what causes these symptoms?

[OneLethal87GN]

After a fresh rebuild the tranny shifts normal under light throttle and will shift firm enough to chirp the tires at moderate throttle, if done back to back to get pressures up. If you give it 1/3 throttle, or enough to build 3-5 psi, the shifts are barely felt and it seems to not want to hold the gear like it should. This is mainly on the 1-2 shift because I really haven't tested it much on the 2-3 or 3-4 shifts. The band is an alto red eagle racing wide band. The tranny has one of Bruce's shift kits and a 200 servo has been installed. The tranny was rebuilt using stock parts. The valve body was replaced with a non-performance one but the tranny did the same thing when the BQ body was in there. I haven't tried a WOT test on it since the newest rebuild since only low boost would seem to overpower the tranny. I asked for a pressure test to be done but they didn't want to do it. Most of you already know that Aamco did the rebuild and I know that was my biggest mistake. I watched the guy rebuild the tranny this time and he kind of just threw it together. I didn't see him check for clearances at any point during the build. His method of checking band clearance was simply to see if the tranny would rotate by hand. After playing with the servo and getting it to the point where the tranny would rotate he moved on to the next part of the build. Could the problem be too loose band clearance or a pressure problem? I know it is best to get it checked by another builder but most seem to have the same idea of how to build a 200-4r. I really don't have the time or money to have it pulled and sent off to get checked, even though that is the best idea. Maybe one day a board member tranny builder will move to eastern N.C.

 

[JDSfastGN]

well to be honest we are all shooting in the dark without pressure numbers. If i had to take a guess i would say the pump is weak. Who rebuilt it and what all has been done? Band clearance is critical but with a proper drum and an alto with the 200 servo i have never had too much clearance. That is an ok way to test the clearance by rotating the output shaft. You paid the money, and its your tranny that isn't right so make them put a gauge on it for sure even if they don't want to. It could be as easy replacing the pump with a good one from a vendor and being done with it.

 

[Firechicken]

Why not get your own guage? You can buy them pretty cheap, and once you get your issues sorted out, down the road if you have a problem, you can try to diagnose it.

I bought mine on Ebay for $18.00..no one bid against me. It is made by K-D tools. This is the one I bought:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43991&item=4564030650

I have bought lots of tools from this guy. He is pretty quick to ship and doesn't overcharge like lots of other sellers do.

 

[SGRIM]

Shoot!

Damn bud you have had some bad luck with that AMACO. I know they wont give you your money back but this is crazy. Good luck dude, I know a guy in Ahoskie that can check it for you. Shoot me a mail!!

 

[OneLethal87GN]

To make a long story short I had Aamco do the work. I set the terms with the sales mgr. He agreed. The tranny was built back to stock because the sales mgr. didn't share our agreement with the tranny builder or the owner. After several arguments about how the tranny should be it ended up going to court. The sales mgr. was fired and I won the case. After taking it to another Aamco they were found to be even bigger idiots than my local shop. A final resolution was made by me to their home office. They were to rebuild it one last time and I would let them out of the last two years of the warranty. The tranny is fine under normal driving. I'm sure the correct valve body would make the shifts alot better but these things seem to have gold in them seeing the prices I've been offered to buy them at. I just don't understand why the tranny can't take a few pounds of boost. I thought a few pounds would rip the tires on the shifts. The same Aamco rebuilt this tranny years ago and under WOT the tires would rip loose on the 1-2 shift. This was in my 85 GN which didn't have the same power but a WOT pass in my 85 was definitely more than a few psi in my 87. I'm hoping a performance valve body and a few more shims in the 1-2 accumulator will bring back those tire-ripping WOT shifts. I'll check tomorrow to see what a tranny pressure gauge runs.

P.S. Shane, maybe one day I'll get back out to your house. I talked with a guy today and he said the hot cars meet up every first Saturday at the Bojangles in Snow Hill and at some place a little ways up the road from the Kinston drag strip on the last Saturday of the month.