Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Smoked by a Duramax

[TPotter]

Ok, here is how it went. My wife has a stock 02 GMC Duramax, 4 wheel drive and 4 door. I finally talked her into racing me the other night, well little did I know she was about to spank my butt.



0-60 it was no contest she got me by 2 1/2 lengths, now I know anthing past that I'd kill the duramax. My question is without spending thousands of bucks on my transmission what can I do to get the convertor locked etc. I dont want her beating my old dodge anymore.

 

[SEmerson]

Do you have a gsk? What plate do you have?

 

[TPotter]

Yes, I have a GSK and a plate, not sure what plate though.

 

[JKouzez]

definately get a 3k gsk and then do the TC lockup switch it will be no contest then.

 

[TPotter]

Ok, I have the 3gsk. This TC lockup switch, how much and where can I get one?

 

[SEmerson]

Your plate must be mild. See if you can figure out what it is. and get a better one.

 

[TPotter]

I can only get the plate that goes to 230hp. I think

 

[vssman]

Is the transmission still stock? If so then a TC lockup switch (i. e. mystery switch) isn't going to help much in accelerating as it won't lock up until 3rd gear (if I remember correctly). Tip: You'll love the getup & go, wind up using it a lot & kill the transmission. I ran a switch for about 1 weekend a while back and it gave me a serious case of whiplash with the violent shifts, but I'm running 100+psi line pressure in the transmission. The banging from one gear to the next was enough for me to remove the switch. If your looking for locked to locked shifts, look at ATS...



Just my $0. 02

 

[SEmerson]

the 230 on for a 160 pump is a #6. If that is the one you have you are at the limits for you trans. Much more will put you at risk of getting a new trans.

 

[TPotter]

I was affraid someone was gonna say either an DTT or ATs. I really dont wanna spend that much $$$$$$$$$ on the thing just to beat my wife.

 

[SEmerson]

DTT all the way. But I reilize that is not what you want. If you have a #6 that is as far as you can safly go. So how brave do you feel?

 

[jimk]

#6 plate

I have a #6 and if I had it to do all over I would use a #10. I run about 17. 5 degrees timing in the 95. I have a 3k governor kit. The afc housing is all the way forward. I have had this setup for 50k miles and the truck had 102k miles now. No problems as of yet with the transmission except for a tps switch. I don't race, I only tow or drive normal what ever that is. I did install a lock up switch. The way I have got by with it so far is to raise the pressures by a bracket that holds the throttle lever from going back to the original spot. That gives me more line pressure at idle. Not at wide open. I was told and I believe them that towing is harder that racing on a transmission. I have not spent any money on the automatic, with is ok by me. I you have to race then the pocket book has to be opened up...

The longer you put off doing the transmission the better off you are. There have been a lot of improvements since I started to look into doing some thing to it. I may never spend a penny one the automatic and just swap it off in a few years. I had rather have the 3. 5 to ? If you think that you will not trade it off in the next few years then a better automatic might be what you need. The stock converter has a poor fluid coupling... The reason the truck does not pull good in the first 2 gears.

The only way I would consider a automatic is if I got a GOOD WARRANTY, not 6 months. . Do consider the warranty also. Jimk

 

[KKitelinger]

JimK,

Don't want to steer this post a different direction, but I was wondering why you would use a #10 instead of a #6? I am looking at getting a #6 for my 95 3500 Auto. I also use mine for light towing and normal driving, and looking for info on what would be the best plate to use based on others experiences.





Thanks for your help,

kkitelinger

 

[TPotter]

Go to the TST website, it give in detail which plate you should use. On our 94 and 95 if I remember correctly its the 230hp plate. Dont get me wrong I love the way my truck pulls and it will run from 60 to 100mph like a bat out of hell. Its just slow out of the hole and I believe its because of the trans.

 

[SEmerson]

A 10 has top end defueling curve. Easyer to make a clean runner. Setting the timming up would help. It will also raise you milage.

 

[Fred Swanson]

I'm sorry, I don't see a plate and 3K GSK getting your truck to where it can beat your DMAX. Good transmission stilll wouldn't get you there.

It would take more than that.

 

[TPotter]

I dont agree with that, maybe right out of the hole but after that I can leave the Duramax waaaaaaaaaaay behind. Trust me I will do whatever I have to, to beat my wife's truck. I cant let a woman run by me.

 

[SEmerson]

So you are only getting beat out of the hole?

 

[RBratby]

if you want to beat your wife out of the hole then you need at least a tc and vb. the stock tc is very sloppy. i have a stock trans now. i drove in lsfarm 98 with a dtt trans and a #10 plate and and pretty much stock everything else excluding intake and that truck comes out of the hole like a rocket. if you want to beat your wife i would highly suggest a whole new trans.

 

[JKouzez]

F Swanson i guarentee you the gsk plate and switch will leave any dmax behind, my grandpa has an 02 auto and i ran that exact setup, yes a close race but the dmax has no chance without any mods. the switch is hard on the transmission yes i have had it for about 20,000 miles and 5,000 of those i have had 370's intsalled still on the stock transmission ( the truck has 91,000 on it. ) as soon as this one lets go ill get a dtt