch pack problem will be taken care of. Hopefully I will have it done for the gathering.

[aleroboy]

well I'm pretty sure my altitude is the only thing saving me
but I do know that 15 psi will blow your motor before your tranny.
N2O OLDS is back though
hopfully raybestos will be ready next month like planned.
head work, intercooler, and a beefed up tranny are in store for my car soon.
anyone know how to get ahold of the devil to sell my sole for a few million?? :thumbs:

[jaketuff]

Originally posted by FastSteve
One wheel wonder burn outs are hell on the diffs. Its not if but when you will ruin it doing burnouts like that. I am working on getting a tranny package put together and hopefully in the car before the gathering, though I cannt it will be done by then. I will share with all here once its done. The clutch pack problem will be taken care of. Hopefully I will have it done for the gathering.

LSD anyone? :D Stave, you push on that front.;)

Pat

[FastSteve]

Believe me, I am trying. One problem is the the problem most everyone here faces,$$$. Luckly I am getting a good chunk of $$ back on taxs this year. Hopefully that will help get things done.

[aleroboy]

Talk to mike at http://www.c-ya-racing.com/
I talke dothim before and he said he might be able to do somthing for us.
I'd like one like pfyc has for the grand prix. but that price tag sucks.:(

Bmarks, can ya help us??