Best automatic transmission shops in BC for A440f

[Rustybones]

My parents have a Bj74 that has a broken a440f. I believe they had the torque converter rebuilt in vancouver. Now the vehicle has been in a tranny shop in vernon for over a year. I want to get this thing on the road, so i'm taking it over from them. The shop in vernon doesn't know what to do anymore, does anyone know where i should send this thing. Or does anyone have any tips. They say the valve body is fine.
let me know
I'm sure there are bj74 owners in bc who've been through this....
cheers

 

[RockDoc]

Not sure if this helps, but Atlanta Custom Cruisers (a vendor here on mud) is doing rebuilds of A440Fs, and these guys: https://forum.ih8mud.com/**-ih8mud-...dealer-wholesale-automatic-transmissions.html are distributing very nice rebuilds from Wholesale Automatics in Australia now. Pacesetter in Whitehorse used to be the NA distributor for Wholesale, but I think that relationship is done. The A440F seems to be notorious for botched rebuilds by North American shops....

 

[HZ Cruiser]

I've been told for years that these guys are the best around when it comes to automatic transmissions.

Even the A440f

Benz Automatic Transmission Ltd
21279 Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge, BC
(604)*463-3111

Hope things work out for you.

I have the same tranny in my truck. What happened with yours??
What symptoms lead to the failure?

Just curious because I had major tranny issues with my previous truck (NOT a landcruiser) and ended up spending over 10 grand in tranny rebuilds in the 5 years I owned it. Needless to say- I have a bit of tranny paranoya.

Cheers

 

[Rustybones]

hey thanks for the info its much appreciated.
This is exactly what i'm looking for. I don't know exactly what happened because i wasn't there, but i know that my parents overheated the tranny on the Coquihalla, they said they had to pull over a few times when the light came on (they didn't know any better that driving in od is bad). Then they drove ir around on the farm and the mountains in Lumby (for a while). My dad was the last to drive it, he was on some of our steeper trails on the farm and then on the way home he stopped to get the mail and it was done (wouldn't move), so i'm guessing the torque converter went on it. I did actually drive it a couple months before it died and i remember it would really lock into OD hard and then you could drive 110km/h at 1500rpm (usually you're in the mid 2000 at that speed, so something was definitely wrong), we were naive though. Its to bad the dealer that sold them the 74 didn't tell them how to use the tranny, the rig is in good shape (photo in my album), runs well, i put $1500 of suspension upgrades into it. The tranny shop in vernon got the torque converter rebuilt but they can't seem to get it to go?????
I need to give the shop a call to see what is going on.
Do you have any idea how much a this might end up costing to get done right. Is the VB from Aus still available in Canada? How about a new TC?
Thanks again

 

[Rustybones]

Has anyone in the Okanagan ever had anything worked on by "Interior Transmission" in Vernon BC? The owner is Kim Meyers?
Thats where the rig is currently, supposedly they're avoiding my moms calls and are not willing to work on the 74 (which has been with them for half a year!!!)

Are there any Wholesale Automatic Transmissions parts still being distributed in Canada? I'm interested in getting a VB and a TC from them.

I looked at the prices on West Coast Cruisers.
VB $960 US
TC $1320 US

How flexible are they on those prices?

 

[motorcoach123]

Now the vehicle has been in a tranny shop in vernon for over a year.

This is crazy.....all top notch tranny shops have many resources to diagnose difficult problems.....the good shops subscribe to (expensive) online services for this very convenient way of helping them out of a difficult situation. Very puzzling that they would have a vehicle at their facility for this long...
If I were looking for a tranny shop I would be looking for a busy shop that does a lot of work, has multiple ways of overcoming problem areas and really stands behind their work. I have such a place here in the lower mainland, but that doesnt help you in the interior. Good luck!!!

 

[RockDoc]

These guys used to be Wholesale's Canadian distributor: By Product Type

Don't see them on their site anymore, but might be worth a call to check.

 

[got_mud]

Try outback imports on van. island for wholesale trans.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Outback Imports (Pacesetter = parent company) is indeed the distributor of Wholesale Automatics in Canada.

I carry and re-sell the Wholesale Valve bodies at my shop on Vancouver Island that I obtain from Outback Imports. Transmissions are available by special order. If you're looking for some help, you can call me.

I also have a BJ74 Auto transmission here in very good used condition.

Overdrive does not generate so much heat that it will kill your transmission on hills, it's slippage and inadequate cooling of the ATF. The in-radiator coolers are not very good, and an external cooler should be used in place of the radiator cooler.

If the radiator is not working properly, a hot engine + bad radiator + some big hills = ATF to overheat & a dead transmission.


~John

 

[Rustybones]

Thanks for all the info John
I was actually just on the island this weekend, i picked up a bj60 on Gabriola for $800
drove it to seattle the next day. (passed through duncan!)
I would have stopped by had it been a week day.
As soon as i have some time i'm going to see what the deal is with the shop in vernon and what my parents budget is. I want to get it done right, so VB would probably be in the mix. What were you thinking money wise for your tranny? send me a PM
I also wanted to know if you stock any 13bt exhaust manifolds?? i just bought a Garrett gt20-52 on craigs this afternoon. If you do have them available add a quote to the pm. I know Barry from Mustang has $430 written on his website. I've heard of guys getting them for $350 here on mud. anyways
Let me know
cheers

 

[jcolvin]

This is an example of why a tranny temperature gauge is essential with the A440 tranny. A number of people have burned out the TC which has a tendancy to overheat. By the time the light comes on its too late. Keeping the revs up over 3000 on uphill stretches seems to help them run cooler, but you really need a temp gauge in the outlet union so that you know just how hot the TC is getting.

