I have a stock auto trans in my 91.5 with about 125k miles. I pulled a handicap access van on my trailer home the other day. Trailer and van weigh about 7500 lb. Going up hills the truck would slow down and the engine rpm would stay the same. On one long hill near home the truck got down to 30 mph with about 40% throttle. Trans temps never got above 180. I figure it is the torque convertor slipping. Will the bands be ok or should they be replaced? My next mod is the Torque convertor and a shift kit.

 

Anybody got an idea?

 

It sounds like your just driving right through the fluid coupling in the converter. To say its slipping is correct, but non-lockup torque converters are always slipping. The question is how much is it slipping.

Can't say if the bands are ok, but there a good chance they are fine. You'll have to look at them.

 

So, if that's the case a good performance torque convertor will help that.

 

If that is a stock converter you have in there, they are junk. Get a Goerend Bros or Suncoast in there. 122k of towing? or mostly dd? makes a differance as to the condion of the bands etc.

 

If you are going to be pulling the tranny to put in a converter, you may as well rebuild the whole thing. Just my opinion.

 

The hard parts in the 518 is not the problem, there strong 200,000+ miles trannies but the torque converter is the weakness. And automatic trannies don't like heat, so the cooler it is then the nicer crisper shifts you'll have. We proved that with what we did to our poor 91 auto truck when we had it, donuts,burnouts,drag racing,10+psi boosted launches, TRYING to blow the tranny. That 727 would never die. a 518 is basicly a 727 + O/D and a differnt converter I guess, becuase stock 727 converters are tighter then that of a 518 o/d auto.

With a good stout TQ like Goerend's 90% converter or DTT's 89% or suncoast's 89%..... and a SFOD-HD2 $100 shift kit.

You'll have a stout good reliable tranny good for towing and for just when you wanna go fast and not worry about hurting your trans.

Do 100%-89%= 11%....... That means the converter has 11% slip and thats REALLY good. Full lockup like that of a 47RH or RE lockup 94+ trans is 100% becuase its locked in unless its hurt from high HP.

you get the point. Hope i helped. I was bored

 

i bet i could have blown it up. Add some more more fuel and air then strap a load to it and head for the hills.

 

Hahaha. yea your pro at blowing trannies.

 

Hey now, the truck is still running and moves (not very well). I have been pretty hard on my past vechiles though

 

What Mike said.

 

Thanks Guys. I know I need a convertor. However, I can still lay dual black marks with the stocker.......