I have a boosted d-series engine with an automatic tranny. My engine blew at 7psi after 6 months of abuse. The tranny seems to be fine though. Now Im building a new d-series engine that wont blow this time. I want to up the boost, but Im concerned about my torque converter. I dont really want to spend the money on an aftermarket one like level ten or something, but I will if I have to. I was wondering if anyone has or knows someone that has blown a torque converter from too much boost/power. If so, how much psi/power were you/they pushing when it blew? Ive done a lot of searching on this topic, but there isnt a whole lot of information about turbo'd automatic honda/acuras out there. Any knowledge you guys could provide me would be awesome. Thanks!

 

How'd one blow a torque converter anyway (serious question, wondering if it happens)? They're basically viscous couplings, I can see maybe interfereing with the efficiency, or maybe damaging the locking clutch in some honda tc's. Level ten as far as I know doesn't sell new tc's, they just cut yours open and bend the fins to change the stall speed, and I believe at the same time decrease efficiency a bit. I dunno if anyone makes a new aftermarket tc for hondas.

 

tci makes new units for honda civics

http://www.tciauto.com

 

If you plan on boosting that automatic tranny you better get a tranny cooler. I blew my tranny in my 95 civic ex auto after 3 months of 10 psi. I totally fried the tranny. So my suggestion is that you look into a big tranny cooler and possibly getting it rebuilt if you plan to stick with the auto. And by the way, I am currently on my 3rd rebuild so I have learned a few things.

 

Is tci's in fact a new one or is it just a modified stock one? Sounds like a modified stock tc based on the fact that you can only get it in one stall speed, as well as the fact that it happens to be about the amount that you can increase the stock converter by modification. Like was mentioned, I'd be more concerned with tranny internals (i.e. the clutches) wearing out than the tc failing, keeping the tranny properly cooled is critical.

 

Yeah...I have a large tranny cooler on there right now. Thats probably why it hasnt blown yet.

 

anybody have a description on how exactly to install a tranny cooler?? on a 98 civic ex auto. me and my friend are like debating on whether the car has an existing stock one that's really small that you could couple off and run it to a bigger cooler.

also tci has a package now that upgrades all the clutches, seals, etc along with the torque converter. i wonder if it works for a 96-00 civic.

 

there are 2 coolant lines that run over top of the tranny into the lower portion of the radiator. The radiator is split in civic's so the engine uses the top half and the tranny uses the bottom half. Now you will need to pull the drain plug on the bottom (little **** thing that is black on the bottom of the radiator). Then disconnect the two lines that run into the radiator and reroute them to an external cooler. The cooler should be placed in front of the stock radiator or AC condensor. I put mine right under the bumper support in between my intercooler and my radiator.

 

I put mine right under the bumper support in between my intercooler and my radiator.

any pics of the install? i want to do that to mine also.

 

anybody know what kind of tranny cooler is best? like i've heard getting one that's too big is just as getting one that's too small. like you can overcool your tranny and have adverse effects if you don't size it up right.

 

hit me up if anyone wants to have a spare d16 auto tranny in their pocket.

 

Ive had my tranny cooler mounted on the back side of my radiator. No problems yet.

 

what's the dimensions of the coolers you guys are using. i've been runnin the stock auto tranny for like a year now with no problems yet at 5psi.

 

i have a hayden atf cooler

 

found some great links for you auto turbo's out there:
http://www.bulkparts.com/MM001.ASP?pageno=1181

http://www.v6accord.com/forums...d=543

http://www.hondatuningmagazine...rter/

http://www.bmracing.com/noflas....html

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by leadtrum &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">found some great links for you auto turbo's out there:
http://www.bulkparts.com/MM001.ASP?pageno=1181

http://www.v6accord.com/forums...d=543

http://www.hondatuningmagazine...rter/

http://www.bmracing.com/noflas....html </TD></TR></TABLE>

very good info there, I'm really considering one of those hayden tranny cooler kits even though I plan on swapping my tranny by the end of the summer, I still do want my slushbox to last me while I save money for the swap. For $20-$34 you can't really go wrong

 

I've got the Econ-O-Kool made by imperial.
Mine goes into the radiator first then into the new cooler then back to the tranny.
Here's some shots from when I installed mine
Installed:

Mounted with 1" gap from the radiator:

The right line on the tranny is the return line.

 

surprised no one's ever had a write up and detail pics for an install of one of these. i might try and do one whenever i end up buying mine. i wonder if it affects hp at all, like would it reduce drivetrain loss.

also does anyone know exactly what's the one thing you can build on the auto tranny that will actually make it stronger and accept more hp? like from what i heard its not the torque converter but the valve body that gives. more info would be nice on this subject since the number of auto turbo's on this board seem to be growing.

 

I would think the main thing to wear out would be the clutches, not the valve bodies. There isn't much to the valve bodies, and they're essentially your basic hydraulic valves, which don't fail that easily. Just to throw in my .02 on the torque converter thing, when the torque converters are modified, the companies typically bend the fins, and actually decrease efficiency, but increase stall speed. The decrease in efficiency ends up causing the torque converter to heat up the tranny fluid a bit more than normal as well, thus a good tranny cooler is needed. Nobody seems to make a full aftermarket torque converter for a honda, so you're stuck with a max stall speed of around 2800-3200, and can't pick one best suited for your application. I did a bunch of research and talked to a lot of different people and companies a while ago when I was contemplating building an auto turbo, but came to the conclusion I was better off swapping a manual, which I'm very glad I did. Just my .02 though from what I read and learned from talking to people.

 

so if i were to use the upgraded clutches and what not in the tci package that also offers a new torque converter. i should be straight going to like 8-9psi?

 

well u can do 8 or 9 psi on your stock tranny, just take it ez...

 

Yep, brought this thread alive. I'm dealing with a D15B2 Auto. I plan on towing my 91HB cross country with it, but I'm concerned about the TC.. What can I do to strengthen the tranny?