Help...How to Overhaul 3 Spd Transmissions

[Duckworth]

....After a year of the car 'shaking' slightly and 'slipping' under load, I realize I have to do something with my '80 A/Trans. Has anyone here here ever overhauled their own auto trans or know of someone who had some success in this area ?

I know that folks generally advise you to stay away from such a project or point you towards Trans shops (Atlas etc.) but it should be remotely possible to try this yourself. A GM video is out on the web to assist people for one GM model trans anyway.

ZF trans in it I'm told - that has a mixture of Mercedes, Porsche and Audi parts inside. I realize it's not easy but am thinking of trying it. One expert thinks Hydraulic actuators have worn out and /or brake band area is worn also.

I'm a skilled mechanic but not with automatics. Really wish I had bought a manual car....A 5 spd conversion has occurred to me but the reality of having to buy a donor car and set out to accomplish all of that changes my mind.
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'82 Targa - sold
'80 928

[HarryD]

Duckworth,

I know nothing about rebuilding transmissions but a buddy at work was having trouble with his Ford Truck Auto Tranny. He ordered a rebuilt one to install in his car and had numerous problems to get it to fit. Some were due to the supplier sending him the wrong parts and some due to shoddy workmanship. To get his tranny working, he decided to repair it himself with the help of a Ford BBS that is like ours.

His observation was that, after taking one apart, and putting it together, he should have done it himself the first time. He said it was no more difficult than a manual tranny. He just said he needed to be careful to assemble it properly.

He is fairly competent in the sense that he has the space, and skills to tackle most mechanical jobs in his car. Depending on how you feel, you might want to seek out a GM BBS to help you pull togetehr the materials you need and do it yourself.

The way an Auto Tranny works is actually quite ingenious. go over to www.howstuffworks.com and see their description.

[911quest]

I have rebuilt (replaced the clutch plates) on a ZF in a Range Rover the trans was used in M-B, Jag,BMW alot of european cars its not that bad it was my first and it worked I think the trans kit was only 150.00 and the rebuild manual was 20.00 I mean its worth a try its a 26 year old transmission it can't be that hard

[911pcars]

A/T engineers must be locked up in padded isolation cells with their design cohorts for 13 months while they design all the related pieces and parts. It's pretty ingeneous, maybe insane, how they arrive at the solution; hollow, rotating shafts within a shaft, with sliding internal and external housings, inter-twined clutch plates, clutch discs and hydraulic pieces and passages forcing spinning parts against other spinning and stationary parts; yet strong enough to absorb the torque of mighty V-8 engines and elegantly smooth enough to upshift w/minimal telltale hints, the culmination of which is a POS 4-speed A/T that leaks as much fluid every 4 weeks as a scheduled oil change. But enough about my minivan trans .... and the previous one.

One thing to remember. You don't want any extra pieces left over after reassembling one, especially if it's yours. Manufacturers don't even allow dealer personnel to rebuild them. If Amcco (Ammco?) can screw it up, and that's their business (transmissions, not screw ups), think of the time a general tech can waste redoing a comeback. There are exceptions however.

It's doable, but you should have as many factory drawings, photographs and procedures as you can. It also helps if you know what wear areas to look at and a new spare in the crate.

Sherwood

[Duckworth]

"It's pretty ingeneous, maybe insane, how they arrive at the solution; hollow, rotating shafts within a shaft, with sliding internal and external housings, inter-twined clutch plates, clutch discs and hydraulic pieces and passages forcing spinning parts against other spinning and stationary parts; yet strong enough to absorb the torque of mighty V-8 engines and elegantly smooth enough to upshift w/minimal telltale hints..."

911PCARS - that was funny and true !

Just as soon as I talk myself into trying to rebuild it or drop it to
take it apart and 'find' the problem - your reality snaps me back to attention. The technolgy started with WW l l TANKS but it's unfortunate that AT's had to configure so many parts - (you name it) and it's in there.

Anyone else want to throw a suggestion in for the hek of it ?


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'82 Targa - sold
'80 928

[911quest]

I would try it most likly all that is wrong is the friction disc are worn out its not that hard just go slow. You also must be very very clean.