How long can a stock trans survive?

[LSTTYPE]

Hello fellas. I was just curious to get some opinions here. My transmission is original with 161k miles. Motor is built with ported heads, Bison turbo, e85 etc. I had a heavy duty input shaft installed 15 years ago, has an Art Carr 10' lock up converter with 3500 stall. The car has run high 11s on a conservative boost/tune for the last 13 years. I've now made the switch to e85 and it's time to turn the boost up. I have a built tranny ready to drop in but for some reason the stock transmission just keeps going. Why is this thing still alive?

 

[Mr.Spool]

that's a damn good questionmaybe the trans was done before you bought the car,or the car spins the tire a lot.i know with stickey tire on the back and an aggressive tune there isn't a stock 200 that I haven't waisted.

 

[LSTTYPE]

I've had the car since 95 and the guy I bought it from said it was stock. I think the buick engineers really built a good transmission for these cars.

 

[TurboDetroit]

Subscribed.

 

[bison]

I saw a stock one last an entire summer that was raced at the drag strip and street raced multiple times a week. The car trapped 115mph. It was shot by the end of summer. 1-2 slide, 2-3 was toast. It probably had 300 ratio changes under that power

 

[turbo89]

Hello fellas. I was just curious to get some opinions here. My transmission is original with 161k miles. Motor is built with ported heads, Bison turbo, e85 etc. I had a heavy duty input shaft installed 15 years ago, has an Art Carr 10' lock up converter with 3500 stall. The car has run high 11s on a conservative boost/tune for the last 13 years. I've now made the switch to e85 and it's time to turn the boost up. I have a built tranny ready to drop in but for some reason the stock transmission just keeps going. Why is this thing still alive?

On E85 and a aggressive tune .. your going to waste the stock clutches and band.. if it didn't have the heavy duty input you would have sheared that already .

Once you start running E85 with a decent tune if they are all stock .. they usually don't last too long .. at 11.50's you are on borrowed time

 

[LSTTYPE]

Well on another note, went out last night and ran the dog $/:& out of the car. When I got home I later noticed that my overflow tank level had risen from just above the add mark to the full mark. No detonation, no overheating, oil looks fine. From what I've read that means blown head gasket or maybe it's normal for some coolant to go back into overflow reservoir. Bisons turbo pulls like mad! Hit 24 psi and it was a handful.

 

[turbo89]

Well on another note, went out last night and ran the dog $/:& out of the car. When I got home I later noticed that my overflow tank level had risen from just above the add mark to the full mark. No detonation, no overheating, oil looks fine. From what I've read that means blown head gasket or maybe it's normal for some coolant to go back into overflow reservoir. Bisons turbo pulls like mad! Hit 24 psi and it was a handful.

They run awesome on E85 ... this is the way the cars should have come from Buick ... E85 + 22 psi

 

[626gn]

How long would a stock trans last with the mods I have with no racing but occasional spirited driving? I have a 3000 stall converter going in soon too. I'm on street tires now but looking into drag radials.

 

[coach]

How long would a stock trans last with the mods I have with no racing but occasional spirited driving? I have a 3000 stall converter going in soon too. I'm on street tires now but looking into drag radials.

It'll last until it breaks...
My stock Trans got replaced before it got smoked...but it took some abuse. I was on a little 49 and Alky. It saw 30psi several times and still ran great. I don't think there is an answer to this question...just know its on borrowed time.

 

[626gn]

It'll last until it breaks...

Yes, that much is obvious.. But how long did you run it before you replaced it?

 

[coach]

Yes, that much is obvious.. But how long did you run it before you replaced it?

2 summers or prob 4000 miles. One summer was stock turbo and Alky (25 psi) and 2nd was with the ta49 (27-30 psi) My car only had 15,000 miles on it. Trans was replaced at about 19,000.

 

[626gn]

2 summers or prob 4000 miles. One summer was stock turbo and Alky (25 psi) and 2nd was with the ta49 (27-30 psi) My car only had 15,000 miles on it. Trans was replaced at about 19,000.

Thanks coach. I know every situation will be different but just wanted to see how far some have gone with light mods on a stock trans.

 

[LSTTYPE]

I know that my car has run high 11s on a conservative tune for the last 10 years but I only drive it a few months a year. It's been a great transmission but I'm know I'm on borrowed time.

 

[turbo89]

Thanks coach. I know every situation will be different but just wanted to see how far some have gone with light mods on a stock trans.

AS Coach Mentioned.. you cant predict and don't try to compare.. why do I say that .. because on some customers cars recently that I've done E85 converts to ... some have gone 20-30 full passes
and then had the slipping blues start... but on few cars they didn't make it even that far .. On 1 car on the 2 nd pass it sheared the stock input ... on another it took 6 passes and it lost the input.
its a total gamble.. just keep that in mind ... and just in case have a tow truck number on hand when you turn it up