Strengthening an auto trans?, Is this possible? Just wanna weigh out my options Options

[UndecidedPC9397]

I heard from a friend of mine from my old work you can install titanium gearing into an auto trans, but sounded clugy but interested me so wanted some feedback on this, thanks.

[JozhGoober]

While I guess that would be theoretically possible, that much titanium would be prohibitively expensive (we're talking tens of thousands of dollars) and wouldn't actually do anything for strength. Pure titanium is only about as strong as steel, but it's much lighter.

Why would you want to strengthen an automatic transmission? I assume drag racing? Otherwise the E153 is a incredibly strong manual transmission, and it bolts right on.

[UndecidedPC9397]

While I guess that would be theoretically possible, that much titanium would be prohibitively expensive (we're talking tens of thousands of dollars) and wouldn't actually do anything for strength. Pure titanium is only about as strong as steel, but it's much lighter.

Why would you want to strengthen an automatic transmission? I assume drag racing? Otherwise the E153 is a incredibly strong manual transmission, and it bolts right on.

Mainly because its more precise shifting and swaps arent looking to be in my favor, and I had a feeling of as much with the titanium. Like I said, sounded cluegy. but are there parts in the auto trans that could be strengthened for if I wanted to lets say turbo on low boost? and how much can the auto withstand naturally out of the box?

[mandrek]

While I guess that would be theoretically possible, that much titanium would be prohibitively expensive (we're talking tens of thousands of dollars) and wouldn't actually do anything for strength. Pure titanium is only about as strong as steel, but it's much lighter.

Why would you want to strengthen an automatic transmission? I assume drag racing? Otherwise the E153 is a incredibly strong manual transmission, and it bolts right on.

Mainly because its more precise shifting and swaps arent looking to be in my favor, and I had a feeling of as much with the titanium. Like I said, sounded cluegy. but are there parts in the auto trans that could be strengthened for if I wanted to lets say turbo on low boost? and how much can the auto withstand naturally out of the box?

there are a few things that you can in theory do the strengthen any trans, and these would to autos as well.. depending on how far into it you want to go....

Getting to the guts of the trans, you can get the gears: shot peened, and or cryo treated. both of these essentialy work the metal to make it stronger.. are they end all solututions? no, but it will help..

there is also a process called " Isotropic Superfinishing" which puts a micro polish on all the contact serfaces.. this is esspecialy helpful for saving the syncros and in the long run will be good for over all health of the trans since the point of this is to remove as much friction as posible. reduced friction on the contact serfaces of the gears = easyer enguagment, smoother running of the syncros and also reduced heat genarated from the operation of the trans..

found that this company does both of these as a two step process. the site covers the details of what is involved much better than my quick summery here.

Other than that as for the auto specific, i have always heard that you can get a stall converter as an upgrade to the torque converter.. i dont know much more than that as far as those go.. i know that the 4 spd muscle cars do this for drag racing, but the rest i am unsure as to what (if any) benefit it would offer a DD car.. or how it would effect drive abillity or even how that works differently than the stock torque converter.....

There are ''shift" kits which (from my understanding) replaces the valve body in the auto trans to shortens how long the auto takes to shift..

some piggy back and stand alone ECU's allow you to access the trans computer, from what i here it will usually allow you to change shift points and or how long you "hold" a gear depending on load.. IDK i am sure that the specifics are based on what trans is in question... but i have to admit that, again, i do not know more than that.

last but not least, (as Bitter pointed to) is cooling. Heat is the number one killer of automatic trans. and there are a few way to tackle this.. first an for most, is the addition on top of, or complete replacement of the stock trans cooler. (i know that for the 7afe it is built into the rad, dont know about the one for the 5sfe (may even be the same)). A good idea is to also install a trans temp gauge, that way you have a way of knowing what is going on!!! then at last there is also the fluid that you are using!!! in an auto trans, the fluid is multi-tasking like an Octo-mom working out, feeding the kids, and working all at the same time!!!! MOST auto trans have the fluid acting as a hydrolic fluid (function on all of the clutches, valves, and torque converter. used as a lubricator for the gears, all the valves, clutches AND the diff. AND used as a coolant for all the components as well!!!!! so selecting a good trans fluid should be the first thing you should do when you are about to abuse an auto..

personally i went with a stand-alone radiant-style cooler. (since i got a non-auto godspeed rad. to replace my cracked OEM one) an AEM temp gauge to monitor operating temps and also see if i need to install a termastat controlled fan over the cooler.. (since it has a digital readout [great for quick reference during or just after a race] an analog color coded LED "needle", and an additional 5V out-put to give the ability to data log!!!). and for fluid i will be going with royal purple's MAX-ATF.... did some poking around and it would seem that it will work well for what i need it to do.. (the fluid is primarily designed to stay cooler longer, provide better lubrication, and have better resistance to viscosity break down under hard load.) i selected to go this route for my auto since i auto cross the car, and will be going boosted later on (about a year from now).

As for how well the auto trans will hold up?? IDK, but IIRC OOBI had a boosted 7a (stock)auto, and said that he never had any problems with it..


hope this helps!