4R70W Problem with new mods

[ForgedBlack01gt]

Still ongoing at the bottum of this page

The tranny had no problems whatsoever for 72,000 roughly. I started thinking I should add to it and I got into a problem. I added at B&M tranny cooler, a Performance Automatic 3200 stall torq convertor (supposedly custom built for the car but had to drill out holes in the flex plate to fit it on there as per Brothers Performance's directions), and JBA short tube headers recently to my list all from Brothers Performance. The car ran great for 500 miles roughly (Bay Area to San Diego) over memorial weekend (go stop traffic and periods of going 80-90 for a couple hours straight). Accidently bought regular mercon/dextron III for it instead of mercon V since that is all the place I went to had. I was going to go and switch it immediatly before driving it around once I realized it was the wrong stuff but left it in for the drive to San Diego as I was planning on getting a flush with new tranny filter and everything. Next day after going 30 miles to and from school a couple times my car fills with smoke. I pull over as quick as I can get across 5 lanes of traffic and tranny fluid was pooring all over my exhaust (The car was still downshifting because I was more concerned about getting out of the road than putting it in neutral). Towed it to ford. Now they say that my (used for 550 miles maximum) torq convertor needs to be replaced and the tranny's front pump's seal blew and the bearing in it went out.

What could have caused this? wrong fluid, bad install, upped shift pressure from my Superchips tuner, bad torq convertor or anything for the last 72,000 miles, not getting the car out of gear immediatly, a combination?

Now I might replace it and what is the best AUTOMATIC transmission I could drop in this car as I am thinking that my tranny is probably on its way out even if I fix it. This is my daily driver (on its way to 600hp+ once I am ready to add a power adder) so basically need a tranny that could handle a track day everyday with like 800 horsepower. Will I need a computer chip for the different tranny? I dont think that cost is an issue.

 

[Dark Knight GT]

EDIT: The reason why the transmission blew could be a number of reasons. Putting standard base Mercon III in there was a bad idea from the beginning. I wouldn't do that to a stock GT let alone a modified one with a high stall converter. Either way, it doesn't matter. The transmission is blew.

If you are looking to replace the entire transmission, you can either repair the 4r70w you have and upgrade things in it like by doing the Jerry mod, rebuilding the clutch packs and adding plates to them for more strength, replacing the converter with a smaller converter with a multi-disk clutch plate, and if the transmission is a pre98 model, you'll need to upgrade your accumulator pistons to the rubber bonded accumulator pistons found in the 98+ GT's.

You can go to the transmission tech articles for the 4r70w transmission at www.tccoa.com and read up on how to rebuild the transmission there for added strength. Jerry Wroblewski gives you an in-depth look at the transmission and how to rebuild it to meet the specs you need.

Or, you can get a high performance 4r70w automatic transmission from some place like Pefromance Automatic, Lentech transmission, or Art Carr and be done with it in a single step. Just give them a call and tell them what you're looking for.

Another quick note. Next transmission you get, whatever it is, I'de run something fully synthetic like Amsoil universal synthetic transmission fluid through it. This will help reduce both heat and friction and thus extend the life of the transmission. Be sure to change the filter and fluid as needed.

 

[prsrizdgt]

Maybe this will eliminate a possibility or confuse you more, but when I did all of my power mods 4 years and 5000 ago I added a shift kit to my tranny. Went to the local Ford dealer to get Mercon V fluid since that was what was written on the dipstick and in the owner's manual. They did not have any, and intentionally sold me Mercon III.......Since then I wind up doing at least one wide open throttle pull every time I get in the car, because it is so much damn fun to drive. I have made about 6 passes down the track in this time as well. I am putting out around 325RWHP and 340RWTQ......I also have a custom SCT tune with the highest shift pressures the program will alow the tuner to program in. Tranny has 55,000 on it.....to date I have had zero issues with this trans. It hits hard every time, no slippage, no smoke, no problems...with Mercon III.

 

[YardSpecial]

Read about the fluid to use here:

http://www.tccoa.com/articles/tranny/index.html#

 

[ForgedBlack01gt]

From what I gathered I am almost definate I got a bad Torq convertor ......... Brothers isnt being any help except trying to sell us more parts. I guess I will be getting my supercharger, rear end, suspension and tranny done at a different shop since they are practicing bad business. Already got my engine built by a different shop because the guy at Brothers was being a smart ass and treating me like a little kid because I was asking about strokers.

