How many times have you had to rebuild/replace your tranny?

[LordBritish]

Twice so far for me and less than 73K miles on the car.

Spent around $7.5K total on 2 tranny rebuilds

Automatic 05 GT here. These 5R55S trannies just suck.

 

[05stroker]

Where did you get your trans from and what is done to your car?

 

[LordBritish]

Where did you get your trans from and what is done to your car?

The transmission is the one that came with the car.

It's been rebuilt twice.

So i guess that means they just take it apart and put in some new parts and slap it together, no?

As far as mods I have a CAI with custom tune and some various suspension mods. Nothing crazy. Don't know why it broke other than the tranny sucks.

 

[05stroker]

So I assume you are having your Ford dealer do it. Are they replacing it with a new unit each time or rebuilding it there selves?

 

[LordBritish]

So I assume you are having your Ford dealer do it. Are they replacing it with a new unit each time or rebuilding it there selves?

It was not rebuilt by a Ford dealer. I took it someplace else since both times it was out of the warranty period.

I'm pretty sure it was taken apart and then put back together - twice.

 

[kwadkins]

That's super steep for a rebuild.....

 

[eighty6gt]

I've been into a 4R70W a few times. I find that system contamination (lines, converter, etc..) is critical to contain after a transmission failure, and we lost a rebuild to this problem.. in my opinion. Lost the original transmission, lost the first rebuild to old electronic controls that were actually the cause of the first failure, lost the second rebuild a few thousand miles later. Very frustrating.

I told the guy to swap to a T5, he isn't really interested.

 

[Wild White Pony]

I had my first trans go out about a year ago, stock original lasted 8 years. Spent $4,000.00 on a built Level 10 replacement. Expect to rebuild the 5R55S a lot if you let the trans downshift on it's own when you plant your foot. Is a built 5R going to take more abuse than a stock? IDK yet.. but I think you will get quite a few polar opposite opinions here. My next rebuild will be a FB 4R70W swap with a TB.

 

[702GT]

Original factory "shitty" 3650 here. Track passes on slicks dumping from 6k, 450wtq on spray, 480wtq FI. Still kicking. She's pretty retired these days, was never at the track for FI launches, but plenty of N2O dumps. Only ran 10 passes on slicks. These days she doesn't see much more than 4k/rpm. Maybe once a week I'll take to 6k from 2nd to the top of 3rd. I just don't hammer on the car much anymore.

 

[Pentalab]

I installed the JDM catch can for the 5R55s....and also a B+M auto tranny cooler, (bar + plate type)
(plumbed in series with oem auto tranny cooler). Also installed a PA deeper aluminum auto tranny pan, 2.1" lower than oem, holds an extra 4 qts . Then had the oem tranny fluid sucked out via vac on one end, and pressure on the other end. Then refilled the entire mess with synthetic RP max ATF. With my small roush M90 blower on my 2010 4.6, the auto tranny temps would skyrocket from 170 f to 200 f in just 5-6 secs with blower on....on the hwy. Now they don't budge, maybe 1-2 deg F at most. Without the catch can, you will puke out atf all over the ground.

The deeper pan comes with a locking type dipstick, big enough that you can easily add atf, if required. Roush's portion of the tune for the automatic left a lot to be desired. The VMP tune is a helluva lot better. With a blower, the shifts have to be firmer, and faster. I can fine tweak the firmness, on a shift by shift basis...1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5. Also I can fine tweak the shift points ( rpm /mph) also on a shift by shift basis...all via the SCT-X3. With out the deeper pan + dipstick, you have no way of knowing how much ATF is actually in there. You could be down 1-3 qts and never know.

Upshifts are not the problem...it's the downshifts. Avoid 5-3, and 5-2 shifts, and also 4-2 and 4-1 shifts, and also 3-1 shifts. If you know u are going to have fun, shut off the OD 1st. 35-40 mph in 4th gear is a bad one..when u mash it. It will do a 4-3 shift 1st...then a split sec later, do a 3-2 shift. It's all in the technique.

At least with the deeper pan /dipstick / catch can / extra tranny cooler / synthetic ATF ( + and extra 4 qts), the 5R55s has a better chance of survival.

 

[sdleo29]

Original factory "shitty" 3650 here. Track passes on slicks dumping from 6k, 450wtq on spray, 480wtq FI. Still kicking. She's pretty retired these days, was never at the track for FI launches, but plenty of N2O dumps. Only ran 10 passes on slicks. These days she doesn't see much more than 4k/rpm. Maybe once a week I'll take to 6k from 2nd to the top of 3rd. I just don't hammer on the car much anymore.

What is your best ET, 60' and trap speed , just wondering. I am trying to break into 10.90's before I put the new motor and 6060 in the car and love hearing about PB's on stock internals (assuming you have) and 3650.

 

[fdjizm]

Original factory "shitty" 3650 here. Track passes on slicks dumping from 6k, 450wtq on spray, 480wtq FI. Still kicking. She's pretty retired these days, was never at the track for FI launches, but plenty of N2O dumps. Only ran 10 passes on slicks. These days she doesn't see much more than 4k/rpm. Maybe once a week I'll take to 6k from 2nd to the top of 3rd. I just don't hammer on the car much anymore.

Sounds like she needs a new home

 

[702GT]

What is your best ET, 60' and trap speed , just wondering. I am trying to break into 10.90's before I put the new motor and 6060 in the car and love hearing about PB's on stock internals (assuming you have) and 3650.

The last setup I ran on the track was N2O/NA. Fastest on spray was 11.95@115mph. Would need to consult my timeslips for that 60' but I averaged 1.6's~ most of the time. I was getting 1.8's before I installed a 2-step. NA was 12.9x@106. DA and track conditions at LVMS always suck unless you want to dig deep in the pockets for a fully prepped test n tune. I know the car was faster than that on spray, I just couldn't put it down. Gearing may also have played against me, my wheel size on ET tires vs radials was different, with 4.10's I had too much gear left in 4th on ET's. So I was bogging at the big end. Also didn't help I was shifting early, I didn't want to run all the way out on spray, for fear of the dreaded gear lock-out.

Never had the FI setup to the track, probably never will.

Sounds like she needs a new home

Everything is for sale, for the right price.

 

[07 Boss]

I'm on my third tranny. My first one was good at the time but I swapped in a Level 10 'Bulletproof" tranny When I put my Whipple on. It was not really bulletproof. Lost 3rd gear and had it rebuilt by a local shop that Guaranteed it for 3 yr or 36K miles even after I told him I race it and beat it like a red headed step child. He put what he thinks are the best parts available. Problem is is that these trannies can only hold parts that are only so big and beefy. He replaced the high energy clutch bands with some Alto Red, Kolene steel, clutch bands. He said these are the beefiest that he could put in there and better than the high energy bands that Level 10 uses. Haven't had an issue yet but it's only been a year.

Paid like $3600 for the Level 10 and about $3000 on the last rebuild.

 

[808muscle]

500+ passes in my stock auto with no issues. I do have a PA deep pan and a catch can. I swap the fluid every year since I race it so much. Aeroforce gauge shows trans temp and it rarely ever hits 180'. I don't drive like an idiot on the street. I was told by JDM these trannys are fine for drag racing but hammering downshifts will kill it in a week on the street.