AU Gearbox

SGT BLK · 29-10-2007, 02:56 PM

So can someone tell me are the AU gearbox still a weak point as they were like in the EA???

Our AU has only 128.000 ks and shifts fine but curiouse how strong they are?(will they take some abuse) I would like to fit a shift kit if any one knows of any , and not a switch that bumps valve body pressure up, but an actual internal upgrade.. valve body or bands.. (Better than Stock)
Please let me know as i would like to start to increase power output soon..

(AU 2 4.0ltr,128.000ks)

Cheers.

The Monty · 29-10-2007, 02:58 PM

I have an AU1, 4 speed, runs 14.97, manual shift ALL the time, for the last 60 000 k's, back into first at 50 k's etc (not great in the wet...), gets taken to the drags a but, skidpan days, and it still shifts silky smooth. (Touch wood). Oh, and it has 220 000k's on it.
On the other hand, mums crapped out at 230 000, and doesnt ever drive it hard at all.

sly · 29-10-2007, 03:05 PM

They can be strengthened, kevlar bands etc... do a bit of a search, there are ppl here who know who can do this type of mod. BTW mine has over 320,000k's on the original box, mostly country k's but it sees 5000rpm+ 5 or 6 times a week.

OED666 · 29-10-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monty

I have an AU1, 4 speed, runs 14.97, manual shift ALL the time, for the last 60 000 k's, back into first at 50 k's etc (not great in the wet...), gets taken to the drags a but, skidpan days, and it still shifts silky smooth. (Touch wood). Oh, and it has 220 000k's on it.
On the other hand, mums crapped out at 230 000, and doesnt ever drive it hard at all.

Careful what you say about having a good auto... Rollin said the same thing about my car when it had a slushbox. 2000k's later at 221,000k's in went the manual.

No doubt they can take a bit of a hiding, but make sure you have a decent oil cooler, your oil is good, and you dont down shift and use engine braking. It kills the sprag clutch in the box.

The Monty · 29-10-2007, 04:02 PM

Thats why I said touch wood, lol. Kinda waiting for it to go in a way, so I can get it built, and a nice stall, but Im not trying to kill it fast.

**Mechan1k** · 29-10-2007, 06:31 PM

I had mine rebuilt and strengthened .. and I get it serviced every 20,000km (sometimes less than that) ... I also run an auxilliary transmission cooler.

Have been told my current box can be manually shifted fine as long as I am not overly harsh with it. Also has an adjustable solenoid in it to increase line pressure if needed.

Do need for a shift kit in it ... it shifts smoothly but positively ... and the harder I push it ... the more solidly it shifts.

There's a same spec box in a blown I6 ... and also in a very worked EF GHIA (with NOS for track work) ... and the owner drives it like a c*nt .. and it works very well.

SGT BLK · 30-10-2007, 11:02 AM

Excellant, Thanks for the quick reply..
Sounds promising that i shouldnt have to worrie to much. Thanks guys for ya help.
I think still i will service it and get external tranny cooler for it though before giving it any curry.., 15 to mid 14 for a 4.0 LTR SIX ...seems to be a few running those times ..IMPRESSIVE..

**Stav** · 30-10-2007, 02:56 PM

I blow about 1 gearbox a year on the au ford. They aren't very good.Knock on wood this one is a little over 1 year and still going.In saying that it flares in between gears at the drags.It robs time.

xr8 007 · 30-10-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

I had mine rebuilt and strengthened .. and I get it serviced every 20,000km (sometimes less than that) ... I also run an auxilliary transmission cooler.

Mechan1k,

How much is a rough estimate to get a tranny strengthend, as i want to put a hi-stall in there??

**Mechan1k** · 30-10-2007, 05:23 PM

$2000 from memory ... was pretty much an exchange basis moreso.
For anyone in Sydney ... the place is:

Allstates Automotive Transmissions
81 Grose St
Parramatta NSW 2150
(02) 9630 7704

http://www.allstatestrans.com.au/

From the looks of it ... they are in pretty much every state.

(Looked at my last post and I made so many typos due to typing at 100mph)
I meant that I have no shift kit in mine at all.

From what I can say with the work I give it ... it hasn't missed a beat ... as been in there pretty much 12 months now ... still feels like new ... done about 60,000km on it now ... and that's 3 services for me ... oil comes out bright red every time.

sly · 30-10-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sly

They can be strengthened, kevlar bands etc... do a bit of a search, there are ppl here who know who can do this type of mod. BTW mine has over 320,000k's on the original box, mostly country k's but it sees 5000rpm+ 5 or 6 times a week.

I downshift & engine brake a fair bit too... from 110-120 down one at a time to first before braking at a particular intersection... held in 1st at 50 down the hill past the Minmi pub... sounds like I'm on borrowed time...

xr8 007 · 30-10-2007, 11:43 PM

wow 2g's,,,,thats a great price for a strengthend auto. what did they add to it, to make it stronger?

EF Futura 07 · 31-10-2007, 09:22 PM

my stepdad had an AU2 XL I6 auto ute for work, in 2.5 years it did 130,000ks.
from day 1 it was redlined,valve bounced,down shifted to 2nd from 90+ for overtaking, down to 1st under 80 (at that speed theres enough compression to lock the tyres :evil3: ) towed heaps, regulary had 500kg+ in the back ( think there was time where it clicked over the tonne (shhhhh, i didnt say that), and when it was sold it was like brand new! there was NO rattles, clunks, engine was perfect, box was fine. it only had 2 box services. so they are strong enough, or that one was anyway.

SGT BLK · 02-11-2007, 12:31 PM

Great responce guys... Thankyou heaps..