tranny precautions & possible solutions

[joflewbyu2]

Concerned about the tranny strength and longevity, i believe it to be a wise idea to install a tranny cooler after the radiator where it cools the fluid and just before it heads back into the tranny. some coolers also provide filters or magnets which might be a good idea too. also, does ford or anyone make an ALUMINUM pan with a drain hole?

[FordNut]

The tranny has an external cooler between the radiator and air conditioner condenser. B&M makes a deeper pan that is cast aluminum with fins for improved cooling due to increased surface area and it has a magnetic drain plug. It requires a different filter screen/pickup from a truck/suv so fluid is picked up from the lower level. Ford provides an inline magnetic filter for rebuilt tranny installs, check for one on ebay or I can try to find the Ford part number if you.

[mtnh]

Dennis sells transmission pans with drain plugs...

[jaywish]

Hi,

Just to kind of jump on the tranny maintenance wagon...

Does the Marauder torqueconverter have a drain plug ?

Also Interesting;

I didn't know ford put tranny coolers between the radiator & condensor. The older plate style ones mounted in front of the condensor.

Is the general recommendation from anybody in the know that a relatively stock marauder is fine with the transmission cooling it comes with?

Jay

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by jaywish
Is the general recommendation from anybody in the know that a relatively stock marauder is fine with the transmission cooling it comes with?

Jay

Jay:

I just spoke to Dennis this morning about this very subject...unless I badly mis-understood him, unless you have an aftermarket TC, he feels the stock cooling is adequate, if the car is not raced or used for towing. Dennis said if you wish to add fluid capacity to the transmission, DO NOT install a deeper pan, rather the better way is to install a bigger cooler, which he is currently working on. I just ordered his replacement pan, with drain plug, and am eagerly awaiting the cooler...

[MAD-3R]

Being the computer geek that I am, I have to wonder is placing some CPU heatSinks on the Trans pan would have a simmaler effect? Just use the CPUGoop to attach them....

Hmmmm

[SergntMac]

The one thing that will kill this 4R70W trans is heat. I don't know how much bigger the trans cooler can get, but it won't hurt to add a second cooler in line. B&M has a nice one with a fan on it, and it would fit real nice in the driver's side fender well, behind the fog lamp. Just a thought...

[UncleLar]

If you go to a dyno tune day and Jerry is there ask him if you really want the skinny on Ford trannys,the best mod(s) for Ford trannys is unofficially known as the Jerry Mod.He was a Ford transmission engineer.
Heat is a major killer of automatic transmissions,if you're going to put a cooler in use a B&M.
Want to read about Jerry's tranny mods?
Go to www.tccoa.com and look in the tech articles.

[RCSignals]

the stock cooler is pretty good, but it also contains a cooler for the Power steering. I think it's the same cooler as used on the PI.
Anyone know for sure?

[jaywish]

Hi All,

Is there a drain plug in the Marauder torque converter?

Jay

[SergntMac]

No Jay, I do not believe there is a drain plug on the TC. Once the TC is lifted from the car, it is drained by tilting it flat, face down, (that's engine side) over a drain pan.

[jaywish]

Dang,

That's a shame.

They decontented that too.

I know I always had a problem convincing shops that the 93 GM has a drain for the converter.

Jay

[RF Overlord]

I haven't verified this by crawling under my own car, but there are many posts on CVN that refer to draining the TC on '98 - '02 CVs and GMs with the 4R70W transmission. Unless the TC in the MM is peculiar, it "should" have a drain plug...any Ford wrenches care to tell us "yea or nay" once and for all?

[TheDealer]

I asked my techs, and they said most 2000 and newer Town Cars and Grand Marquis don't have a drain plug anymore. You can pull the rubber plug out of the bottom of the bell housing and tap the engine around and look.

[JohnE]

Ford created a tranny pan with a drain plug for U-Haul. They require it on their fleet vehicles. Ask Dennis and he'll fix you up.

Like said before there is already a tranny cooler on the car. It is thermostatically controlled and shares fins with the power steering cooler lines. An additional stacked plate cooler in-line with the factory unit is a good idea for harsh service.

Only use Mercon V in the tranny. Mercon V is a parial synthetic and holds up to heat well. However under harsh service, you should change the fluid every 20k miles. Heat is what uses up the friction modifier additives in the tranny fluid.


Now another important fact about trannys is slow shifts create HEAT. Faster shifts with either (or both) dennis chip or a shift kit reduce this. While the tranny gradually moves to the next gear a lot of heat is created by the bands in the tranny. Never had a tranny related problem up to 72k and now have around 300rwhp.


I've changed my tranny fluid every 20k, chipped the car and have done Jerry Mods to the valve body to make quicker shifts.