34 vs 36 element sprag
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 374
From: Armstrong BC
34 vs 36 element sprag Hey guys just kinda looking for some opinions, so I've for a 4l80e transmission rebuilt with Jake's LVL 3 kit and recalibration kit plus we added a billet main shaft in there as well.
I finally get the car running and been doing mainly highway runs to get the motor broken in, it's a iron block forged 370 with a vs racing billet 80mm t6 turbo. On this past Saturday as I was heading into town to get some fuel a shitty brand fuel pump died but I noticed that 2nd gear left the party. It was another neutral. I run a Holley Dominator ECU and had my laptop and was watching the gear shifts when it was in D and it just skipped right past 2nd. Line pressures and temperatures were all fine and where they should be.
I've been talking with my driveline guy who built the transmission and he thought it was rather strange that happened and thinks the sprag on the direct drum might have blown out. It's the 34 element that came in the rebuild kit. I don't really want a sprag to become a recurring issue if I can help it. I mentioned to him that Coan racing has a custom steel direct drum with a 36 sprag and 5 clutches. He goes on to say that it will shift really hard like break the wheels loose kind of shifting, so how big a difference is it really?? Is anybody here running a 5 clutch direct drum with a 36 element sprag??
I'm all ears for any and all opinions on this. Thanks in advance everybody
I finally get the car running and been doing mainly highway runs to get the motor broken in, it's a iron block forged 370 with a vs racing billet 80mm t6 turbo. On this past Saturday as I was heading into town to get some fuel a shitty brand fuel pump died but I noticed that 2nd gear left the party. It was another neutral. I run a Holley Dominator ECU and had my laptop and was watching the gear shifts when it was in D and it just skipped right past 2nd. Line pressures and temperatures were all fine and where they should be.
I've been talking with my driveline guy who built the transmission and he thought it was rather strange that happened and thinks the sprag on the direct drum might have blown out. It's the 34 element that came in the rebuild kit. I don't really want a sprag to become a recurring issue if I can help it. I mentioned to him that Coan racing has a custom steel direct drum with a 36 sprag and 5 clutches. He goes on to say that it will shift really hard like break the wheels loose kind of shifting, so how big a difference is it really?? Is anybody here running a 5 clutch direct drum with a 36 element sprag??
I'm all ears for any and all opinions on this. Thanks in advance everybody
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,614
Likes: 1,326
From: Iowa
sounds like whoever you have building your transmission doesn't know what he's talking about
You can run a 36 element with as few as 3 clutches and as many as 6 or 7 clutches
and you can make it shift firm or soft
I recommend a 4 clutch setup for almost anything running an iron 36 element drum. It will be just fine.
You can run a 36 element with as few as 3 clutches and as many as 6 or 7 clutches
and you can make it shift firm or soft
I recommend a 4 clutch setup for almost anything running an iron 36 element drum. It will be just fine.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 374
From: Armstrong BC
sounds like whoever you have building your transmission doesn't know what he's talking about
You can run a 36 element with as few as 3 clutches and as many as 6 or 7 clutches
and you can make it shift firm or soft
I recommend a 4 clutch setup for almost anything running an iron 36 element drum. It will be just fine.
You can run a 36 element with as few as 3 clutches and as many as 6 or 7 clutches
and you can make it shift firm or soft
I recommend a 4 clutch setup for almost anything running an iron 36 element drum. It will be just fine.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
Honestly, I do not run into any issues with the Intermediate Clutch not holding up to Power.
The Intermediate Sprag is another story (the 34-E is a great upgrade over the 16-E, and the 36-E is a great upgrade over the 34-E).
As long as you keep the Intermediate Clutch cool with Lube-Oil...
You can run almost any Friction.
I will say that the increase in height that the 36-Element Outer-Race provides; make the room for more Clutches (if you really needed them).
The Intermediate Sprag is another story (the 34-E is a great upgrade over the 16-E, and the 36-E is a great upgrade over the 34-E).
As long as you keep the Intermediate Clutch cool with Lube-Oil...
You can run almost any Friction.
I will say that the increase in height that the 36-Element Outer-Race provides; make the room for more Clutches (if you really needed them).
