my 89T is an Auto. obviously 5spd's are more powerful and lighter, but is the tranny buildable to consistently withstand 400-500hp(where i would like to be some day). I thought about the option of swapping it for a 5spd, but after i had bought the car, fixed it, then did the swap, all that work and money would be the equivelant to buying a good condition stock 5spd(in other words TIME WASTED). I dont know to much about auto tranny's and i know you can buy high power torque convertors and such but im just kinda wondering what to do and if it can be done.
Fast and Automatic? same sentence or no?
- Thread starter 89Turbo
- Start date
I don't think so. The only people I am aware of with autos that are fast and running big torque are the folks running TH350 or TH400 autos.
for you yanks (thats ozzy speak for all people from the US of A - we dont give a fark north, south, east or west your all yanks!)
it seems impossable / too hard for you to build A3040LE transmissions where over here we have a few cars that are dayly drivers with autos pulling 11sec 1/4's and not needing a rebuild after every race!
it seems impossable / too hard for you to build A3040LE transmissions where over here we have a few cars that are dayly drivers with autos pulling 11sec 1/4's and not needing a rebuild after every race!
I believe it can be done. Check out http://www.importperformancetrans.com/toyotaauto.shtml.
Quote from their site...
"NOTE: This unit is the strongest configuration that can be achieved with this Toyota transmission. However, if you are running much faster than 9.99 we recommend the installation of a domestic three speed or Powerglide transmission. These units also enable you to enjoy the many benefits of a Trans Brake and 8", 9", or 10" torque converter. See our specialty RWD section or call us for details."
It kinda gives you a both ways option. Frankly I'm not looking to run faster than 9.99, so I'm probably going to go with the A340 and a suprastick controller in the future
Quote from their site...
"NOTE: This unit is the strongest configuration that can be achieved with this Toyota transmission. However, if you are running much faster than 9.99 we recommend the installation of a domestic three speed or Powerglide transmission. These units also enable you to enjoy the many benefits of a Trans Brake and 8", 9", or 10" torque converter. See our specialty RWD section or call us for details."
It kinda gives you a both ways option. Frankly I'm not looking to run faster than 9.99, so I'm probably going to go with the A340 and a suprastick controller in the future
fresh fluids and a good tranny cooler the stock auto will do fine til around 350rw. some have pushed more than that, but its pushing it pretty hard. the clutches are the first to go, then the next weak link is the 2nd gear sprag.
i have an upgraded 340 in my car now and has survived for several years at more than 400rwtq. i havent ran more than 10psi yet but so far so good. i am considering doing a 350/400 swap in the future tho. they are by far stronger and a little better geared for drag racing.
i have an upgraded 340 in my car now and has survived for several years at more than 400rwtq. i havent ran more than 10psi yet but so far so good. i am considering doing a 350/400 swap in the future tho. they are by far stronger and a little better geared for drag racing.
M
mrfaaast
Guest
I am trying my best to destroy my auto so that I can convert it to manu after that. I have everything nessesery for the swap so now I am just trying to make my shimsed auto tranny die, but it seems to hold it together against all odds (my old auto tranny broke on my first track day). Hmm we will see but so far everybody over here with any power (MKIII) has gone from auto-->manu.
brg//M
brg//M
Automatics are the way to go when drag racing. Even more so with a turbo car. You can build boost off the line, perhaps even peak boost and you do not lose any boost between shifts.
Mine has survived (so far!) to more than 300whp. I had noticed that lately it seems to be downshifting alot harder though. Just getting into my son's slightly modded WRX 5-speed though, is almost reason enough to want to ditch the auto!:biglaugh: Who doesn't like the sound of a Greddy Type-RS bov x 4?!:love:
i have taken all this info into consideration and for the time being im going to leave it stock(im at stock hp) and when the time comes i need to make a high power decision i am going to but the high performance rebuild kit from the provided site and a high powered torque convertor, thanks for all of your quick input.
HEAT KILLS an auto tranny... Bottom line, you keep it cool, then you can can up the power... Bob was running 10s on a stock auto... It IS possible... But you need to take precautions... One of your best pieces of insurance is a tranny cooler... Also, take care of your tranny, flush it and replace the fluids...
I used to own an 88T auto, and I was going well into the 300s with it... The guy that bought it from me should be closer to 400 than me, and he says its holding up great... I used to hate when people would say ignorant shit like: AWWW, its turbo and auto? That sucks, all turbo cars should be 5 sp! I mean, 5sp is fun, but there are times in my 5sp I miss my auto...
