Info on auto trans performance

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Too bad about your trani problems, I had the same (ask Crusher) and fixed with Rodney's HD Torque converter and Extreme duty valve body and aux trani cooler and use synthetic fluid and no problems, works great now. Shifted quite hard until I slacked the TV cable off...now shifts nice.
 
Did you guys not get tranny coolers stock? I have one on my FJ80, and I have been talking to several guys that put in a 6.2L V8 Diesel with the A440 and it is fine. Mine has over 190,XXX miles on it, and I've pulled many times with it even in hot weather with no problems.
 
yep, if a few have good LUCK with the auto then the rest should just shut up and not worry about it...

(till it costs $4K - $6K to fix)

same mentality can be applied to BEB in the HDT and the head issues in the L series...
 
i am saying if there is a known issue then take preventative steps...

the L series is beyond help...

you little disturber you...
 
Hello crushers. I didn't mean to start any animosity. I have read many posts by you and I know for a fact that you know more about cruisers than I do. I'm just trying to learn some stuff. I'm planning on using my A440 behind a 6.2L gm diesel. Not my first choice but thats another story. And I was referring to the out of radiator tranny cooler that is in front of the radiator on all 80's I have seen. Is that perhaps an American market add on? And as far as a few having good luck with it, it is incredibly rare to see any transmission problem threads for FJ80s. FZJ80 too. Anyway, there's my pound of salt... :)
 
no animosity intended although after rereading my post i can see how it might look like it.

we have had a rash of 61/62/73/77/81 trannies dieing over the last 4 years... maybe it is the diesel that is killing them??
 
I don't think it's the diesel thats killing them, it's probably the fact that the vast majority of JDM cruisers reside in Western Canada, near or in the mountains. Many of these cruisers are probably owned by people that have no idea that the cooler in the rad is not sufficient for towing or climbing long passes...leading to many overheating trannies.

If the population of JDM cruisers was spread out over the entire country, you would probably see less failures due to less severe service(non-mountainous). At least that's my theory!

Heck, maybe the additional cooler on US 80's is doing a really good job? I remember reading a post some time ago claiming that Christo Slee(Slee Off Road) had never seen a damaged A442 come through his shop. Being at the base of the Rockies you would think he has seen alot of cruisers that have lived a hard life in Colorado. I'll search for that post again, hopefully I didn't misquote too badly...
 
as much as i would like to agree with the idea of mountains killing the trannys it IS spread across the flatlands as well so that blows that theory out of the water...

i would say, at the very least, install an aux tranny cooler into any auto. it is cheap and easy to do and MIGHT stop a very expensive tranny repair.

think of it similar to the HDT BEB issue, not every HDT will fail but $600 up front will save $6500-$8500 repair bill.

seriously, i do not really care if anyone takes my advice. it is not my money nor my truck that MIGHT die a painful expensive death. (and these will die at the most inconvient times, not likely in your driveway)
 
I don't think mountains are killing the trannies, it's misuse in the mountains that I was speaking of.
Sure you could overheat a tranny in the flats with the right amount of abuse, but do you not think this is much more likely living in mountainous areas?

Personally, I am taking your advice with regards to an aux cooler in my 81. It seems that the OEM coolers are typically doing the job for the guys in the US...maybe that's all thats needed to get some longevity out of these units.

The valvebody upgrade would be nice too, but that's another story.
 
I agree with Wayne (Crusher) as the cooler will definitely help and is a cheap and easy install.I am one of the ones that had the trani fail (A440F NOT A442) in a very awkward spot for 3 weeks waiting on parts.

After chatting with Rodney (OZ Wholesale Automatic Transmissions), it is not only the mountain passes but also the load. The two combined make for hard work for the A440F. After his upgrade and the aux cooler in series with the OEM one, all is fine. Oh, and never go up a hill in OD, that's asking for trouble!
 
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i only go into OD if i can hold 2000 rpm or more in OD, below this is 3rd up to 3000 rpm, as a my personal rule of thumb.
 
I live in B.C. and we have mountains and the infamous Coquihalla highway which has left many vehicles a pile of melted metal and plastic on the side of the road,my wifes 62 manages under great stress year after year this climb and keeps ticking.
I am confussed about the over heating of the trany there is no temp gauge for the trany on the dash so how does one know when the trans is over heating.
 
Gold Boy said:
i only go into OD if i can hold 2000 rpm or more in OD, below this is 3rd up to 3000 rpm, as a my personal rule of thumb.
Click to expand...

Yep, these trannies in the right hands can outlive a slush box.

You just have to maintain and service plus make sure yur rad is not 75% plugged.

Alot of missleading info on these trannies, they need to be shifted for the right terrain and driving like in town and highway. The cable needs to be kept in adjustment.

Rob
 
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