Automatic Transmissions

[DBF]

I've got the factory underbed cooler, was wondering about adding more, what extra coolers have you added, and which one helped the most?



Thanks,

Caleb

I've (finally) put up most of the pictures of the added cooler & related hoses, tubing & wiring into my gallery, under Auto Trans Cooling 2.



Have a look and PM me if you have questions.



Regards, DBF

 

[boatpuller]

I've (finally) put up most of the pictures of the added cooler & related hoses, tubing & wiring into my gallery, under Auto Trans Cooling 2.



Have a look and PM me if you have questions.



Regards, DBF

Thanks for the info, I'm going to add this cooler to my truck and also plumb some valves in around the Heat exchanger so that I can bypass it in the summer when it's warm out, I also have the problem that my increased trans temps raise the engine temp too much.



Thanks,

Caleb

 

[DBF]

Added the last picture (the control panel in the cab) just now (11:10 CST, 1/15/07).



Regards, DBF

 

[CBottomley]

Thanks For All The Replies. I Will Check With Big Transmission Outfits Like Peirs, Dtt, Ats On The Max Size Of The Cooling Circuit I Can Go. I Like To Go All 1/2. Including Coolers. I Will Also Bypass The Heat Exchanger Since This Is A Problem Experienced By Dbf And Others. I Don't Need It Since I Live In Hot Country. Besides The Fluid I Use Is Amsoil Univeral Atf Which Has A Low Temp Fluidity. Plus Common Sense Is You Don't Push It Intil Heated Up Which It Will. I Plan To Add Another transmission Temp Which Will Be The Pan Temp Which Should Not Be Over 200 Degree F. I Already Have The Output Line Temp Now. I Also Have A Fail Safe Thermostat Between The Two Derale/eletric Fan Coolers. I Will Have To Replace One Of The Coolers To 1/2 Since It Is 3/8 The Other Is 1/2. The Last Cooler Has A Thermostat Controlled Which Will Come On When Over 180 Degree. I Have A Cross 10 Micro Filter The transmission Fluid Goes Through Before Going Back Into The transmission. Plus I Have Two Independent Switches In The Cab Of The Truck. I Plan To Build A Tough A727 Transmission Since I Now Have A Complete Spare I Picked Up From Coleman, Ga. Also Boost Hp A Lot. I Now Have On Hand Not Installed Pod Injectors, Complete Banks Intercooler Kit. I Want To Tow A 5th Wheel In The Near Future. And Be Like Dbf And Not Have Anymore Problems. The Trailer I'm Looking At Is About 8500 Empty And 12000 Gross. Cougar 311rls By Keystone. The Only Week Point I Have On The Truck Is The Transmission Needs Upgraded And More Hp From The Engine. I've Been Researching/educating What Components To Use In The transmission. I Want To Do This Myself Since Had A Very Bad Experience Over Three Years With Builders Transmission In Broken Arrow, Ok Which Took Me To The Cleaners! As The Saying Goes To Have It Done Right Do It Yourself.



1991 Early 250 Cummins Diesel Dodge Truck Le 3/4 Ton. Stock Engine (160 Hp)

Non-intercooled, A/c, Rebuilt Torque Converter By Hughes Performance Towmaster. Graves Pro Shop (san Antonio) Tx Rebuilt Stock A727 Torqueflite 3-speed Automatic With Gear Vendor. Wow! 3. 07 Diff. Rancho Adjustable Rear, Bilstein Front, K&n Filter, Aux-combo Toolbox With 40 Diesel Gallon Tank. Autometer Diesel Tach, transmission, Pyro, Boost. Former Front Auto transmission Cooler Is Now Cooler For Power Steering With Inline Filter With A Mag. Coolant Filter Kit Installed. Replaced All Brake Line To Stainless Steel Flex Lines. All Pads And Shoes Severe Duty. Steering Stabilizer.

 

[DBF]

CBottomley, that ought to be one bullet-proof animal when you finish that plan. The 727 with Gear Vendor setup sounds great!



Here's a couple of ideas for your consideration:



When you talk with DTT, ask them for their closest "qualified" maintenance place. They only certify a few (my closest one is 500 miles away). You could trust them. Have them set bands & pressures to normal for your driving and towing requirements.



OR



Go thru the FSM & do the adjustments for the transmission, then pull the valve body & send it to DTT. They'll take it to the multi-gage test rig and set up all the pressures for your towing needs. Then you re-install it & fill it up & go.



One question: Do you pick up much debris in the transmission filter you installed?



Regards, DBF

 

[sdstriper]

I would consider updated planets, steel ones. Talk to someone in the know about increasing clutch packs, 5 in the 4 drum. Good quality bands, higher ratio band apply lever and better strut, 4 ring accumulator piston with Teflon sealing rings and... I could go on and on...



Factory Service Manual



Go to DTT's discussion forum for some good reading.