So dont worry guy, yur auto CAN be fast, if done right...
Jake
I used to own an 88T auto, and I was going well into the 300s with it... The guy that bought it from me should be closer to 400 than me, and he says its holding up great... I used to hate when people would say ignorant shit like: AWWW, its turbo and auto? That sucks, all turbo cars should be 5 sp! I mean, 5sp is fun, but there are times in my 5sp I miss my auto...
So dont worry guy, yur auto CAN be fast, if done right...
Jake
I know what you mean and agree completely. A Z06 type performing car was NEVER Toyotas intention of our Supra(MA70). The Japanese supercar market shifting brought out the JZA80. So Toyota took away our very well around mannered car and gave us the Lex SC. I am speaking only of our markets, not Euro or far east.
"Muscle meets Manners" was a story for the 91 Supra turbo, and it hits the nail on the head.
Turbos love automatic trannies. B/c once you hit boost it doesn't leave until you let go of the gas.
yea, im hella scared to bump up the boost on my auto and its really young and hasnt been raced or reved very much at all.
flush royal purple, same here felt the difference
the tranny cooler does a good job.
i dont know much else that can be done to an auto without taking it off and rebuilding, the thing that sops me is the damn cost. its cheeper to go r154.
flush royal purple, same here felt the difference
the tranny cooler does a good job.
i dont know much else that can be done to an auto without taking it off and rebuilding, the thing that sops me is the damn cost. its cheeper to go r154.
Keep them cool & you'll be much better off. How much they can take is another story that I don't know the answer to.
As for spending mega bucks on an IPT tranny and the like, I'll recommend that you shouldn't. I called dialaclutch.com (I think that's the site, I'll have to check) & told them what I wanted to put in more clutches & steel friction plates. They did some calculations & reconfigured the thicknesses & quantities of clutches & friction plates. They sent me their banner rebuild set made up with Raybesto 'blue plate' clutches (according to them, they are the same ones IPT uses) for $202.00 delivered.
I pulled the tranny, took it to my local tranny shop & they did all of the work (plus they used stronger springs in the valve body giving it better, tighter shifts) for $350.00 & then I put it back in. I did have to replace the kick down cable (close to $100 from Toyota :nono: ) & buy a cooler, but when all said & done, I paid a total of $760 for the whole rebuild.
Word of wisdom, don't let any little kids 'help' you when working on your car. My then 5 year old decided that the line leading out of the cooler and back into the tranny needed a 10p nail in it. It didn't cause a total blockage, but it slowed the flow down enough to cause it start slipping. I got the nail out & changed the fluid & it holds great.
As for spending mega bucks on an IPT tranny and the like, I'll recommend that you shouldn't. I called dialaclutch.com (I think that's the site, I'll have to check) & told them what I wanted to put in more clutches & steel friction plates. They did some calculations & reconfigured the thicknesses & quantities of clutches & friction plates. They sent me their banner rebuild set made up with Raybesto 'blue plate' clutches (according to them, they are the same ones IPT uses) for $202.00 delivered.
I pulled the tranny, took it to my local tranny shop & they did all of the work (plus they used stronger springs in the valve body giving it better, tighter shifts) for $350.00 & then I put it back in. I did have to replace the kick down cable (close to $100 from Toyota :nono: ) & buy a cooler, but when all said & done, I paid a total of $760 for the whole rebuild.
Word of wisdom, don't let any little kids 'help' you when working on your car. My then 5 year old decided that the line leading out of the cooler and back into the tranny needed a 10p nail in it. It didn't cause a total blockage, but it slowed the flow down enough to cause it start slipping. I got the nail out & changed the fluid & it holds great.
Yup,cleaning out your dam fluids and filter is important. My tranny turned to crap because of contaminated fluids. I caught the damage a little too late, and now my over-drive is shot,
I've been looking to doing the 5-speed swap,but I like it being an automatic.
I've been looking to doing the 5-speed swap,but I like it being an automatic.
I faced with this predicament. I cant decide whether I want to go TH400 or 5spd. But My car is nearing the 400 mark and hopefully will be there by...ohh...next week. I am probably going to just put a tranny cooler in and run it as long as it will last then think about a swap.
I recently spoke with a gentlemen named Bill at Cres-o-matic Transmissions in Hawaiian Gardens CA. This guy has 30 years experience building nothing but Autos, he told me that the Supra Auto is a very robust transmission and can be built at a resonable price for performance. Give him a call and tell him his Supra buddy recommended you.
Suprageezer
Suprageezer