The time has come. New trans time.

[cmann250]

Thanks for the info Tom.

Did your 2wd donor truck head south or is it still up here? I'd still be interested in its transmission if it was available.

[cmann250]

Now I know why everyone says to buy a direct clutch spring compressor. I welded one up out of spare 4" exhaust and rebar. It bent some in the press and I about crapped my Carhartts. It worked though!

Still waiting on a tax return to get parts.

[DodgeFreak]

If you use that homemade tool to go back together be careful that its going straight. Otherwise you will gouge the splines on the drum then youll have to file them smooth. I use a home made one its just 2 inch 1/4 thick welded in a u and it will cock sideways if im not careful

[ellis93]

I just use a 3/4 coal chisel,and yes if it doesn't go down smoothly you'll screw yourself.

[txs]

welded this one up30-40 years ago, works great, just 3 pieces of about 18 gauge and a piece of pipe. http://www.pbase.com/txs/image/145914942

[cmann250]

I like that idea Tom. I may have to try it if I get too uneasy about the one I have now.

The Socialists graciously saw fit to return some of my money to me today, so it's game on. I'll order parts tomorrow. Maybe assemble it this weekend.

I don't think I mentioned it in this thread, but I think my flex plate is cracked. I have a spare on hand.

The last time I dropped the trans out of this truck, I did it in 2 hours. I'll put myself on the clock.

[cmann250]

Parts ordered.

I ordered Raysbestos clutches because that's what Goerend uses. And they were cheaper I've heard that the Raysbestos clutches tolerate slipping better. I've been told the Red clutches glaze when they slip.

I welcome any discussion on the Red vs. Raysbestos/BW/whatever. Lots of people seem to go to Reds, but don't know why.

[dazedandconfused]

From what I was told the Reds hold more power but if you slip them once they are junk.

[ellis93]

I use the raysbestos high energy clutches in everything but race stuff. I have never seen the alto reds "glaze" in anything I've built,but I have seen them burnt like hell. A place here on the coast offers a HP Kit for turbo 350 and it comes with those altos an Coleen(sp) steels,that paired with a hard hitting shift Kit usually is the end all for those trans. Idk about dodge tho

[cmann250]

That's what I was trying to say Ellis. The Reds don't like to be slipped. I think I just have regular steels. The Kolene steels may be more tolerant to heat, but if I'm slipping the clutches enough to warp a steel, I have many more problems than the material my steels are made of.

[ellis93]

That's what I was trying to say Ellis. The Reds don't like to be slipped. I think I just have regular steels. The Kolene steels may be more tolerant to heat, but if I'm slipping the clutches enough to warp a steel, I have many more problems than the material my steels are made of.

You won't be slipping anything,especially with that tfod diesel shiftkit (I think you have one ). Caleb the only way I'd even worry about slipping a thing is if you had some 700HP ppump engine or something. For what we have I don't think you could worry the factory stuff. I've pulled 47rhs down that only one pack would be obliterated and the rest of the factory frictions looked mint.

IMHO unless your going to be throwing huge numbers down,I wouldn't over think this trans. BC has already put the 518 thru the paces so I'd just follow lead

[DodgeFreak]

I rebuilt my cousins trans in his 98 ppump it has different injectors and turbo, full cut dv's different plate ect. a Diesel shop that he got the stuff from est. 550hp-600hp. I don't know if that's crank or rwhp.

We used reds and kolene steels and it lasted alittle over a year. We put a shift kit in it, but it was daily driven and it ended up welding the front and rear clutch packs together. ruined the drums and some other stuff. going to rebuild it with Raybestos. Last one I done for his 24v I used napa clutches and its working just fine for over a year.

[cmann250]

You won't be slipping anything,especially with that tfod diesel shiftkit (I think you have one ).

I suspect I'll end up with that. I need to call trans go and make sure that's what I want.

[cmann250]

Parts showed. I can't speak highly enough of A&A Transmissions. They asked what I was using the truck for, what kind of power, etc., and coached me on the parts list. VERY knowledgeable people.

I'll likely assemble the trans this weekend, and that all depends on how my selective tolerances end up. It all should be ok since I'm sticking with stock clutch counts.

Still have to decide on a shift kit.

Oh yea, I welded a 1/2" nut to the pan and made a poor man's drain plug. I was very proud of my thriftiness. Save that money for the next project

[cmann250]

Anyone one know if it's possible to install the lip seals backwards? I'm in the front clutch pack at the moment. Of course I didn't pay attention to how they came out.

I'm going to describe their shape as a trapezoid and the point can be "in" or "out". Right now I have the points out which means the grove is out. Seems like the thing to do since pressure would be in the "in" side of the piston.

Whachall reckon?

Edit: for reference I found the rear clutch's seals to be pointing in, which seems counter intuitive to me.