HP Books, Torqueflite A727 Transmission Handbook.



http://www.allpar.com/mopar/transmissions/torqueflite-tom-hand.html

 

[CBottomley]

Hello again gentlemen



The transmission filter has only been opened once to check for debis and that was shortly after the rebuild three years ago. Very little was in it. The spin-on filter is pretty big I'd say Fram PH8 size. My transmission mechanic at the time recommended it and I said do it! I do have the A-727 book by Carl Munroe very informative. Plus the Dodge 1991 Service Manual and ATSG book. I also have a video by Technical video which is very good. I also discovered another video by PTS Video on the 727. I want to educate myself to build a tough bullet proof transmission. The parts is not bad but the labor is high. I just talked to Hughes Performance Tech people and they said I can go 1/2 inch lines all around. I use stainless steel flexlines with JIC 37 fittings. No rubber hose with clamps here! The specs on these lines far exceed what will be at hand. Like environment conditions, type of fluid, temp of fluid, wall pressure etc.



I will soon pull the valve body core out of my spare transmission and send to one of these diesel outfits to have modifed. Probably BD diesel. I will need to decide all the add on engine components so the pressure can be set. It is about time to adjust bands and change fluid/filter and spin on filter. I also have one leak at the throttle shaft. www.rerider.us/727_parts.htm has a P/N #3SS called chrysler manual control shaft seal saver kit! Excellent parts break down like Sdstriper has commented on! Yes do go on. I'm all ears. I will go to DTT discussion and learn more. Doing the valve body will fix the leak and normal maintenace on my transmission for now until I build the bullet proof one at a much later date. In the spring I will bypass the heat exchanger and increase line to 1/2 inch also change out one of the 3/8 coolers. Unfortunaly I listen to bad advise in this area. 3/8 is to restrictive. I will take my time to educate myself on performance parts for the 727. I'd like to possibly take a college class on auto transmission rebuild.



DBF what it cost to have your VE pump rebuilt by Piers? I have a spare one but it is for 91-93 I found out remanufactored mopar R4728745. My truck is an early 91. I don't know the difference between these. Also the Flexplate you bought from Cummins 94-95 seris (thicker) p/n 3946161. Will this handle 300 HP ? Is your engine HP about this? I will have to call cummins if this will fit the Wear-sleeved crankshaft seal. I have this on my truck. I once tried Peirs Flexplate but is won't fit. had to use the thin cummins driveplate.

 

[DBF]

DBF what it cost to have your VE pump rebuilt by Piers? I have a spare one but it is for 91-93 I found out remanufactored mopar R4728745. My truck is an early 91. I don't know the difference between these. Also the Flexplate you bought from Cummins 94-95 seris (thicker) p/n 3946161. Will this handle 300 HP ? Is your engine HP about this? I will have to call cummins if this will fit the Wear-sleeved crankshaft seal. I have this on my truck. I once tried Peirs Flexplate but is won't fit. had to use the thin cummins driveplate.

The replacement flexplate has been handling my 308 rwhp for several months now, with a good torque converter & valve body (meaning the flexplate feels the load quickly, rather than spinning up the stock TC). The flexplate is not thicker than stock. It's made of a different material. It weighs more, but takes up the same space.



The rebuild went something like $1000, with the 3200rpm governor spring being installed at the same time. Then the pump was returned to me. Others do it for less, but Mark at PDR convinced me that theirs see special care and handling. I had sent a core to him, so I still have my old stock pump at hand - it was running ok when taken out at 193 kmiles.



I didn't put the pump in when it came back since we left on a trip soon afterward. We wound up in Bend, OR, so we took a trip to PDR & let them install PODs and the pump, then time the pump for the loads I pull and with the PODs. Worked out well, so well we went on up to Alaska before going back home.



Regards, DBF

 

[sdstriper]

CBottomleym, quick question for you. Can you check your 1991 FSM against your ATSG manual and tell me if it's the same info, nearly a carbon copy? I would appreciate that! I hope people save the money and go with a FSM, get a heck of a lot more use out of the FSM.



Performance Automotive and Transmission Center, love that site. Even if I never bought a thing from them, great reference for parts etc. It appears as though you have a handle on service materials. I actually got a set of rebuild DVD's from Goerends this week but my cheapo DVD player won't play them! Same with my POS emachine computer... Draats!@*&^%@% :{

 

[CBottomley]

Thanks again for the reply guys. Thanks for the detail info on the flexplate. I guess there is no question now to get this flexplate for my truck. $130 bucks or so is a lot cheaper than $400 plus I've seen. Plus they could'nt tell me if it would fit a Cummins wear-sleeved crankshaft. If a flexplate is from Cummins it will. Wow how about that 308 RWHP! Thanks for letting me know the cost of the VE Pump. As far as the ATSG manual goes I picked it up real cheap. I don't know the difference between the FSM or ATSG. I would rely on the FSM because this is what is in our trucks. The FSM is very good.

 

[KOG]

Your 91 FSM won't help with the four speed. The 92 manual covers the 91. 5 completely without buying the additional diesel supplement which is why I bought a 92 manual for my 91. 5. I can't compare the ATSG and can't even look at my FSM right now cause I won't be home again for several days.

 

[sdstriper]

I am trying to confirm that the ATSG is nearly a carbon copy of the FSM's, with the exception of a few pages in the back, useless info I might add. So if anyone is considering one, I encourage you to get a FSM if you don't already have one. The ATSG's manuals are not that expensive, I have seen them from $12 to 35. 00 bucks, and I have several. But it irritates me that I had the info already for this truck I am driving and spent money I didn't need to, thinking I would add to my bookshelf of knowledge.