Hi, hoping to get some help. I had a local shop build me a trany for my project car that included red alto clutches/ colline steel/ cevelar bands & transgo 2 shift kit. I don't think he was use to installing high performance parts, mainly the shift kit. The transmission slips in forward or reverse gears no matter where the gear selector is. It does want to move somewhat but obvious major slipping. I would like to be armed with some information before I take it back to the shop.

 

It sounds like you might have a pressure issue. The first thing to do is to have them get a gauge on it to see whats going on. If you have installed a high stall converter and never had one before this might be what your feeling.

 

Thanks for responding Vince. The converter is a heavy duty 2000 stall. I had used it in a previous project for a short period of time/ was in good working condition when pulled. Its definitely not the stall. Double checked fluid level / Also was careful, had the converter opened & inspected before reusing. Question- can the pressure test be done thru the cooler line? If not what do they connect to? I do have HP tuners (beginner), so I set up a PID table to take some readings. Not sure which tables are important(please advise) but I have the same 4L80e in my truck so thought I'd compare readings at some point. The commands seem to be made by the PCM/match the gear as shifted/do feel the engagements thru the drivetrain when moving the gear selector. I stopped at that point/don't what to damage the clutches if they are slipping. Hopeful that what ever is wrong can be handled thru the pan. Have read thru some other posts and got some good info. from you (thanks). Headed back to the builder today. Will let you know what he said. Dan

 

While he is back in it put factory BW hi energy clutches in, Red altos are no good. flame on.


Good luck though man, a built 80e with a shift kit built right wont let ya down and will handle stupid power.

 

The pressure test I would perform is a line pressure test not a cooler flow/pressure test. The port for this is above the manual linkage shaft on the drivers side. You should have over 70psi at idle in gear and about 200psi at wot with that kit, HTH Vince

 

Good info, thanks . Ya I have heard it said that the reds bight harder but once they slip and or get hot its all over. I did consider this but since its a weekend cruiser/ mild mannered track car I went with the red clutches.------ Appreciate the line pressure test numbers.

 

Got my car over to the trany builder. It did have good pressure in all gears starting at roughly 70lbs and climbs when the RPMs are raised as Vince stated. He then hooked up to the PCM port and did some button pushing " communicating with the trany " and got it to partially work. He was not sure what he had done to get those results so we disconnected and I took it for a test drive, starting with the gear selector in drive (in O.D. it would not move). It went thru the gears as a car normally would, nice firm shifts, and at approximately 30 to 40 mph I could move the selector to O.D. and the trany would go into O.D. but slipped in kinda sloppy. Also went into lockup nicely a couple a seconds after. If I move the gear select to O.D. before the car accelerated into drive it would act like I hit nuetral. OH, no reverse at all. Professional help PLEEEASE!!! I did catch some small idea emanating from the builder sense he was not that familiar with the transgo 2 kit that the trouble could be their. Tomorrow he's bringing a different hand held tester. Its a new day! another concern of mine is thru all of the testing would this slipping of internal parts be causing any damage. Mainly the red clutches. Appeciate a reply.

 

Bump .. Anyone

 

The trans should move regardless of the electronics. I'm going to throw this out there for what its worth. Your issue is in the over drive roller clutch or over run clutch. I'm going to guess that the late style with the small rollers and the blue/black cage was used. If this cage is not set properly in the over run drum you will have the same results as what you have going on here. Or also a sealing ring was cut on the stator when the pump was installed. If I were the builder I would most definitely want to go back through the unit to make sure all of the assemblies are correct. Also to make sure that the shift kit was installed properly.

Does this condition also happen in all shifter positions? Manual 1st, 2nd, D.....

 

No. Using the gear selector 1st/2nd/3rd all seem to be fine at this point but ,as stated,if shifted manually to 4th you must first achieve 3rd or it will act like you went into neutral. Thankfully the builder has convinced himself that it's inside the trany, so out it comes.