First post Noob question Manual trans or lockup for auto

[LBCFZJ]

Wanted to say Hi, I am a noob. I have a 93 FZJ80 with e-lockers 266K miles OME J springs, ARB Bull Bar and full length roof rack, oh and the ARB fridge!.

I am curious if anybody has put in a manual trans behind a 1fz-fe other than the guy with the 6 speed (yes I did search).

I am most interested in the compression braking that the manual trans provides.

Or has any body figured out (besides a new fandangled OZ trans)
how to get the trans to lock up the converter manually?

Thanks, Marco

P.S I really wanted to get my first post out of the way and try to ask something not too beaten to death .

 

[wildsmith]

You don't need a whole transmission from Rodney to get lockup in any gear, just a new valve body and lock up kit which can be fitted without removing the transmission.

I've just put a valve body, lock up kit and torque converter from Rodney on my 80 and should finish bolting it back together tomorrow.

A manual may still have better gear ratios, I've not compared a manual 1st with auto L ratio.

 

[CJF]

Rodney rocks; good advice wildsmith. Oh, and please post back up with your results/impressions.

Welcome LBCFZJ!

Curtis

 

[fj80toyman]

Wildsmith, I'd be very interested to hear the results of your parts install.

I've not heard of the valve body, lock-up kit and new torque converter. Is this just a UK thing? What's the purpose of the valve body? Is the Torque Converter standard Toyota or aftermarket. I'd be very anxious locking up a Toyota converter in EVERY gear - durability would be my main concern, but why do you want/need to do that? Sincere question as I can't imagine losing the torque multiplication that the converter offers to these over weight beasts. Engine braking downhill is improved but that's a big price to pay for that - what else?

Dan.

 

[wildsmith]

The valve body, lock up kit, torque converter etc came from Rodney at Wholesale Automatics in Australia so not a UK thing I also got a temperature guage kit.

I'm just basicly repeating what Rodney's site says but the Extreme valve body makes better shifts and puts more fluid through the oil cooler circuit (which is the main part I'm interested in).

The lock up kit has a new spring for one of the accumulators and a switched relay to control the lock up electrical circuit. You have to remove the valve body to fit the spring so best done at the same time as fitting an Extreme valve body.

I don't know if there's anything special about the torque converter I got, I just needed a new TC.

I got the lock up kit partly because I'd like better engine breaking on steep slopes and partly because for highway cruising even though the transmission ECU should know best it often doesn't lock up or stay locked when I know locked would be best. That's probably because I have 36" tyres and haven't re-geared yet. The only times I can see me using manual lock up is 3rd & OD highway cruising till I regear and L or R off road on steep slopes. Time will tell.

I did finish getting it all back together today and go round the block a few times but I'll give it a proper test drive tomorrow in the light. The gear change is much more positive, seems like a lot less slipping going on before the next gear comes on line, especially up hill with a lot of throttle.

 

[Brian894X4]

I'm curious what the results were with this lock up mod.

I almost posted a question after seeing the Aussie website, until I searched and found this thread: Wholesale Automatic Transmissions

Also, is it hard to change the valve body? Can it be with the tranny still in the truck? And I'm most interested to here about this temp gauge he sells. Any pics?

thanks much.

 

[franku]

Hi there,

I have a 93 80 series petrol auto.

I have installed Rodney's relay kockup kit.

It was exactly that - a switch and a relay which hooked up to a wire in the transmission ECU under the dash - NO SPRING THOUGH?

perhaps you have a different kit for a different transmission to mine?

I am seriously considering go for the valave body upgrade - did you go with the stage I, II or III ?

I also have his auto temp guage kit which was a great upgrade - especialy when towing...

I found that if I jump on the freeway at 100 k's towing something light like my 700kg total weight jetski and trailer - it took over 50 minutes of driving to his the ideal temp of 80 degrees C.

If driving at say 60 to 80 kph with a 2.5 tonne boat on the back - it limbs up to 90 degrees quickly and stays there...

Slowing down and driving around town it will sit at 80 - 90 degrees C constantly - get on the freeway and the cooler will bring it down between 70-80 deree's C.

This is all with ambient temps of around 28 degrees C and based on no TC lockup.

If I lock up the relay - on say the freeway, I see a drop of about 6-7 degree's C within 3-5 minutes.

 

[wildsmith]

I'm curious what the results were with this lock up mod.

I almost posted a question after seeing the Aussie website, until I searched and found this thread: Wholesale Automatic Transmissions

Also, is it hard to change the valve body? Can it be with the tranny still in the truck? And I'm most interested to here about this temp gauge he sells. Any pics?

thanks much.

The results weree good for me, I'm using manual lock up a lot in all gears except reverse. I did stall it the other day because I forgot it was locked and came to a stop so I'll have to fit a little warning light (the switch in Rodney's kit has a light but I used a different switch).

The valve body is quite straight forward but a bit messy and would be easier with 2 pairs of hands though I only had one pair available. I'm guessing you only get the extra spring with the Extreme valve body and lock up kit because you have to remove the valve body to fit the spring ...

 

[bpassmore]

Wholesale Automatic Transmissions


Link in case those wanted to know....

 

[Scalci]

what is so special about the kit, cant one make it up your self with a relay and switch?

I installed the valve body from Rodney but my temp goes to 150 deg some times, when the gearbox go though changing gears. Once the gearbox is in final drive, the temp goes down to 90-100 degs...

 

[wildsmith]

There's nothing special about the lockup switch or relay but you need the Extreme valve body & extra spring to get lock up available in all gears. The switch / relay just provides 12v to the lock up solenoid or leaves it connected to the ECU for standard behaviour.

 

[SHREDwagon]

I installed the valve body from Rodney but my temp goes to 150 deg some times, when the gearbox go though changing gears.

150 deg C? Wouldn't you be roasting you're oil at that temp? My temp alarm is set at 100 deg C and I only hit that on long climbs. Thats without an aux cooler. I dunno, seems a bit high.....

 

[greentruck]

Oh man, almost peed my pants reading about this!

Tell us more! I do a lot of mountain 'wheeling and this sounds like the cat's pajamas.

Is the effect easy to control at low speeds on grade? Because the remark about almost stalling at a traffic signal worries me a little bit. Maybe it's no big deal as long as you pay attention to what you're doing?

Gotta go drink some
Be back later to check in and research this more deeply.

 

[Jake97T]

I did something like this on a T100 i use to own, shimmed the valve body accumulators for 1-2 and 2-3 shifts, nice and firm. There is a company that makes a manual shift kit for the A340f, im sure it would work for most other electronic controlled trans. Ill do some research and post up.

The kit i used allowed manual shifting and lockup in 3rd or 4th only though.

Found this link from my original post regarding above, the website for the controller box is no longer valid...
moderators forgive me if its a no no to post links from other forum sites.
http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1035445&page=0&fpart=all&vc=1

 

[Scalci]

I also think the oil temp is not right. we also overhauled the gearbox and could find any problems. So I am givving up of what the problem is.

 

[wildsmith]

Is the effect easy to control at low speeds on grade?

It's just manual control of the lock up solenoid so you just need to remember to turn it off if you're coming to a stop, bit like dipping the clutch on a manual.