next dragon to slay for the Netters, transmissions

[thomas g. warner]

Now that everyone solved the issue of the front wheel bearings, its time to
slay another dragon.

The other thing I am leary of is the transmission. Is it weak? I have heard
a lot of owners complain that they go thru them like pop corn. Lets find out
how many have had problems with it, at what mileage, who repaired it and for
how much. I would also like to know how many used their original torque
converter with the new tranny or who replaced it also. If you replaced it
with another whose was it? have you made any modifications to it and what
were they.

After we beat this thing to death I would like to come up with a list of
changes to make to the tranny to increase its life and make it more reliable.

Any one want to weigh in on the discussion?

Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
"The beautiful Mohawk Vally"

 

[heinz wittenbecher]

>Now that everyone solved the issue of the front wheel bearings, its time to
>slay another dragon.
>
>The other thing I am leary of is the transmission. Is it weak? I have heard
>a lot of owners complain that they go thru them like pop corn

I'll bite

First tranny went at approx 75k (coach sat for a few years before I aquired
it),
and the second time at approx 220k

Both times I made it to a shop. Approx repair bill was 1600 each time.

At second overhaul I went with Caspro 3.50 Power Drive.

Have changed to synthetic ATF since last overhaul.

Had a modulator valve fail since last overhaul.

First symptom: something went clunk and I lost high gear. Was able to nurse
it back to San Antonio (about 50 miles or so).

Same second time, except no "clunk". For quite a while before finally giving
up it would slip going up a hill from a standing start (steep driveway type
of hills) requiring manual downshift.

Torque converter was replaced with whatever the shop recommended,
i.e.nothing special was ordered.

Heinz
'76 Transmode

 

[john dolan]

Mine went at 57000 with the same slipping going up steep driveways. Made
it to the repair shop, and since this was before the Black List, AAmco
was the best I could do, not knowing the area.

Transmission and torque converter replaced with rebuilt Aamco stuff, I
let them do what they thought best, but asked for their 6 months
warrantee. Don't think they would sell me their lifetime, warantee.
They just said N/A to that. Good thing I got that 6 month though,
because, we finally got to take that interrupted vacation only to lose
first gear 1300 miles later. No slipping this time, but always starting
out in second gear. Like starting out in S. AAMCO said it must have been
some contamination from the first failure that was not flushed out
completely. However it took most of another day, to fix that at no
charge. Tab was 1375 plus tax.

- --
"I do whatever my Rice Krispies tell me to..." John said, from inside a
1974 Glacier.

 

[hdavis]

>Now that everyone solved the issue of the front wheel bearings, its time to
>slay another dragon.
>
>The other thing I am leary of is the transmission. Is it weak? I have heard
>a lot of owners complain that they go thru them like pop corn. Lets find out
>how many have had problems with it, at what mileage, who repaired it and for
>how much. I would also like to know how many used their original torque
>converter with the new tranny or who replaced it also. If you replaced it
>with another whose was it? have you made any modifications to it and what
>were they.

Stock 1976 tranny in Palm Beach. 75k miles of which my wife and I put on
10k. Not to jinx myself, but so far the tranny is working fine - no
interior mods. I put a Ragusa pan on before we did the cross country trip.
>From the feel of the dip stick I *think* that it helped drop the temp some.
No guage so I can't contribute facts on that point.

My main complaint is that the torgue converter leaks down and causes
overflow if the coach sits for a week or two. An overflow tube
(modification) directs the fluid away from the exhaust. Dip stick is a long
replacement that allows checking form the front - a great improvement!

In the Royale, Winterfeltd rebuild with 3.42 final drive. I'll let you
know what I think when it's all put back together.

Henry
Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
ph: (831) 462-5199 / full service marketing
fax: (831) 462-5198
http://www.henry-davis.com/ http://www.henry-davis.com

 

[bdub]

1976 Palm Beach, ~87k on odometer, tranny never been touched that I can
tell, and I have extensive receipts from way back. No slippage, nice clean
shifts, nice red aromatic fluid.

I'm knocking on good solid WOOD!

Hope this helps

bdub

...snip.........
>The other thing I am leary of is the transmission. Is it weak? I have heard
>a lot of owners complain that they go thru them like pop corn. Lets find out
>how many have had problems with it, at what mileage, who repaired it and for
>how much. I would also like to know how many used their original torque
>converter with the new tranny or who replaced it also. If you replaced it
>with another whose was it? have you made any modifications to it and what
>were they.

 

[edgar t. kremer]

My 1977 Palm Beach has 175,000 miles on the xmission. I installed the Caspro
shift kit many thousands of miles ago. At that time it did include a new
modulator. One was sold as a separate item. I purchased the identical part at
NAPA. If anyone wants the number, I'll search my records for it.

>
> The other thing I am leary of is the transmission. Is it weak? I have heard
> a lot of owners complain that they go thru them like pop corn. Lets find out
> how many have had problems with it, at what mileage, who repaired it and for
> how much. I would also like to know how many used their original torque
> converter with the new tranny or who replaced it also. If you replaced it
> with another whose was it? have you made any modifications to it and what
> were they.