j30 transmission failure survey

[VimyJ]

If I lived in an area that really warm most of the year I would seriously consider getting an additional transmission cooler. As it is now, it can take 10-15 minutes for my transmission to warm up on a frosty winter day.

[carlos_knology]

And a cooler won't help you much with this abuse!

There are the stock ATF cooler lines going to the radiator but no external unit from the factory.

Carlos

[Eswift]

YES an a more efficient external cooler would help, i am sure summit racing has something that would work.

99563 on mine and i am just noticing some slippage every once and a while...but I think it has a lot to due with the cold weather, also that I performed the first filter/full fluid exhange at about 83k...

I installed an autometer trans temp gauge about a year ago, and just normal around town driving in the summer caused the pre-cooler trans temp to be right at the top limit of fluid specs in the srevice manual (cant remember the exact number).

in any case, this means that any hard or abusive driving probably kicks the temps way into the danger zone.

of course, I havent checked the pressure frop across my cooler, I suppose flow could be slightly blocked by deposits...although i still think the trans temp facotr of safety was very poorly implemented on this car.

Ive come to expect it, and I guess without proper maint. its not that suprising.

oh well, my fluid is still cherry and unburnt or varnished form when i did the change at 85k, im just going to run it until it dies on the side of the road, in the meantime I am collecting 5speed parts...

[cweberj30t]

In older model cars with drum brakes in the rear, the front disks make up about 70% of the stopping power of the brakes. With 4 wheel disks, my guess would be more around 60%. In essence, you can put the brakes on and make the back tires spin. Brake torques can be detrimental to a drive train and I have seen plenty of drive shafts rip completely off a car while doing them at the strip. If you want to do some serious burn outs, lay down a nice strip of bleach and let er rip. The bleach makes the tires slick and also adds to the amount of smoke that will pour out of the wheel wells while doing them. Too much fun. Used to have a '68 stang with a 302 that would do mid 14's and would burn some serious rubber. That was a 4 speed of course and I don't beat on my J as much. Brake torques are not reccomended without a front brake lock, especially with 4 wheel discs. Too much stress on the drive train and rear brakes...unless you have a bottle of bleach laying around:)

[Eswift]

it isnt just the mechanical differences between drums and discs that alter the F/R brake bias..i believe it is controlled in the end by a proportioning valve

[cweberj30t]

A five speed in a J would be somewhat pointless with the power/weight differential. Keep in mind that this is a luxury car and is not meant for performance. Even if you turbo it, you are still only going to be able to get the HP up to 250 tops. My suggestion would be to find a nice late 60's Firebird with a 400 and blow the s*** out of it. You would be blowing clutches out of it before the doors of whatever it is you are racing.

[cweberj30t]

Combined with the fact that between 60 and 90 percent of a vehicle's stopping power comes from the front wheels, it's clear that a well-designed, modern drum brake is all that's required for most rear wheel brake duty.

Read on:

http://www.edmunds.com/ownersh....html

[Eswift]

A five speed in a J would be somewhat pointless with the power/weight differential. Keep in mind that this is a luxury car and is not meant for performance. Even if you turbo it, you are still only going to be able to get the HP up to 250 tops. My suggestion would be to find a nice late 60's Firebird with a 400 and blow the s*** out of it. You would be blowing clutches out of it before the doors of whatever it is you are racing.

you amaze me.