exactly what is "beefing up" an automatic transmission......?

[lifeisviewtiful]

as far as a turbo setup on an engine that has an auto transmission on it, exactly what it included in preparing the transmission for the abuse it will take with the increase in speeds. i would emagine it would include getting it rebuilt or is it just getting a custom high stall torque converter? can it be custom made? lmk anyone who can help.

[357wheelgunner]

Judging by context clues I'd say that "beefing up" is where you replace the trans oil with ground beef, therby beefing up the trannsmisison.

I don't think many people besides muscle car guys build automatic cars. Tuners who are building a motor with less than 8 cylinders generally are smart enough to use a manual transmission in a high performance cars, as opposed to spending more than a car is worth attempting to make an auto perform well.....

[lifeisviewtiful]

i wasn't going to i was just wondering, i just heard a few people mention it on the forums, i was wondering exactly what was involved in strengthening the transmission.

[Piloter]

From www.importperformancetrans.com:

"The modifications that are performed vary greatly with the transmission being worked on but can generally be categorized in two ways - hydraulic modifications and mechanical modifications. Hydraulic modifications are performed to increase the holding capacity of the clutches and bands. This accomplishes two things - it greatly improves shift feel and also reduces slippage, which extends the life of the clutches and bands. In other words, if you show the transmission more power you must, at the same time, increase it's holding capacity or it won't live.

The second category, mechanical modifications, are pretty simple-you must install parts that won't break when subjected to more horsepower than they were originally designed for. Whether that means the application of a cryogenic treatment, a metalax process or the replacement of that part with that of a superior material or design, it is imperative that any inherent weakness to that particular unit is addressed."


Alternatively, if there's another transmission that was used in a sufficiently similar application, you might be able to upgrade to that, although that's going to potentially muck with gear ratios, axles, etc. It all depends on how much power, percentage-wise, you're going to be putting down over stock and how much you're looking to spend. level10 does valve body upgrades for a lot less, IPT does a lot more for a much higher cost....how extreme do you want to be? The auto will almost certainly cost you more in the long run to beef up, unfortunately.