 

[ForgedBlack01gt]

Now I got a 8 bolt flexplate instead of an 6 bolt even though I ordered a 6 bolt and my reciept says a 6 bolt. I messed up and bought my tranny from Brothers Performance. They talked me into downgrading to a 2400 RPM stall convertor too (Good idea?)......... going on 4 weeks since I was supposed to have everything in a week. they didn't charge my dad for the new convertor though? I went there waiting for them to open after driving a 100 miles to pick up my transmission and everything and it took them 40 minutes after they were supposed to be open to open too .......... I got there an hour early waiting for them to open and they lagged hard core .......... guys that work there and were waiting for their boss said there boss had blown his motor twice in a month ...... the item numbers don't match completely for my transmission either ........ I am wondering if it is wrong too ....... thinking about taking everything back .......... I am soo frustrated about this that I am thinking of trying to take them to small claims court for rental of a vehicle to use and the charges ford is is about to start giving me to store my vehicle :damnit:

 

[ForgedBlack01gt]

oh yeah and they say that it is common practice to drill out the stock flexplate to fit the bigger torque convertor? anyone done this? I need my car asap but I need it not to blow my tranny again ........ someone on modular depot correctly assumed that I drilled out the holes in the divits that were on it by hand. think that blew the tranny's pump etc?

 

[ForgedBlack01gt]

I need to know about drilling the flexplate to fix the torque convertor ...... this is too long of an ongoing ordeal ....... they sent me a flexplate made by Performance Automatic that needs to be drilled to fit a Performance Automatic torque convertor after they had already sent me one for a 8 bolt crank Brothers Performance has to be full of retards when the only reason we ordered a new Performance Automatic flexplate was because we didn't want to be responsible for any problems with this transmission and have it be blamed on drilling the holes or anything like that ........ I am almost thinking of taking everything back and fixing my old transmission at Ford ............. :damnit: ....... Has anyone else had these problems with Brothers Performance in Corona California?

 

[ProCharger GT]

Ok. First off, from experience, DON'T go back to a place that has already screwed you over once. If there is somewhere else to go, that's what I would have done. I had a PI triple disc locking TC (2800 RPM) installed at my local tranny shop 2 years ago with no problems. I personally have never heard about drilling the flex plate to the converter; I would think if it had been made to fit the car/transmission properly there would be no need for drilling ANYTHING like that. Call PA and tell them the model of the TC you have and make sure it's the correct model for your vehicle. Have it installed at a reputable tranny shop if everything checks out ok from PA; make sure you tell them what happened and how Brother's has been giving you the run around.

If you can't go that route, send all that **** back and either go to Lentech, or do what I did and build up your own 4R70W. Using the info off the TCCOA website, you can make a very strong transmission - Jerry Wroblewski designed the 4R70W when he used to work for Ford...so...he knows it inside and out.

 

[ForgedBlack01gt]

Only went back so I could get my torque convertor fixed for free ....... they were making me think it was Performance Automatic that was screwing up (like that makes it any better) but considering they handed me an 8 bolt flex plate that was clearly marked as such I don't know anymore ........ PA claims FORD makes two different sized torque convertors for the transmission and that they are interchangeable if you drill out the holes but I can't call on my cell phone so I can't record the call ....... plan on recording the call with Brothers and if it blows again I will sue them for both transmissions

 

[ProCharger GT]

2 different sized torque converters? When I ordered mine from ASSC Racing, I told them exactly what I needed, I got the TC (with no flex plate) stalled perfectly at 2800 RPM's - installed with no issues whatsoever. I would go straight to PA since they manufacture the stuff, and ask them wtf is going on.

 

[tjm73]

Only went back so I could get my torque convertor fixed for free ....... they were making me think it was Performance Automatic that was screwing up (like that makes it any better) but considering they handed me an 8 bolt flex plate that was clearly marked as such I don't know anymore ........ PA claims FORD makes two different sized torque convertors for the transmission and that they are interchangeable if you drill out the holes but I can't call on my cell phone so I can't record the call ....... plan on recording the call with Brothers and if it blows again I will sue them for both transmissions

You may want to talk to a lawyer before you record a phone call. If you do it without the other parties consent/knowledge, it'll be illegal and you could be sued and it would not be admisable in court. Do it with their knowledge and it still may not be admisable in court.

I'd handle everything in writing. Fax, email or traditional letter. But that's just me. Save it all.

 

[ForgedBlack01gt]

Now I found out the transmission is the wrong one after Ford installed it and there are only 2 holes when there are supposed to be 3 for the transmission starter. Called Performance Automatic and they said it is for a 5.0 if it has 2 bolt starter holes. Better bet these guys are going to court if I get charged for their mess ups.

 

[67efivert]

how do u install a 5.0 trans to a 4.6 thats not possible??????