Suncoast converter on a DTT trans?

[Swayse]

Hey guys, one more thing. My lock up has always been weird. It was the same with my first trans too, different valve body. It won't always lock up when I wanted it to. I have a lock up switch, so it should lock up when I want it to, right? If I'm idling in gear and hit lock up, it will stall, everytime, the 3 times i've tried it. If I'm coasting it will lock up everytime too, no fail. But when I'm taking off, and going through the gears, the only way it will lock up, is if I hit the lock up switch right after the shift. If I'm cruising along in second gear and hit lock up, it won't lock up until I let totally off the throttle. I've double checked all my connections a few times, I'm tapped into the right wire. Once it is locked up, it won't come out until I turn off the lock up switch. I'm thinking of replacing the solinoid (spelling) in the trans, to see if it all of a sudden fixes it. So which one is it? Is it the one hanging off the back of the valve body all by it's self, kinda screwed into the side of the valve body?

 

[c-hawk]

I can't help you with how to fix it...



But it should lock anytime you hit the switch. sometimes mine takes a brief moment to lock (as in less then a sec, but not instantly), but it should always lock when you hit the switch.



What does your builder/installer have to say about all this?



Chris

 

[Swayse]

I've been talking to installer, but only about putting in a suncoast torque converter. I've been talking to him just to see if it would work, or if it would lock up too hard and fast. The rest of my talks have been with Stephen at DTT.



I just went and drove it again, man it slips, doesn't even take half power to slip it in lock up. Think I'll just put it on a trailer and take it to my installer, let him look at it. I'm 99% sure it's the converter, but I'm not sure why anymore, thought I was just over powering it, maybe not.

 

[CumminsAholic]

Thanks c-hawk, I didn't think it'd unlock, but I didn't want to say anything without knowing for sure.

Corey

 

[DavidTD]

Now I'm sure Doug and Jim will kill me for this but...



Big HP on a dyno is not the same as applying it to the track. Much less stress on the unit when on the dyno. You are also applying power AFTER the truck is locked on the dyno, not going from fluid to lock-up like on the street or track.



Next, how tight the converter is will dictate somewhat how much abuse the lock-up clutch will have to take. A tight converter that drops small amounts of RPM will be easier on the lockup material than one that drops more RPM.



SunCoast builds a great unit. I think it is the best for long term reliability on the track. Darren and Jeff are running now the same units (no rebuilds) as last year with no problems. If I'm not mistaken, Jeff is on year 3 with the same unit.



Nothing against ANY vendor, but after seeing for 7 years what has worked and what hasn't on the strip, I made my choice and glad I did.



Marketing does funny things. People think one vendor makes on type of unit and the others don't. Aside from the single, triple, 5 disk thing, each of the big 3 can provide as much or little stall as you desire. It's just that most of the SunCoast folks prefer a little less fluid and more lockup.



Darren had zero transmission failure last year. Ran 1. 50 60 ft times and low to mid 10 second passes.



Jeff had zero transmission issues.



Stuckey had no transmission issues yet broke TWO pinions on his rear end.



Joe, Ronny and the boys make tough stuff.



Before you blast me, I have nothing to say negative about DTT units. But I don't think ANY single disk will take the abuse we put them through.

 

[tractorface]

I gotta think something is wrong. I am partial to GB but not because a single disk DTT is a problem. Guys like JetPilot have proved beyong a shadow of a doubt that the DTT convertor is first rate. Changing to a 3 disk, 5 disk, or whatever is not the solution to your problem,

 

[Cooker]

Now I'm sure Doug and Jim will kill me for this but...



Big HP on a dyno is not the same as applying it to the track.

