A518 Overdrive Questions

[Carlwalski]

Sweet. Thanks TTman. I will keep an eye out for a 1990 A518 case in need of a rebuild.
When I find one I'll email or PM and we'll take it form there. I'd have it shipped directly to your shop. 

Had a look at your website, didn't realise it was such a professional outfit (no offense of course).
Is that you on the main page?


 

[Carlwalski]

Great work Shelby. 
Terry, before I commit and forward you any money I want to double check with my resto team.

I'll let you know when I'm good to with your consent. 

[tactransman]

I won't pay that much for a core, partly because the car is all apart(no hurry) and I am hoping one will come thru my door here with someone wanting to get a core out of their way. What about the
"U wrench it" place you were talking about earlier? All I want is a buildable core , not one with a warranty that it works or anything.

[tactransman]

Great work Shelby. 
Terry, before I commit and forward you any money I want to double check with my resto team.

I'll let you know when I'm good to with your consent. 

Sounds good NZ , if we get serious about this we can talk more.

[tactransman]

Had a look at your website, didn't realise it was such a professional outfit (no offense of course).
Is that you on the main page?
Yep    that is the transmission I built for my Challenger


 

[Carlwalski]

Sounds good NZ , if we get serious about this we can talk more.

Awesome, and I'm dead serious. Your prices can't be beat and you know your stuff.
Besides, it'll be cool to have a board member build me a custom OD trans.

I'll let you know via this thread as soon as I know what my exact plans for the Cuda are.
If you like, you could do me a favor......could you get a couple of shipping quotes for me?

From your shop to Wellington, New Zealand post code 6007.
Using any of the big name companies. Try EXPRESS, a second rate shipping and the slowest.

Just this way I know where I stand with shipping from the start and can then get a better gauge on the overall cost and money expenses. If you could that, that would be awesome. Hopefully someone in your customer service center could get a couple of quotes together.


Cheers,
Carl

[tactransman]

Had a look at your website, didn't realise it was such a professional outfit (no offense of course).

 

No offense taken, I am a small shop (2 bays and one young guy working for me) I am probably going to add two more bays next year. I do alot of 727's and a few 904's and alot of 518's. Quality control is excellent though with me being the only one doing the rebuilds. I am going to get a customers cars tab added to the web site soon so everyone can see my clientel.

[Carlwalski]

Sounds like a good work ethic goes on there Terry, good for you mate! If I lived in the States I'd probably ask for a job with you so I could learn a thing or two in a subject (Performance Autos) I like.

What are the pros and cons of lock up vs non lock up? Basically I'm wanting the best.
I want something reliable, long lasting, heavy duty with good performance. Is this possible all in the same trans.

My resto guy said he prefers non-lock up but didn't give me any reason why, this was because it was over the phone and a second rate comment that I asked needing either a yes or no answer.

[tactransman]

A non lock up you are unlimited on a converter(stall and strength) a lock up will drop your RPM about another 300 but they are limited on stall , more expensive and not as strong (the lock up clutch and mechanizm take up room on the inside)

[Carlwalski]

So you recommend non-lock up. 

[tactransman]

Yes , if you are going to have a pretty strong engine in front of it . If you are going to just criuse like Shelbydogg than a lock up is fine. The rule of thumb on any automatic overdrive is if you are going to run a 3.55 to 3.73 gear or numerically higher rear end ratio , you do not have to have a lock up. Anything lower (3.23 example) than you need a lock up to eliminate the heat in the converter when in OD. I want my car to run 11 second 1/4's with the 518 so I am going with a non lock up and a 4000 to 4500 stall with 4.30 gears.

[Carlwalski]

Sweet! I should be fine with a non-lock up.

The only reason I'm getting a A518 is because I want to replace my 3.23 gears with either 3.91s or 4.10s+. 

[tactransman]

I'll try to find you a newer 518 in MO. What was the cutoff year terry? 95?

1996 and later they went to computer upshift.

[EVIL72]

Yes , if you are going to have a pretty strong engine in front of it . If you are going to just criuse like Shelbydogg than a lock up is fine. The rule of thumb on any automatic overdrive is if you are going to run a 3.55 to 3.73 gear or numerically higher rear end ratio , you do not have to have a lock up. Anything lower (3.23 example) than you need a lock up to eliminate the heat in the converter when in OD. I want my car to run 11 second 1/4's with the 518 so I am going with a non lock up and a 4000 to 4500 stall with 4.30 gears.

 So a 518 non lockup trans WILL work fine in overdrive with a 4000-4500 stall converter? Does it just need a huge trans cooler to keep the heat down?
 So how much HP and torque can an all out built 518 handle?
 

[tactransman]

So a 518 non lockup trans WILL work fine in overdrive with a 4000-4500 stall converter?
Yes , especially since my Challenger will have 4.30 gears in it.

 Does it just need a huge trans cooler to keep the heat down?
Yes a good cooler
 So how much HP and torque can an all out built 518 handle?
In my opinion anything a 727 can handle.