Boosting automatics

[Lord_Zath]

There's been a few discussions on this in various threads, so I thought we'd create an official thread about boosting automatics.

I know Pirana had his boosted and destroyed the tranny.

We know that tons of boost on an auto is not safe for the tranny.

What I'm interested in people posting is as follows:

- who currently has a turboed automatic?
- What kit?
- What psi?
- How long?
- What precautions?
- Any problems?
- Sport automatic or the normal automatic?

I'm not necessarily interested in turboing my car, but I know others are. So let's put this issue to rest here.

Those of you with MANUAL transmissions, please do not post unless you have something constructive to say. Let's keep this thread clean and informative!

 

[Lord_Zath]

(bump)

 

[ChefChris]

I wanta sub...to get answer's to this thread, also feel free to give opinion on building a stronger auto tranny?

 

[ESilversurfer03]

im one of the very interested ones....i was looking at getting boosted at the end of this month, but im still very cautious. Im sure it will be fun for a while but im afraid of s*** hitting the fan. Hopefully you guys with more knowledge will shed some light

 

[InFeXIoN]

yea im kinda curious on this also.

 

[igdrasil]

We had one car boosting the Auto Trans until we swaped the transmission a few months ago...so I guess I can chime in at least a bit of info:

1. Not running auto anymore
2. Custom kit with WRX Turbo and Intercooler
3. 7-9psi of boost
4. Aprox 1 year before swap
5. Precautions? Well, keep it rich and not keep foot on gas pedal while the trans gears up.
6. No problems, except usual not related to trans, manifold cracked, then turbo fu$% up. etc
7. Normal Automatic.

Got a few pics and videos if interested.

 

[Brian MP5T]

Member: Lil Freek was going to get Lentech to make a ATX tranny custom for his turbo, they wanted over $2500.00 For it and said that it would be safe up to 200 WHP...

We did a Manual Swap in one weekend and it's running strong!

 

[igdrasil]

We run an auto kit here for $800 safe for up to 300whp...well at least thats whats been tested.

 

[MrTea]

i'm running the same tranny on my 6 with the HiBoost turbo. I put in the Lentech valvebodies a few months before the turbo and swear by them with the turbo. When Juan from HiBoost drove my car he said it was night and day from how they handles on the test cars he'd done down south. the shifts are much faster, so it doesn't soar into redline in between. all i've done is the valvebodies and a tranny cooler. I was lined up for a Lentech tranny for 4300, but they needed 4 more buyers (of any tranny) to keep the 10% GB discount and we only had 2 of us. i could do 3900 but after just getting the turbo, i had to keep the cost down as much as i could. once the bottom end gets build i'll have to, but i've boosted up to 15psi and only have seen issues in first when the tires are just spinning and it shifts to 2nd, takes and extra second.

don't know if that helps at all, but it's what i got. you can also hit up Level10, though they are a bit more and seem to be always dicks on the phone (3 times i've called).

 

[peepsalot]

Member: Lil Freek was going to get Lentech to make a ATX tranny custom for his turbo, they wanted over $2500.00 For it and said that it would be safe up to 200 WHP...

We did a Manual Swap in one weekend and it's running strong!

Wow, that's pretty crappy. How much power can the stock ATX handle?

 

[MrTea]

depends on how it's pushed. i've run to about 260hp i'd guess, maybe a bit more i'd guess, with just the valvebodies pretty much.

 

[TampaSport20]

general consensus is that anything over 160-170 lb-ft of torque tends to start breaking stuff on a stock tranny...

keep in mind it's torque, not hp that breaks things

 

[gimpo2]

- who currently has a turboed automatic? ME!
- What kit? HiBoost
- What psi? First year I ran 6psi daily, by year 2 I was running 8psi daily, now its a lil under 9psi. I don't dare go any higher.
- How long? ~25K Miles, 2 years around April 10
- What precautions? Must let off the gas while the tranny is shifting. use manual mode 100% of the time
- Any problems? 2nd to 3rd gear shift is slow, then 1st to 2nd shift began to slow down, if i get on the gas too soon after a shift the tranny might slip, Boosted too much at 8psi on the freeway and the manual mode locked me out and only shifted automatically (me thinks the tranny got too hot/ only happened twice) When parked and switching from P to R or to D the tranny is loud and clicky. Once at 9psi on the freeway it was really cold outside, the tranny slipped in 4th gear when floorin it, was ok at 7psi though.
- Sport automatic or the normal automatic? Sport Automatic
- Duh? Never neutral dropped, never brake boosted, never boosted over 9


I really don't know how long the tranny can take it, the overall condition of the tranny really hasn't changed in over a year. Most of these problems surfaced after the first few months of getting the turbo. I guess if you can keep the boost at 8psi or lower (preferably 6-7psi) and you don't drive like an idiot all of the time the tranny will hold up or just manage to stay working. i dunno. I'm doing a manual swap because i want more boost

 

[Roywhitep5]

seems like more trouble than its worth

 

[Protege52003]

BazookaJoe has a sweet boosted P5!

 

[Brian MP5T]

Turbo and Automatic... Yuck

 

[igdrasil]

Turbo and Automatic... Yuck

yeah but very damn quick with less hp.

 

[peepsalot]

doesn't bigwoofer have some crazy ass auto?

 

[Lord_Zath]

thanks for the responses, guys. keep'em comin!

 

[gimpo2]

where is lil freek? more importantly where's his swap how-to>?