I don't know how often Jim turns times at the track but I think Doug has made more than a couple 1320' passes

 

[Stefan Kondolay]

Most of my customers are interested in more than making a couple of 1/4 mile runs. Jeff truck isn't a daily driver, and I'm not sure but i'd assume that darrins isn't either. I'd bet that a truck like Fulmers or Jetpilots trucks are very close in hp are Jeffs or Darrins. As far as I can see the biggest difference is that Fulmers and Jetpilots trucks probably weigh alot more and probably put alot more miles each year as both of there trucks are there daily drivers.



As far as a 1. 50 60foot, what kinda weight was that at? I know Opies DTT 60 foots 1. 52 at over 7000lbs. If we are comparing race vehicles my race car 60 foots 1. 08 with no drugs.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

I don't know how often Jim turns times at the track but I think Doug has made more than a couple 1320' passes



Nope I do runs on the road, just can't afford the truck breakage bill but that doesn't mean I won't ever do it, it's just not a high priority. I actually like way my portfolio looks better than I like the way the truck runs but I have my fun on the dyno as it's easy on stuff.



When I do road testing (which is often) I can't start it till about 60 in 3rd (converter locked) then go to 4th, anything under that it's just too spooky. I don't know if everybody will but I have had real good luck with the transmission, not so good with other stuff.



Remember I do drive it too... . 17,000 last year!



Jim

 

[Stefan Kondolay]

Jim remember you don't make enough power. :-laf :-laf

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Well see what happens, this will probably be my last year at this!



Jim

 

[Swayse]

I'm gonna send my DTT converter in for warranty, I'm betting it's defective. Installer doesn't have time this month to work on my truck, so I'll just do it my self. It might take me awhile, I can only work on it a few hours a day, but at least I have a nice barn and a trany jack.

 

[Fred Swanson]

Swayse, what was the outcome of your issue? Was it determined what was causing the TC to slip in lockup?

 

[Swayse]

I went ahead and just got a suncoast 5 disk converter. Got through with the install monday night. It works awesome. When you hit the lock up switch, it locks up, everytime. No slip at all when it's locked up.



Had lots of trash in the pan, metal and clutch fiber. I flushed out the cooler lines the best I could, and I'm gonna change the trans oil in a few hundred miles. I'm gonna risk it with just replacing the converter and not going through the whole trans, I think it will be alright, I didn't run it very long when it was slipping. If I start to have trouble again, I'll just take it to a trans guy in Amarillo.



I'm gonna send in my DTT converter for warranty, and then sell it. I'm real hard on my stuff I guess, didn't think I was. Maybe it was just a defective converter, it one of the first ones from the new makers of DTT converters.

 

[Cooker]

Had lots of trash in the pan, metal and clutch fiber.

If there was a bunch of metal in the pan it sounds like there is some internal issues with the transmission. I hope it all holds together well for you.

 

[Swayse]

If there was a bunch of metal in the pan it sounds like there is some internal issues with the transmission. I hope it all holds together well for you.

The drain plug look like it had spike hair cut. I'm a little worried that the converter trashed out the rest of the trans, but I think I caught it in time, time will tell. But what I think is a bunch, other people may think is normal. I'm not sure the cooler lines were flushed after the last time the trans took a dump.

 

[fox]

I'm being critical, but you may have contaminated the first converter, and are willing to risk that again?



I see why trans shops don't like to sell parts!!!!

 

[Swayse]

It's worth the risk to me to try this, if it does go all bad, a torque converter refresh from suncoast is not a lot of money, and that's all I'd be out. If there is any damage, it has already been done. The oil will tell the story in a few weeks.

 

[Swayse]

I'm being critical, but you may have contaminated the first converter, and are willing to risk that again?



I see why trans shops don't like to sell parts!!!!

I didn't rebuild it the first time, it was a DTT installer. This is the first time I've worked on it myself.



I had a whole big rant all written up, I got all defensive and everything. I deleted all that. Trans and lock up have never worked this good, end of story. I pulled a trailer today, only 7,000 pounds, but it worked flawless. Everytime I hit the lock up swith, it locked up. 200 miles and going strong.

 

[GLASMITHS]

Who was your DTT installer?