Hey Dan, Yep... I'd say it's definitely broke! On the other trans...it looks like it has a dipstick that is pretty much the same length as the ones that go into the case. The van was one that the engine sat inside the passenger compartment with a cover over it, between the drivers and passenger seats. I might have to hit a junkyard to find a dipstick tube and dipstick for it. No problem, I was just hoping to have it going by... now actually. Oh well, I've had to work a lot lately, and that takes priority. Gotta Eat! If I do decide to buy another trans, i'll probably just go with an AOD and be done with it. But for now, I'm going to make this one work. I've been told that the trans in 3/4 ton vans and pick-ups were built stouter than the car models... Can anyone confirm this, or is it just another urban legend? Thanks for any input. Later,
Some say that the pan fill one's are the better and stouter because the bell housing bolts to the case rather than the pump. They also have five disc foward clutch drums. Bad part is they are usually the large bell and 164 tooth flex plate which also takes the larger converter. I would find another c4 like you already have and if nothing else, put the five disc drum in it, if it does not have it already. There is also another way to get five in the reverse high drum using parts from any other c4 available. Let us know what you end up doing and feel free to ask questions if need be.
My tranny came out of a 77 Granada and as far as I know, it was factory original. It is a pan fill, and I have no clearance problems with the dipstick on the firewall or headers. Like old guy said, it does take the big flexplate, the same as a aod. My torque converter bolted up no problem, it also has the same bolt pattern as the aod torque converter.
Wow...that does sound like a freak thing. That stinks. Wish you were closer....I would trade a pan fill for a case fill. Got 3 case fills in the shed I have robbed parts from. I have to have the pan fill type to run behind the 460. Of course, if you're not in a hurry we can make a trade by UPS. PM if interested. Like they say, you can do cheap, fast, and good (pick two). I can only offer cheap and good. Cleaver
Yes, you can use the pan fill tranny in your car. It is a slightly stronger case but it will have the same direct clutch drum that all the other V8 C4's have in them. There is no such thing as a five clutch direct drum. The forward drum on all the V8 C4's hold five clutches. You may have to switch the converter for the smaller converter but the converter in your current tranny will work after you have it flushed. You might have to use the bolts and bell housing from your old tranny because it might be a deeper bell housing. I would be asking what made the governor blow up like that before building another tranny like it. Be sure to flush your cooler(s) too. You don't want any of that debris going through a new transmission. What RPM was it going when you shifted? I have never seen a governor explode like that - and I have been working with these trannys for 35 years.
Maxx, I'd get Homeland Security involved. I believe you might have been the target of an RPG wielding Al Queda goon hiding underneath the stands. 'Sorry to read the news. Good luck with the "new" one.
First of all, my post did not say that all direct drums are five clutch. I said they can be made five with a simple use of other parts from "any" c4. And in my opinion, why would you take the strength away from the tranny, by removing the case bolt bell housing and install a pump mount one, then have the hassle of making the pan fill dipstick work in certain applications. My theory in building this little tranny for only a few years is, KISS and make it work and last a long time. I too have never seen a governor explode like that but nothing is sacred in racing or high rpm situations.
Hey Guys, Thanks for the replies. Paul... nice and easy rpm's! I've been shifting it at 4800-5000... nothing extreme. And like I said, this thing never made a sound. No grinding, growling, nada! It just stopped pulling. It stopped pulling because all of the fluid was on the top end of the track!!! This is definitely the most damage I've personally ever done to an automatic trans... and I've been racing for nearly 25 years now. I've burned up clutches in them before, but never had any parts vacate the housing. Oh well, guess there's a first time for everything. It's going to make an interesting "sacrifice to the racing gods" piece though! I'm having a hard time locating a new dipstick and tube though. I've got one more place to try tomorrow, and if I can't find anything there, I'm out of luck. Surely I can get a new one from somewhere besides the mail order speed shops. I saw one in Jeg's, but they wanted $70 bucks for it! That seems a little steep to me, expecially for my pretty much stock toy. I located one on e-bay the other day for a decent price, but it won't be here in time for the weekend. Oh well, maybe I'll have some luck tomorrow. Thanks for the replies guys. If I feel like it tonight, I may try to get the trans in the car. I was going to today, but it's like 97 degrees here with high humidity, so I changed my mind pretty quick... almost as fast as I had to change my shirt! Later,
Tom, I think I still have one of those dipsticks in my shed. I will look tomorrow and if it is still there, will PM you and get it to you ASAP.
Yea, in my non-professional opinion, I'd say one or more of the governor weight retention snap rings said "F*ck it, I'm tired of this s*it." and let loose. Said weight suddenly finds itself freed on a ballistic trajectory - with your tailshaft housing in the way. Those rings are awfully skinny - but to see one fail that spectacularly. Wow.
