OK guys, let's get a thread going on bombing a Diesel auto tranny, how to make them stronger, last longer, changing shift points etc.. This should be for Ford, Dodge and GM, just wondering what have you done or want to do and what is your expierance with it so far, what kind do you have? This will also help newbies to auto tranny's like myself to understand what can be done, also how much $$$
Can't speak for the others, but for the Alli, there are basically 3 "levels". 1) Transgo shift kit and after market single disk TC. The stock TC shell is to "soft" and balloons. When you see one off a "bombed" DMax, you notice that less than 1/3 clutch is "burnt", the rest looks new, and that's due to the shell flexing and not providing full engagement. This makes good aftermarket TC upgrades a LOT stronger without the parasitic losses or $$$ of the triple disk or the like. Generally regarded to be good enough up to around 500 hp and 900 ft/lbs. 2) Entry level mods. New clutches and steels, machined drums to allow an extra or two, some other relatively minor interior mods that increase over all ability to handle power. This is the "entry level" if you bomb the motor and take out the tranny because you didn't do (1) above. There is really not much that's needed for the Alli to handle some pretty stupid levels of power so this is mostly just #1 with a few extra mods for good measure. Probabably not safe beyond 600 hp and 1000 ft/lbs which is pushing it AFAIK. 3) Full boat. Suncoast or ATS make some KILLER stuff including shift control computers (CoPilot from ATS). These can pretty much handle anything you can throw at them and some trucks are going around 800/1400 (IIRC) on the dyno with no trans issues.
Yeah, exhaust brakes on most autos are only marginally effective, but combined with the "computer controlled grade braking" on the Alli, I hear they work VERY well, maybe *too* well. But I don't see the need really. Coming down the 6% grade from Sunrise Point (S on I17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix) you loose somewhere around 5000 feet and I never have to touch the brakes even loaded to around 15k gross, and that's just using the "grade braking" feature with no e-brake. Without a load, I often find myself loosing too much speed and have to touch the accelerator. It's really as (or more) effective than a gas burner compression braking in the same scenario.
