Picked up an Allison AT 542, now I need your opinion

[cjohnson1]

Just in case ya'll forgot, this is for my Motorhome repower project.



I picked up and Allison AT 542 this weekend. It has less than 38,000 miles on it. Looks new. It does not have a lock up torque converter. It is rated for 180-200hp. It came out of a "93 Gulfstream" Pusher Motorhome. We know that it's the same as a normal transmission just mounted backwards in a pusher configuration.



The Local Allison mechanics say it won't handle 350 Horses. Most it will handle is about 260HP. They say I won't be happy with it because it doesn't have a lock up torque converter. Anybody have any experience with the AT 542? It may be that they're saying this because they don't want to be liable for giving me the wrong info. I told them I was just looking for some practical ideas on what to expect.

It has a manual valve body,ergo no computer.

Now the questions:

What do you guys think about a manual modulator vs a vacuum?

What experience and advise can you share about a trying to make a vacuum modulator work on a Diesel?

Anyone running this transmission? What are your thought on it. Good/Bad?

What is the general consensus here of using this behind a 300- 350 HP Cummins? I won't be racing this thing. All I want to do is be able to pull the mountais better and increase the milage.

I may go ahead and use it if I don't find anything else before the motors ready.

Your thoughts?,

CJ

 

[Todd G]

I had a 545 in my Isuzu truck. It didn't have a torque converter either. I'll bet it's almost the same transmission. I know it was only rated for about 215 HP. I didn't do nuthin to that transmission in over 300K miles. It was bulletproof with 200HP. I don't know about 350.

 

[LarryB]

OK CJ, I'll give you all I know on the Allison subject and you will have to go from there on you own.





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MMMM



That's about it. That's all I know,



Sorry, no help.

Larry

 

[cjohnson1]

Thanks Todd & Larry. I don't know a lot about them, performance wise, either. Been reading the AT manual and can take it apart if I wanted. May have a chance to pick up an Allison 6 speed Automatic soon. Have my fingers crossed.

CJ