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Blue clutchs for low/reverse ?

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csmc1013

New Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
4
Hello everyone, I guess this is my first 2004r question, lol. I was thinking of how I drive my car and what I need the tranny to do because of it. It a daily driver in traffic and a lot of stoplights, so, I LOVE to manually drive in 1st n 2nd 50% of the time. I have read that Low/reverse is not a shifting pack, but, is used for 1st and 2nd. Now, I have some cross referencing to do to verify, but, if what I read on the net is correct, one should put some stickiest grabbing clutches in there? I believe the blue plates fit that bill (if they even make them for the 2004 low/reverse). I would think that would help in holding, let one keep the stock thick steels and use the cushy wave plate. Could be over kill compared to stock clutches but I like full throttle 1sts and let offs in 1st, and, or, manually shift into 2nd and then let off to cruising speed when I reach the speed limit. I will then shift to 3rd and D accordingly at desired speed.
 
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I put tans in every thing except the direct and the band. Direct got raybestos Stage 1 and i used a stock width carbon band. The rest are borg warner tans as the only one left that shifts is the OD. I did put an extra wave spring in the low/rev so cushion shifting into gear. Getting the clearances correct will make or break it. Use some solid teflon rings on the input shaft not the scarf cut pieces to help seal it up and keep the pressure from bleeding.
 
Blue plates aren't by any means a sticky clutch. If anything they are hard as nails. They can take a lot of abuse but they tend to skid and not grab as well as a conventional clutch but they can take a lot of heat. I'm also partial to the Stage 1 frictions in direct. I have found these to be a superior shifting clutch compared to others I tried.
Now with the above being said, I had a direct drum check ball failure last summer on my TH400 that resulted in a massive pressure dump. When I hit 3rd the line pressure dropped from 210 psi to about 35 psi. Would you believe all the clutches held for a 150 MPH pass on a 3600 lb car..... I ran it twice this way and didn't know it was happening unit I looked at my data logs in detail that night. BTW - Still running those same clutches now.
AG.
 
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The last clutch I would want to install in the low reverse clutch pack would be a BLUEPLATE. Most of the spin losses encountered in a 2004R in 3rd and fourth gear (2nd also but there is another in 2nd) are the result of the presence of the open low reverse clutch pack. A low drag PAPER clutch with OEM STYLE grooving is the most efficient.
 
Hello everyone, I guess this is my first 2004r question, lol. I was thinking of how I drive my car and what I need the tranny to do because of it. It a daily driver in traffic and a lot of stoplights, so, I LOVE to manually drive in 1st n 2nd 50% of the time. I have read that Low/reverse is not a shifting pack, but, is used for 1st and 2nd. Now, I have some cross referencing to do to verify, but, if what I read on the net is correct, one should put some stickiest grabbing clutches in there? I believe the blue plates fit that bill (if they even make them for the 2004 low/reverse). I would think that would help in holding, let one keep the stock thick steels and use the cushy wave plate. Could be over kill compared to stock clutches but I like full throttle 1sts and let offs in 1st, and, or, manually shift into 2nd and then let off to cruising speed when I reach the speed limit. I will then shift to 3rd and D accordingly at desired speed.
Wherever you read that the low reverse clutch is on in second is incorrect. The driving load encountered by the clutch pack in manual low is only encountered when the drive shaft becomes input member to the trans during overrun disconnect due to the loss of turbine shaft bias on the input shaft. blue clutches or even red lined graphitic or paper will result in increased spin losses at that area of the transmission . Here is some good you tube for you.

 
Blue plates are by any means a sticky clutch. If anything they are hard as nails. They can take a lot of abuse but they tend to skid and not grab as well as a conventional clutch.

Odd!? I have not fully researched them, was just a random thought, but, I could have sworn some wording like "sticky" or "grabby" was used in my readings of past!? Well, that kills that theory, thanks.
 
Wherever you read that the low reverse clutch is on in second is incorrect.

I didn't believe it either because what I have read so far is is applied in forward gears and stays applied through all shifts. Still researching it.
 
My experience with the "blue clutches was less than stellar" they delaminated after a week. Used the tan clutches and stood up well.
 
My experience with the "blue clutches was less than stellar" they delaminated after a week. Used the tan clutches and stood up well.


Hey Larry, thanks for the feedback. Yea, it as a spur of the moment thought. I really didnt do my home work before spewing off at the mouth on a "brilliant" idea, lol.
 
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