Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) transmission stuff

[JStoll]

so when I put in the transgo TFOD kit I got a shaving or something stuck in a valve or passage and the trans bound a little between 2nd and third... did not seem like much at the time but the fluid was burned a bit... I pulled the VB and flushed the trans and it works really well at WOT in 4th lock at low RPM (1500 ) and full boost I get maybe 150rpm of slip from the trans... and third shift isent as crisp as the rest.. Ive played with the band adjustment a bit and third shift remains the same...i believe that I cooked the direct clutch a bit and am going to go through the trans... just clutches, second gear band and seals... on ebay they have some nice red eagle kits http://www.ebay.com/itm/270998419914 I was thinking of this one... I will be leaving the stock shafts and doubt Ill ever get my truck over 500HP ... how do stock clutch count kits hold up at that HP level... am I wasting money going with the powerpack kits if Im running allot of line pressure? are there any kits anyone here would recommend?

thanks in advance
JAK

 

[JStoll]

last night I was driving and downshifted to third and locked the converter... i started to get a sound... like a rapid ticking ...which went way when I hit the od button and it shifted to 4th ... when I got off the highway I thougnt I heard the sound at low speeds but much quieter and today there is no noise at all and the trans is shifting normally... the fluid looks good... I thought it might have been a U joint which I noticed was stiff when I put the converter in ... I replaced that U joind and that U joint was full of grease and not bad..was not the cause of sound... Im thinking something got into overdrive and passed out... Im going to buy the kit I showed above but was hoping for some advise on it.... Im thinking these trucks are older now and maybe folks may have moved onto newer stuff??

take care
JAK

 

[Thump]

I don't have anything to add except be careful buying the red frictions online. We use the Alto Red Eagles in our offroad race car. We were in a pinch and ordered online (ebay or Amazon, can't recall) earlier this year. Continued that rush due to a race coming quick by getting te trans together and in the car. We didn't make the race.
Instead, we got hosed... the trans appeared to be fine sitting and shifting through gears (reverse manual valve body) going slow. When we stepped on it, though, you'd think we were empty of fluid or the trans was made of ice it slipped so bad. Just no line pressure at all.
Pulled the trans back out (not easy... interior comes out and trans comes through the window opening). Opened the pan and the filter had this red fluff all over it. The frictions had just sloughed all over the place. We got our old frictions out of the trash and saw the difference immediately. Ordered the master kit and a couple spare packs and had a great Nationals race until we, literally, got run over.

Note: Alto Red Eagle frictions that I've used (TH350, 400, and 4L/6L GM trans) have a hash-like design and say Raybestos on the friction material (design looks like the frictions in the link here: #ad
)
The knock offs we got even came in the Alto box. So, make sure you get from an authorized distributor or risk a second complete rebuild to defluff your trans and possibly (like us) have to buy a new torque converter.

 

[JStoll]

thanks for your response ... I will look out for the disks you mention above... Im looking into a BD kit which looks comperable for about the same price... the disks shown in the picture on ebay have the texture shown on your link and I can ask them as well ...
thanks again for your time
JAK

 

[JStoll]

so my trans I believe buzzed a bit again tonight... on the highway 4th locked ... poped it into neutral and sound went down with RPM but also increased pitch with speed,, then it just went away... I think I have clutches coming apart ...getting where the bits can make noise and pass into the pan and the noise passes ... its odd that it shifts normally and dosent slip... 35psi 4th locked I may drop the pan tomorrow... the kit I have in my cart on ebay is from trans parts online... I think Im going to go with that one.... if they are smooth Ill send it back... the picture shows them textured.... my other car is a 100+ WHP Sportster and its getting cold here in Kentucky so i gotta get on it
have a great weekend
JAK

 

[JStoll]

I have not pulled the pan to confirm this but I believe the noise Ive gotten is one of the spring clips from my overdrive unit breaking up and going into my pan... the trans will continue to work for a while... Ill put the stuff together to build a stronger trans and deal with it in the spring... the kit I showed above is what is coming ... it has the grooved frictions

take care
JAK

 

[JStoll]

lost reverse and cannot downshift to first on my way back from lunch today.... I finally figured it out... when I put the kit in my valve body... the chunk of crap or whatever applied the reverse band slightly... not the front band and third... it burned the friction material on the reverse band and it has been falling off little by little ... Im going to dump the fluid tomorrow and tighten the band up and be really gentle with reverse until I can rebuild it in the next few weeks...
Ill buy another reverse drum and band ...

take care
JAK

 

[JStoll]

pulled apart the overdrive tonight and found that the wavy clip broke on the direct clutch pack... the pressure plate then came out of the front of the drum... the drum, the hub and the pressure plate are bad... my truck is stuck in my stall at work I work for BMW Im sure the management will be anxious to get my truck out of my stall I dont know if my local trans parts supplier has these hard parts or not and weather they will be open monday the 26th but if its yes and yes ill be able to drive backwards again monday
I dont think the failure was related to the shift kit hickup.. the direct and overdrive clutches were burned ...

take care
JAK

 

[JStoll]

got my truck back together tonight took about 2 hours to assemble and install the overdrive... have alto red eagle clutches and kolene steels... the alto clutches method of measuring for the selectable spacer was different then the manual... they want you to leave the forward most wire snap ring out... and fit the piston with the spacer and bearing onto the overdrive, using a feeler gauge you measure the distance from the upper steel to the piston.. they wanted .115 -.095 ... I took a piece of putty and put on top of the steel and then smashed it down with the piston... pulled the putty off and measured it... set it to .113 then re installed the wire snap ring.. and it shifts perfectly Im looking forward to the spring when I do the front half of the trans... I think Ill go ahead and buy a billet input shaft ... and put that in... when I do the front half ...my old clutches were burnt in the overdrive... both the overdrive and direct... Im glad to have reverse back not afraid of small tight parking lots now

happy new year
JAK

 

[DonFitzwater]

BMW dealer huh?

 

[JStoll]

yeah the funny thing about it is that when I rack my truck the bed hangs out the door...so in the winter I have to be quick with the truck on the rack.. yesterday I turned off the heaters as to not waste gas and banged it out pretty quick... Ive been in the trade 35 years and have worked on saw mills, farm equipment, exotic cars... BMW is a good gig.. Id rather work for myself but its a good job... dont tell my boss I said that
happy new year

 

[DonFitzwater]

I have heard from several BMW techs that it is a good brand to work for. Good for you!

 

[KOG]

I have that out the door problem with my 17ft flatbed

 

[JStoll]

I have that out the door problem with my 17ft flatbed

I'll bet mine is 10 foot
Jak