A440 Operating Guidelines

[Greg_B]

At what speed do you all go to 4L? I've never driven an auto off road, so have no basis to go from.

Obstacles, crawling, gives the logical answer of 4L...however...

Stick is easy. Listen/feel engine, watch RPMs; direct connection from engine to wheels...

With the slush box it seems not as clearcut, as slippage takes away the direct feel.

Petra and I were doing a daytrip to meet some club members who were camping out at Whipsaw a few weeks ago, and one section of the access road to the campsite was a fairly good grade, gravel/dirt road, gaining about 1000M, and speeds were 20-30kmph putzing putzing, climbing. No real 4wd obstacles, just grade and slow speed, with some minor flex areas. Tranny temp crept up to 110C-115C. We were in high range, and I did not feel the truck struggling, but figure I would have been in low range in a stick shift...

What is your advice for an auto newb for 4wd (Both Petra and I)?

12HT/A440, extreme valve body, tru-cooler, tranny temp guage, Amsoil ATF.

Thanks!

gb

 

[overhanger]

Greg,
I don't have a tranny temp gauge installed but have noticed when driving offroad in high range at slow speeds the water temp can jump up pretty quickly. I attest this to the torque convertor having to slip pretty hard to go slowly when the 3FE's torque is high. Shifting to low range quickly cools things back down. Rodney, Cruiser tranny guru, has made mention before that the A440F's torque convertor will create a bunch of heat, which is magnified by your diesel's torque, and that backs up my observations. I have his Extreme valve body and an aux cooler installed like you and find the shifting characteristics much improved over stock - in low and high range. I think you will learn to like the auto given some experience with it and the gnarlier the terrain the more you will like it. Have fun!

 

[lowenbrau]

Regardless of the tranny, I go to four low at the trailhead and only return to high if I run out of revs in high gear. I have mastered shifting from low to high at ~40kph but find I have to nearly stop to shift the other way without too much drama.

 

[Greg_B]

Regardless of the tranny, I go to four low at the trailhead and only return to high if I run out of revs in high gear. I have mastered shifting from low to high at ~40kph but find I have to nearly stop to shift the other way without too much drama.

Good advice. Probably better/easier on the entire drivetrain too...

Overhanger...thanks!

gb

 

[overhanger]

One other important point in enjoying wheeling with the automatic transmission: learn to brake with your left foot for very tight control over your truck's movements especially in tricky, technical sections.

 

[jmarsh1977]

Contact for Rodney

Hey Steve,

I always see you on the 3FE list. Do you have a contact for Rodney? Do the parts come all the way from AUS? What was your price on the valve body and aux cooler? Does he also sell torque converters? Thanks for any info

Joe Marsh
TLCA #7481
1988 FJ62, 1971 FJ40
St. Petersburg, FL

Greg,
I don't have a tranny temp gauge installed but have noticed when driving offroad in high range at slow speeds the water temp can jump up pretty quickly. I attest this to the torque convertor having to slip pretty hard to go slowly when the 3FE's torque is high. Shifting to low range quickly cools things back down. Rodney, Cruiser tranny guru, has made mention before that the A440F's torque convertor will create a bunch of heat, which is magnified by your diesel's torque, and that backs up my observations. I have his Extreme valve body and an aux cooler installed like you and find the shifting characteristics much improved over stock - in low and high range. I think you will learn to like the auto given some experience with it and the gnarlier the terrain the more you will like it. Have fun!

 

[esh]

Here is where Rodney resides-

http://www.automatictransmission.com.au

Cheers

 

[overhanger]

Hi Joe,
I see Ken sent you Rodney's contact info. If you have a long distance telephone carrier that doesn't charge an outrageous rate to call OZ, I recommend giving Rodney a call. He is great to talk with and knows Cruiser transmissions inside and out. With the $$ exchange rates changing daily, it is best to get a $$ qoute directly from Rodney even if you have to do it via email. His products do come from OZ. Get an aux tranny cooler from Summit or someone else here in the States. All sorts of choices and there is much info on the 3FE list about them, just be sure to search the list archives using birfield.com for a search engine. Yahoo sucks!

Hey Steve,

I always see you on the 3FE list. Do you have a contact for Rodney? Do the parts come all the way from AUS? What was your price on the valve body and aux cooler? Does he also sell torque converters? Thanks for any info

Joe Marsh
TLCA #7481
1988 FJ62, 1971 FJ40
St. Petersburg, FL