tranny mods for low 11's

[Blazer406]

Hey guys,

Need opinions..... I bought a BRF tranny that was recently rebuilt but never installed. It checks out to be an '87 BRF. It has the correct markings on the valvebody. I need a tranny for a driver that currently should dip into the 11's... maybe mid 11's at some point. I am thinking of a batbrake style tranny brake. I am working on the chassis... kinda following Ed Brewers example.....in his white T. Anyway.... got this rebuilt tranny that has never been installed. I talked to the builder who built the tranny. He has built lots of hi-po trannys for guys with 2004r's. It supposedly has a shift kit.

Here are the mods I was considering before I put it in my car:

1.) BatBrake style tranny brake
2.) New HD band with reinforced anchor pin with adjustable pin to set clearance on band.
3.) Billet Servo
4.) .521 Boost valve to bump up line pressures
5.) big low/reverse? valve
6.) Deep sump pan and modified pickup filter

I know I probably need to upgrade a few hard parts for the tranny brake.

Now.... for your opinions.....

What would you do? This is for a l/u converter (I already have a 0-pump vigilante 5 disk lock-up). Car will be driven daily...unless something tears up.... I have a '97 Silverado... to drive if it breaks. I can't afford to replace every part with billet stuff. The more I can get away with keeping the better.

 

[Hacksaw]

Wow, you're taking a risk by not using billet parts at that power level!

You WILL need harder pump rings, but those are low cost. More clutches in the 4th Clutch is low cost. It's hard to guess what will fail next, though; Foward Clutch/Input shaft combo? Overdrive Planet? Overdrive Ring Gear? Front Input shaft?

Even the THM 400 could be at risk (Intermediate Sprag comes to mind) at that power level.

 

[JC'sGN]

One of the 87 turbo regals in our club has run mid to low 11's for 2 yrs of track abuse on a stock rebuild with nothing more than a CK shift kit....

 

[DonnieShort]

I ran 10.87 on a 6 year old stock rebuild kit from Postons ( and not the good CK stuff they sell now but the junky JWPerformance kit ). A healthy stock internal tranny will go in the 11's no problem, but wouldn't chance throwing a t brake in the mix though without a few hard parts.

 

[JDSfastGN]

if you can swing it.... billet input shaft and billet forward drum. I have also busted a stock Od planetary as well so it would be another option. I would at dual feed the direct clutches as well to keep the 2-3 clutches alive at that level but only do this mod with the at the least the billet forward drum (if you can only do one billet part i would do the drum). Good luck with it.

 

[Blazer406]

I appreciate the responses......

Looking for some more.....

Trying to build on a budget..... I know Buick and budget should never be used in the same sentence. I haven't made up my mind yet.... gonna really look at the funds to see what I can get.....

After reading some posts and searching... and reading some more... I really want the billet fwd drum and to do the dual feed mod for the direct clutches.... in addition to the billet servo with adjustable pin and big band with hd 300m anchor pin.....big boost valve... etc.

How hard is it to install an electric tranny brake later.... if I choose to defer that like 6 months..... Can I install it myself? What internal mods are there to the valvebody to make it function......?

 

[Ttype6]

(If you can only do one billet part,I would do the drum.).

Ditto,especially with a Brake. A brake is the only way to go.

 

[TurboTnZ06]

The t-brake + traction will cause stuff to break. Billet all that you can and have fun. If it breaks, it can be fixed.