I've got a 94 trans in my 95 and I'm thinking the lockup isn't working. The converter is a TCI super street fighter 3800 stall.

I have it set for the old setup to lockup at 55mph. Now I didn't get a very long run in last night but I couldn't get it to lockup above 55 or on my brief highway run. So my question is what else could cause it to not want to lock?

Trans temps were around 60*C
High slip ratio with current 2.56 gears (3.73s in tomorrow)

-Fluid level seems okay, but I'll check again


-Did not reprogram to a 94 bin file. I am throwing TCC feedback code 83? I thought it would still lockup even with this code.

Is there a way to force lock the converter while I'm driving to just make sure the solinoid is working? I remember you could do the ol paper clip trick with the older cars. If not I guess I'll reflash with a force lock at 50 just to make sure it works.

 

fyi, it's a caprice wagon and the stock gears are 2.56 open
With this trans and converter the car hauls nuts...but typical for me and my luck with this car, the plug wires seem to have been eaten by the headers again....wires are moving to the valve cover this week :/ The 3.73 and eaton should be fun though.

 

the 55 is way wrong, they'll lock up around 48 or after

 

I programmed it for that a while ago because the drone was soooo bad at 45.

 

you know it sounds like your tranny needs a rebuild.IMO

 

94 fbody transmissions can only go into 94 fbodies (unless you switch the PCM and harness too). Same with 93. Although, 95-97 all interchange with eachother.

Here is the reason. 93 was still a hydraulic trans (4L60), and not electronically controlled. 94 became electronic (4L60E), and had a different lockup method. Then in 95 they changed the way the TC locked up again, even though it stayed a 4L60E.

You need a 94 PCM and trans harness.

 

yeah I posted a big writeup from the impalaforums on here. the only difference is the pulsed apply to the TC. From what I heard it should still apply it will just be on/off and throw a code for the pulsed function not working?!?!

The trans was built and used in a camaro for a bit...seems to be working great except for lockup.

 

LOL why would you think it would need rebuilt? Bad trans would be slipping in gear, noises, bad fluid. Or bad TC lockup clutch but generally they grab but cannot hold when they start to fail. This is no response at all.

Actually to get back on track. What are the controls for lockup? Just speed, TPS and gear?

Or is it also, temp, slip, steady state...ie not getting into the gas or something while it's in the lockup range.

 

Of course it is working great, the transmissions are exactly the same minus the lock up method. The difference in lock up is what makes the 94-95 years non-interchangeable. You need a 94 PCM to go with the 94 trans.

 

Well, lock up is not just controled by the speed at which you reach, once that speed is reached, your oil pump in the tranny will, direct fluid to the clutch in the TC and lock up the TC creating a mechanical connection between the engine and tranny. So what it sounds like is to me and remember this is IMO ok, your pump is going, or clutch is gone in the tc, but since its a new tc your hoping its not the TC. Wait a min. did you actually get a lock up TC from them. or is it just a 3800 stall. that could also be it. Or it could be what the other fellas are saying its a TCM/PCM problem in which I do not like working with.

 

see, shibby seems to get it, he's down with the new tech., i'm all about the old school. sorry for arguement.

 

I was not saying you were wrong, I am just saying 94 with 94, and 95-97 with 95-97. They cannot be interchanged. I have seen them miss matched before, and almost did it myself.

 

oh ya, i'm not saying you were saying i was wrong, did i say that right?? I was just saying that you seem to know about what is in the components in an PCM/TCM controled Transmission compared to what i udnerstand from Autotrans classes i'm taking right now, which covers from the origins of the transmissions to the latest in transmissions, in which i prefer working on the older ones seeing as the components in them last longer then the components do on the newer transmissions.

 

okay, so say the impalaforum guys were wrong. Not that there has ever been anything wrong on the internet before Shouldn't I be able to wire up a manual lockup switch to my dash? If anything a switch would be good to check functionality and to keep temps down while I work with the PCM interface.

Looking at a 94 PCM bin the only difference I see is the code 83 Torque converter feedback box being checked/unchecked.

Anyone have a diagram of the harness to see what the pinouts are? Any other way to manually trigger the solinoid?

I suspect the pump to be fine based on the volume of fluid coming out the cooler lines while I was flushing them, but perhaps it's a touch low on fluid, I could check or add a half quart.

I will also get the stamping off the TCI converter to x-reference the number to see if it is a lockup. Perhaps the guy I bought it from was mistaken.