Well, I guess it's my turn now. I was towing my TT last week down interstate and @ 18-2300 rpms if I got in the throttle it would shudder pretty bad. I could manage it somewhat unless I was on a grade and then I just had to slow down. Sound like my torque converter? It's my original trans with 165K so I'm not just real disapointed. I put in an email to Dave to see if he sold a master rebuild kit for my local shop to install. So what's the verdict?

 

Sounds likely - your fluid should start burning soon. Got a trans temp gauge? - it will help tell you what is going on. Should nearly always be under 250 degrees max. but mostly around 180 maybe less. Shift down for hard pulls and take overdrive off for mild uphill pulls that will overheat the trans. Max cooling is achieved when TC is locked up. Taking OD off allows lockup in 3rd keeping temps down on pulls that still feel OK in OD.

Slow pulling up a grade - such as in second also raises temps as does reverse. The gauge will show you all of that.

I changed only the torque converter to a DTT, added a Suncoast valve body and deep pan. Rest of the trans is stock. No more problems. You can do this if you do it before the converter completely destroys the transmission. Gus at Farmboy's Diesel Performance, who used to advertise here gave me the details on what to do.

I also adjusted the bands and changed the filter. Band adjustment affects shift timing and smoothness.