Transmission Question

[worshhim]

I am going to have to rebuild my A440F tranny here pretty quick and have done some research on Rodney's Extreme Tranny and valve body. Is it really worth the $$ to get the tranny from Rodney or can I have mine rebuilt here and just purchase the valve body from Rodney? What are the benefits of the whole Extreme Package?

 

[KLF]

Results from members on the 3FE Yahoo list are that rebuilds are not always successful, it's hard to find a shop that knows these trannies that well. In some cases the cost of the rebuild is close to the cost of the Extreme. So far everybody on the list that has gone with Rodney's has been very happy.

 

[worshhim]

Anybody put substantial mileage on an extreme yet?

 

[BGarcia88FJ62]

PM euclid from CottonLand Cruisers or post up in there clubhouse he's had one in his rig for a while, he may have some input .

 

[worshhim]

Thanks! Another idea cause its so freakin expensive is to just get the extreme valvebody from Rodney and use standard torque convertor...any thoughts. Basically I want to get the most I can out of her without dropping 5k on the whole package from rodney.

 

[RockDoc]

Have you looked at an H55F (5-speed manual) swap? Not as easy as a new A440F, and not too cheap if you go new, but losing the torque convertor is supposed to really make the 3FE shine. Just another option, the extreme stuff is reputed to be the bees knees too.

 

[worshhim]

This is my DD, but my wife also LOVES her, so she gets a say in what major changes happen. She does not want a stick shift...this makes me cry a little inside. I'd love to do it anyway though, not sure If i could do it without her noticing.

 

[RockDoc]

Good enough reason.

From what I've read here, I think the meat and potatoes of the Extreme tranny upgrades are in the valve body (shift points, better flow through the cooler, lock-up in 3rd if you opt for it) and the torque convertor (more efficient to gain power and minimize heat). Not sure what benefits are found within the tranny itself. Have you had a look through Wholesale's website? I think there is good overview of what they do different.

 

[RockDoc]

For the A442F (they don't detail the A440F on the site).

Wholesale Automatic Transmissions