hardtarget870

Okay, so I have an idea that I would like to run by the experience. I am currently saving my pennies for a goerend trans. Until then I was going to wire up the manual converter lock switch. I also wanted to make it boost activated. Not for WOT shifts, just for your average accelerating from a dead stop or while you are coasting down the road with the converter unlocked, you need to pass some one so you step on the gas a little and the boost pressure actuates the converter lock and once you let off the gas the transmission defaults back to its OEM programming. I would like to know what you everyone thinks of this. I understand that my stock trans does not like abuse, and again I dont want this for racing, just for around town. I would install this with a 3 pos switch so that I could lock it regardless of boost or disable if needed. The pressure switches I am looking at are the SERIES A2 and SERIES A6 here:
http://www.dwyer-inst.com/Products/T...CategoryID=300

What pressure would you recommend? Or is this just a bad idea with a stock trans? Thanks all

checkster

neat idea, couldnt tell ya either wayif its good or not. im sure one of the more experienced tranny guys will tell ya, but i thought it sounded pretty cool

cdennyb

I like your thinkin'. Mine just has a toggle on the dash and I ran it through a gov pressure switch on the trans so when i drop below 20 mph it disconnects anyway. Not much exhaust brake help at 20 mph or slower and I don't want to abuse the trans input shaft any more than necessary.
Let us know how it works, I'd think about 10 psi would about right though, just my thoughts.

hardtarget870

Thanks for the input. Its funny you said 10 psi because that was the first number that came to mind. Dwyer-inst has a pressure switch for 8-13 ±2 psi. I will order that one tonight. They make them in brass and 304 stainless. I am guessing the best one for me will be the stainless?

no_6_oh_no

Run it in TH and it will lock sooner and stay locked longer.

Without modifying the VB all the TC lockup will do is stack shift it into OD if your accelerating from a stop AND do locked to locked shifts. Needless to say that is a BAD idea on a stock trans.

The lockup algorithms are pretty good on the newer trucks if you roll into the throttle instead of stomp it. Even in normal mode at hiway speeds a little caution with the right foot and it will seldom drop out of lockup unless it thinks it needs to downshift.

Boost is way to variable to control things like lockup which is speed sensitive, all you will do is confuse what little control there is and cause weird behaviour. Your much better off adding a little power and driving conservatively to achieve better acceleration and control.

hardtarget870

I see your point, it just feels that the stock converter is so loose. I do try to drive conservativeley, especially for mileage reasons and wear and tear on my truck. But it just seems that I have to give it more gas then I should because of the loose converter. I know the new trans will solve all of this. the lock up switch was just an idea to tighten things up. I often dream of the day that I see my rpms go down as the trans shifts in to the next gear.

I think for the time being I will install the pressure switch and only activate it when I am cruising in OD below 55. I do use TH mode but around town at 45 mhp speed limit the revs are a little too high(lower mpg). So the cruise at 45mph in OD locked would be ideal.

I will definitely use this mod with caution and moderation. Thanks for the update no 6 oh no.

yarosig

not all of us have the t/h option such as 03/04 models.

Raspy

I don't know what the advantage would be in my truck. It's the lockup clutch that fails in stock form. I can slip mine at will while in lockup and under heavy torque. So a "loose" torque converter might not be as bad as you think. Besides they do not allow a complete runaway. Constantly locking under heavy load is bound to wear the clutch faster. And "loose" is relative. You should see how loose they are in the Jeep Liberty diesel. Just run it and then you'll appreciate the new one that much more. And, while you're waiting, intall a mystery switch.

My VW seems to have a good stratetgy. It locks up during pretty much every shift. It just seamlessly unlocks, shifts and locks so smootly I don't realize it did it. Not really related to throttle or ground speed that much.

no_6_oh_no

So? The OP has an 06, thats what we are discussing.

Swayse

Jeep Grand Cherokee trans is awesome, light on the throttle it locks at 15mph in second gear. Feels like it shifts locked, but I'm sure that it has a 2 stage lockup to soften the shifts. At wot, I have no idea when it locks, but the rpms go down nicely with every shift, I'm guessing from 1st to 2nd. Then I drive my truck and it feels like a cvt! I can't bring myself to spend the money for a converter.

hardtarget870

Swayse, I wish my CTD drove like that. I know it will once I get the new trans isntalled. Still savin those pennies though.

As far as the boost controlled converter lock in concerned. I am considering adding a second pressure switch to serve as a boost safety to release the converter if boost exceeds a certain pressure.

no_6_oh_no

That would help if you can get it to boost. Without modifying the TQ management and stock fueling you will never get it to boost fast enough to make a difference at 45 mph locked in OD. Without the downthift to get the rpm's up the engine is in defuel mode and will take a long time to spool the turbo, if it even will, so it ends up just lugging along going no where.

Rather than spend all the money and time on a system wire a simple toggle switch into the lockup circuit and play with it that way to see what happens. About $12 worth of pieces at the Radio Shack and you can tell if it will react like you want.

hardtarget870

Sounds like a plan. I already have those parts in my garage.

yarosig

Would you mind explaining how you wired that up?