hi,

last night was the first time i did any real towing with my truck (97 2wd). truck has 166k.

the truck was loaded with about 5500lbs of weight (3 smaller motorcycles in the bed and a smaller car on a 1680lb car hauler), accelerating onto on-ramps to the highway i would run it up to about 55 out of OD, when it would hit lockup in 3rd i would flip my manual TC lockup switch. at 55-60 i would then turn OD back on and release the throttle and let the trans shift into 4th gear with very little load and then continue accelerating after the gear was completely engaged.

the problem i was having is the transmission seems to slip under heavier load, the truck still accelerated normally-quickly (depending on what you define as normal or quick) but under higher throttle (more then 2/3 pedal) the engine flares up over the truck accelerating (TC lock switch on). the truck still accelerates decently but its not a positive lock like it should be. I also noticed it does the same thing in 3rd gear if you are on the throttle hard as well, but not as bad (better gearing advantage for the frictions im assuming?).

mainly i'm trying to figure out if its the converter, forward clutches, or OD clutches that are slipping (or a combination of the three). the fluid is normal in color and smell nor does trans temp flare up when its "slipping". Shifts feel firm and positive, converter has the typical loose feeling (as i imagine from people describing it, with converter unlocked it runs about 2100-2250rpm under medium/heavy throttle with that load)

other then that, it towed like a champ. fuel economy was a little disappointing however, averaged 16mpg on basically a steady 70mph cruise along with keeping the egts less then 1k (even accelerating) with only a few minor grades (mid west) ~400mi trip. truck is stock minus BHAF, has 3.54 final drive.

 

Its the TC clutch typically that slipps .. low line pressure will cause problems .. need to get to a trans shop and get the pressures ... Keep us posted ..

 

i was thinking about building some pressure lines and a couple gauges and testing line pressure myself

 

It would be a good Idea before you kill the TC or the trans ..

The good news .. the front half of the trans is a cake walk to rebuild .. the O/D section requires some skills and a few special tools also ..

 

the OD is easy, ive worked in a trans shop (4l60 bread and butter all day), and I just finished my engineering degree (along with rebuilding a few other transmissions for my own toys). It will just give me a good excuse to buy a welder so i can make a press tool and stick it in my shop press.

 

Yeah the 47re/rh has some beefy 800# spring in it .. so yeah .. dont just pop it apart .. could be dangerous .. LOL

So .. where do you live ? .. I would like to do my trans work my self as well ... need some helping hands and know how along the way to ensure it gets done right .. Pm me ..

 

Southern Indiana right now, but I'm currently without job and applying all over the country so who knows where I'll be by the time I take the trans out.

 

Kewl .. well the truck shops need help .... Learn to work on Buses .. thats what I do .. but I'm 175 and I'm flexable enough to jam my self under a bus with no air or in an engine bay to crawl around the back side .. etc .. if your over 200#'s .. dont try to work on buses .. its tight fitting .. I'm 6' 175 .. its rediculas ..

 

Not about that shop life, hence why I spent the time and money to get a 4yr in engineering

 

LOL... I can totally understand ... after my recent injury to my Right shoulder ... Looks like I might have to look into something new... How much math is involved in engineering .. ... Nuff said ... They say that I use Algebra all the time .. so ... where did the X and the Y go in my job exactly ??