TransGo and tranny cooler ?s
TransGo and tranny cooler ?s OK guys time for a couple of serious questions.
I’m installing a Yank ST3500 converter in the 2000 Formula.
1. Do I really NEED a tranny cooler?
Now before you jump right off and say yes. I’ve heard all the parrot responses. As a matter of fact I may have parroted a few myself. Today’s’ converters are very efficient. Do they cause enough extra heat to be a problem? These are lock-up converters and only slip when unlocked. Which isn’t that often during normal driving. Now at the track it is going to be unlocked for the whole pass.
2. Has anyone done stock vs. higher stall tranny temp comparisons?
3. Do the temps go up that much? Yank says that you don’t need a cooler. I hate to add the extra weight and expense if I don’t need it.
Next issue.
I have an HPP for the car. So I can increase the shift firmness electronically. Anywhere from stock to neck breaking.
4. Do I need a TransGo shift kit to manually do the same thing?
5. If so, why would increasing the shift performance manually be better than electronically? Higher pressure is higher pressure. Right? I really hate the idea of spending the time and money to install a shift kit if my programmer, that I already have, will do the same thing.
Now before you answer any of these questions, can you come up with a why? I’ve been on the lists for many years and have heard repeatedly that you should put in a shift kit and tranny cooler with a high stall converter. But why? Are there any proven facts to back up these statements?
I’ll put anything on the car that I need to get the job done and not tear it up. But I’m too old and close to retirement to just put parts on because it sounds cool in my Internet signature.
Thanks in advance for your help.
I’m installing a Yank ST3500 converter in the 2000 Formula.
1. Do I really NEED a tranny cooler?
Now before you jump right off and say yes. I’ve heard all the parrot responses. As a matter of fact I may have parroted a few myself. Today’s’ converters are very efficient. Do they cause enough extra heat to be a problem? These are lock-up converters and only slip when unlocked. Which isn’t that often during normal driving. Now at the track it is going to be unlocked for the whole pass.
2. Has anyone done stock vs. higher stall tranny temp comparisons?
3. Do the temps go up that much? Yank says that you don’t need a cooler. I hate to add the extra weight and expense if I don’t need it.
Next issue.
I have an HPP for the car. So I can increase the shift firmness electronically. Anywhere from stock to neck breaking.
4. Do I need a TransGo shift kit to manually do the same thing?
5. If so, why would increasing the shift performance manually be better than electronically? Higher pressure is higher pressure. Right? I really hate the idea of spending the time and money to install a shift kit if my programmer, that I already have, will do the same thing.
Now before you answer any of these questions, can you come up with a why? I’ve been on the lists for many years and have heard repeatedly that you should put in a shift kit and tranny cooler with a high stall converter. But why? Are there any proven facts to back up these statements?
I’ll put anything on the car that I need to get the job done and not tear it up. But I’m too old and close to retirement to just put parts on because it sounds cool in my Internet signature.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Re: TransGo and tranny cooler ?s Better safe than sorry. For the little extra money now, you will be happy later. Now if u go to the track once in a blue moon, then I wouldn't worry about it. Mine blew after a year of racing. I now have a cooler installed. <img src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" border="0">
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,627
Likes: 2,543
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Re: TransGo and tranny cooler ?s Any time your tranny gets much over 200* your starting to stress the clutch packs. Even with a stock ‘verter you can go over 200 if you beat on it. My tranny cooler cost $45 (a B&M unit), and I installed it myself in about an hour. Isn’t a $45 cooler + easy install worth the extra insurance if you ride the car hard? I think yes. I don’t care how efficient modern ‘verters are, I have a SY3500 and in the summer time even with my fans set to come on early, and my trans cooler I still can get the trans over 200* with a few WOT runs.
About the shift kit. You don’t “need” it. It will firm up the shifts nicely, and firmer shifts tend to prolong the life of clutches, but some have also damaged front pumps with the harder shifts too, so you may be helping or harming depending on who you ask. The HPP3 shift firmenss has been known to do harm as it just increases line pressure at part throttle and really doesn’t do anything to prolong clutch life like a real shift kit would. Here’s the other problem with a shift kit: You have a 2000 year car, and they have something called torque management programmed into the PCM from the factory. TM pulls timing on WOT upshifts to help prolong tranny life. Some people that have used shift kits have seen the kits aggravate this TM system and cause severe negative timing for as much as half a gear. This is very bad for performance. Some have no issue with TM and others do (mainly ’01 and up years). It’s hit or miss, but not too many ’00 have TM issues. However, I have an ’00 and I had a TM issue even without a shift kit, so who knows <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0">
About the shift kit. You don’t “need” it. It will firm up the shifts nicely, and firmer shifts tend to prolong the life of clutches, but some have also damaged front pumps with the harder shifts too, so you may be helping or harming depending on who you ask. The HPP3 shift firmenss has been known to do harm as it just increases line pressure at part throttle and really doesn’t do anything to prolong clutch life like a real shift kit would. Here’s the other problem with a shift kit: You have a 2000 year car, and they have something called torque management programmed into the PCM from the factory. TM pulls timing on WOT upshifts to help prolong tranny life. Some people that have used shift kits have seen the kits aggravate this TM system and cause severe negative timing for as much as half a gear. This is very bad for performance. Some have no issue with TM and others do (mainly ’01 and up years). It’s hit or miss, but not too many ’00 have TM issues. However, I have an ’00 and I had a TM issue even without a shift kit, so who knows <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0">
