Im using a 2004r in my 71 Nova. Its a fairly stout musclecar, but driven almost daily until recently. I built the 2004r myself years ago using a TCI kit and a TCI 3200-3800 stall 10" LU converter. The trans worked flawlessly until around 20k miles (guessing here, I dont remember anymore) when I hot lapped it at the dragstrip with slicks and toasted the second gear band- a narrow kevlar. I was using the stock pickup and pan. I continued to drive it semi-regularly for a few more months, then one day I was driving home from work and the car lost all movement.
After three disassemblies and much debate, I sent the converter back to TCI and they said I broke the turbine. While the trans was apart the first time, I put in new third clutches and steels. The last time, I bought the CK book and went through the trans while waiting to hear about the converter status, thinking that I may be overlooking something that the ATSG manual doesnt cover for a performance utilized tranny. I changed a few things per the manual, but I really dont recall exactly what right now. All clearances were then set per the CK book. When the trans went back in I also added a PTS Extreme billet servo for the new wide band, riding on a new drum. I had a few problems in the first 30-40 miles, blowing out the front seal twice. I tore it all apart again, and replaced the third clutches because the supplier sent me some generic red third clutches, so I got the better ones with new steels again. I did this because third wasnt hitting good at all. I also messed with the servo apply pin and springs, which made it better but still a lazy 2-3 shift. I was determined to just live with it because I was tired of pulling the trans- I think I had it out seven times in three months.
Now fast forward to my new problem;
I had been driving the car occasionally, but when the car shifted into third I could now hear a high pitched whine type sound. Kinda like the pump trying to prime only it was full of fluid- I checked it carefully numerous times. So the car gets parked again. I got tired of seeing it sit, so I drove it again only it seemed worse. I could faintly hear the whine sound in almost all gears, and now it seemed to slip so it went right back into the shop and up on stands.
I checked the pump pressures, and in park it was fairly normal from 90 min TV to 250+ maxTV. The gauge needle was bouncing fast, and I dont remember seeing that before. In most other gears, I didnt see much of any difference between min and maxTV, roughly 90psi, like it wasnt connected. I pulled the pan, then the filter and the converter clutch solenoid dropped out. The nuts had backed off and it was loose in the trans.
I checked the fluid schematics and it seems that the converter clutch solenoid only sees overflow fluid, so I dont think this is the cause of my lack of fluid pressure, but I'm no expert. On the other hand, I really dont want to take the tranny out and apart again if this could be the problem.
Should I reassemble it with the converter solenoid bolted back in and recheck the pressures, or would that just be a waste of time and fluids?
Any ideas??
After three disassemblies and much debate, I sent the converter back to TCI and they said I broke the turbine. While the trans was apart the first time, I put in new third clutches and steels. The last time, I bought the CK book and went through the trans while waiting to hear about the converter status, thinking that I may be overlooking something that the ATSG manual doesnt cover for a performance utilized tranny. I changed a few things per the manual, but I really dont recall exactly what right now. All clearances were then set per the CK book. When the trans went back in I also added a PTS Extreme billet servo for the new wide band, riding on a new drum. I had a few problems in the first 30-40 miles, blowing out the front seal twice. I tore it all apart again, and replaced the third clutches because the supplier sent me some generic red third clutches, so I got the better ones with new steels again. I did this because third wasnt hitting good at all. I also messed with the servo apply pin and springs, which made it better but still a lazy 2-3 shift. I was determined to just live with it because I was tired of pulling the trans- I think I had it out seven times in three months.
Now fast forward to my new problem;
I had been driving the car occasionally, but when the car shifted into third I could now hear a high pitched whine type sound. Kinda like the pump trying to prime only it was full of fluid- I checked it carefully numerous times. So the car gets parked again. I got tired of seeing it sit, so I drove it again only it seemed worse. I could faintly hear the whine sound in almost all gears, and now it seemed to slip so it went right back into the shop and up on stands.
I checked the pump pressures, and in park it was fairly normal from 90 min TV to 250+ maxTV. The gauge needle was bouncing fast, and I dont remember seeing that before. In most other gears, I didnt see much of any difference between min and maxTV, roughly 90psi, like it wasnt connected. I pulled the pan, then the filter and the converter clutch solenoid dropped out. The nuts had backed off and it was loose in the trans.
I checked the fluid schematics and it seems that the converter clutch solenoid only sees overflow fluid, so I dont think this is the cause of my lack of fluid pressure, but I'm no expert. On the other hand, I really dont want to take the tranny out and apart again if this could be the problem.
Should I reassemble it with the converter solenoid bolted back in and recheck the pressures, or would that just be a waste of time and fluids?
Any ideas??
