Thread: TD6 reliability gear box

Originally Posted by Declan

fraser130 if you dont mind me asking, what did you get for your $6500.
Does the transmisssion have the sonnax stronger parts or is it just a fixed up transmission, did they give you a warrenty ( how long or KM ).

Replacement Rebuilt TC (as mine was a throw-away jobby (this was $1200 in itself, I could have had a commodore one for $600, but the stall speed is different), rebuilt Valve block with Sonax sleeves and seals, and all new clutches. also removal and re-fitting. I'm not sure of the warranty though, I guess I should check the paperwork!! I do trust this fellow, and he seems to know his stuff.

Cheers,

Fraser

Good to hear you are back on the road Fraser.

Looks like mine might be on the way out, hunts allot between top gear and lockup whilst coasting between 40 and 80, seems to stay locked over about 85.

It's got about 80k on a reco.

Originally Posted by jsp

Looks like mine might be on the way out, hunts allot between top gear and lockup whilst coasting between 40 and 80, seems to stay locked over about 85.

It's got about 80k on a reco.

I would suggest you talk to someone who knows the boxes before it fails, you could save a shed-load of money

Cheers,
fraser

Originally Posted by jsp

Looks like mine might be on the way out, hunts allot between top gear and lockup whilst coasting between 40 and 80, seems to stay locked over about 85.

It's got about 80k on a reco.

Had another thought, have you tried resetting the transmission ECU?

Fraser

Had it test driven today by a guy brought over from the UK by a local transmission place especially to do uk\European cars and he agreed with me that the torque converter's gone. He was very knowledgeable and even showed me one of his current jobs a 5l40e from a BMW x5, and had a ZF box out of a petrol L322 on another bench doing an output shaft.

He said it was very common and at one stage when he was in the UK he was doing 4 or 5 5l40e's a week.

Comes down to how much of the torque converter clutch plate has gone through my transmission as to whether it will just be a flush or a reco. He said my trans still operates beautifully, and the torque converter is stuffed but not too bad yet, and no one ever brings them in until they have burnt out the auto box.

He showed me several parts and described all the symptoms I have read about on FFRR exactly, and his body language and apparent knowledge gave me great confidence in his advice.


So the research I need to do and question I need to ask, is - is there an uprated specific torque converter to buy which wont fail again so quickly. My current one is about 80k old. The orriginal one lasted 150k.

All the info on various threads here seems to indicate the answer is no. I also asked the supervisor at A & B auto's in Dandenong (they seem to be the best in Melb) the same question a few weeks ago before mine was rebuilt, the answer was - "nothing stronger available that will fit"

[ I was talking to the people at Austra Torque Engineering today

sales@ateconverters.com.au

03 9466 1563

After an initial discussion on a heavy duty torque converter for the 5L4OE, I was told that GM had used a batch of badly bonded clutch plates in the converters. This explanation would explain the TC clutch failures that have puzzled many. Over time these have prematurely degraded and sent debris into the oil, thus contaminating the valve body, oil-lines and cooler. Their experience has been mainly with VE Commodores etc. but the failures are consistent to the troubles seen in the L322 & BMW's both here and Europe.
They don't have a Heavy Duty Low Stall converter for the 5L40E as they have found the newer versions of the clutch plates work fine in the Commodores.; but they offered the following deal, unfortunately I can't use it as I'm not in Melbourne.
They are prepared to build a Td6 heavy duty version with the following components;

Austra Torque Engineering - Low-Stall

the build would include a 3 plate clutch setup, giving a minimum 300% increase in holding torque, and a input torque rating of over 500 lb/ft. The cost would be $500, usually the price for this setup is over $900 !!! this would be a R&D deal with them, so as they can judge the setup and performance, and modify if needed.
Hence a Melb member would be ideal.
Testbook, autologic etc availabilty would be a benefit.
I told them of others having these problems, and would let them know about the offer so first in, best dressed.

I have no association with ATE, the offer came from a phone inquiry.

Laurie ]


This was put up by Laurie last year. Not sure if anything happened about it

Gary