I'm not sure that driving in OD is bad at all, in OD the TC locks up and stops generating heat. If you can keep it in OD lockup up long hills the tranny will get much less hot than if the TC is spinning away generating heat like nobody's business. But if you can't keep the TC locked up then keep the revs well up (3000+). An external cooler is not a sure-fire fix, the TC can get very hot even though the ATF in the pan is cooler. That's why you need the temp probe in the outlet union (the union from the TC to the rad cooler), which will tell you how hot the TC is rather than just the pan temp. Mine will climb up 150 C within a couple of minutes if I climb the Duffy lake road at 2200 rpm out of lockup. Same stretch at 3000 rpm it won't go over 100.

Rather than getting it rebuilt it might be cheaper just to drop a used unit in.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

This is an example of why a tranny temperature gauge is essential with the A440 tranny.

[...]

I'm not sure that driving in OD is bad at all, in OD the TC locks up and stops generating heat.

[...]

And a great reason to put in an Extreme Valve Body with 3rd gear lock-up. Mine was wicked to climb the Coquihalla last summer on my way to the West Kootenays.


~John

 

[Rustybones]

Which brings me to my next question, will a a440 from a 1988 fj60/62 fit in the bj74? i just found one on craigslist.
let me know
thanks again for all the info

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Thanks for all the info John [...]

What were you thinking money wise for your tranny? send me a PM

I also wanted to know if you stock any 13bt exhaust manifolds?? i just bought a Garrett gt20-52 on craigs this afternoon. If you do have them available add a quote to the pm. I know Barry from Mustang has $430 written on his website. I've heard of guys getting them for $350 here on mud. anyways
Let me know
cheers

Contact me at work (via Phone) for answers to these questions... I don't do PMs here on 'Mud as it creates far too much email traffic for me to get any wrenching done at work.

Note that Mustang Connections website prices are samples only and subject to currency fluctuations (as are most vendor's prices these days). The days of $350 13BT manifolds is pretty much over...


~John

 

[HZ Cruiser]

Jcolvin

qoute- Mine will climb up 150 C within a couple of minutes if I climb the Duffy lake road at 2200 rpm out of lockup. Same stretch at 3000 rpm it won't go over 100.

What gear are you in and how fast are you going?

I down shift manually when I feel necessary ( going up long hills when the tranny doesn't downshift on it's own)
In order for me to get the rpms even close to 3000 I have to be in 2nd gear going about 70km.

I tried this today, I didn't like the idea of having to go so fast in second gear, so I only held it there for a few seconds. I usually try to mantain about 2100-2500 rpm when going up steep or long hills.
2nd gear @ 40-55 km = 2300-2500rpm or 3rd gear @ 55-65 km = 2100-2200rpm

Keep in mind that mine is a 1HZ with an A440F

Anyone know what safe parameters for shift points would be? As in gear/speed/rpm?

This would be very usefull to know!



Cheers

 

[Greg_B]

If your transmission is shifting fine, and the TC lockup not shuttering, then the best preventative medicine is the Extreme VB, Extreme TC, synth ATF...and the temp gauge.

Rustybones, yes. Functionally it is the same. Swap out the VB and TC (and bell housing, etc). Or, get that transmission (if a known good runner), install the Extreme VB and Extreme TC, synth ATF, temp gauge, etc...

For all things A440 check out that archives at: 3FE : Toyota 3FE group (FJ62, '91-92 FJ80) Search Rodney, Wholesale Automatics, etc.

Wholesale Automatic Transmissions

Wholesale Automatic Transmissions

Wholesale Automatic Transmissions

An additional cooler such as tru-cooler is an idea as well: Tru-cool LPD thin transmission coolers: transmissioncoolers.us

IH8MUD.com - Search Results

hth's

 

[Rustybones]

Quote -Greg B- [Rustybones, yes. Functionally it is the same. Swap out the VB and TC (and bell housing, etc). Or, get that transmission (if a known good runner), install the Extreme VB and Extreme TC, synth ATF, temp gauge, etc...]

Just to confirm a a440f out of a 60's gasser will work in a bj74?
It will mate to the 13bt and have the same gears ratio ect?
I need to make sure that this is correct.
thanks in advance

 

[Rustybones]

I gave Interior transmission a call this morning about the state of the tranny that they're trying to rebuild. Kim seemed like a decent guy. Here's what he told me, they had the TC rebuilt and gave it a full gasket overhaul and then gave the tranny back to my neighbour who installed it for my parents. Supposedly he didn't put enough AFT in and burnt out the bearings on the TC and ruined the Pump Assembly (can this even happen if you just drive it around the yard?). The shop is now trying to source a Pump assembly (which is expensive and hard to find). The TC has to be rebuilt again. The VB is supposedly servicable. Would the pump assembly from a fj60 a440f work? I also found a toyota rebuilt a440f in vancouver for a bj74. The owner still needs to give me a quote on it.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

The pumps are very sensitive to having the TC installed incorrectly. It can happen even if you don't run the engine... so, no, you don't even need to run it around the yard to mess it up.

~John

 

[crushers]

ummmm, loose the auto and install a manual?

what ever you do install a decent aux tranny cooler and temp gauge for that auto. the single cooling pipe in the rad just doesn't cut it with Canadian driving habits.