86 t1 lebaron convertible BLEW THE TRANNY - What can i replace it with?

[nate@truetech]

Ok, so the car JUST ticked over 100K. Less than 100 miles into it, i was leaving the gas station, and WHIR WHIR WHIR WHIR WHIR! No forward drive...

Then i hit reverse and no drive there either! 1st, 2nd? DEAD. And I mean Dead. It sounds like something stripped major.

SO. I want to fix it, but i seriously dont want it to break again, so is there like a mini van tranny i can put in it thats a little heavier internally?

What about gear ratios? Are certain tranny's shorter or longer like on handuhhs?

and since the thing is gonna have to be pulled apart... i think i may go on with the t2 swap so i can intercool the thing. I mean, i love the car, and it got better mileage than my 81 fiesta... with a fmic, some more timing, and a longer tranny.... who knows what the mileage could be. or the top end!!!

[Sittn86]

Do a 5-spd. swap; you'll get all of the above.

[nate@truetech]

hmm, wouldnt that add complication and cost? I'm looking for automatic options really, as they work well with highly boosted turbo setups...

The fiesta is a manual 4 speed and thats fun enough... I just want a cruiser that my girlfriend and little sister can putt around with the top down but is a beast under boost

so... With that out there now, what automatic options are available? Just a stock replacement?

[Sittn86]

Just find another A413 from a turbo car. That's all you'll need.

[PTT]

My 107K mile '84 T-1 Lebaron Convertible blew its tranny last Xmas Eve and I still havent found a original stock replacement transmission. Your '86 will need a non-lockup 3spd A413 that uses the small inner splined axles. I think the '86 year Turbo car transmissions went to the 4-bolt torque converters and 8-bolt crankshafts. My '84 is a 3-bolt/6-bolt respectively. My delimma is that as I understand it I need to find one from an '84-'85 year donor car specifically. I've even toyed with the idea of upgrading to a '89-newer A413 auto and converting to larger splined '87-newer axles and an 8-bolt crankshaft/4-bolt T-Converter entailing lots of labor but possibly a stronger driveline. Not to mention a lot more available parts when upgrading to those '87-newer parts.

[Oclk Dlux]

I upgraded to a large axle A413 and had a custom TC built out of an '89 converter, but with an '85 face so I could bolt it straight up to my older block. Long story as to why I did that, but it cost me $400.

Dang! Wish I knew you needed an older trans. I had a working one from a '85 turbo that I just recently took to the junkyard as I couldn't sell it for $50 on Craigslist. Tacoma isn't far from Boise, I would have delivered it!

'87 is when they converted over to the large spline axles. Unless you are running HUGE boost, the smaller spline axles are fine. Just look for a '84 - '86 turbo A413 in the boneyard. Probably cost near $300 if you get a "grade A" that's already been pulled.

[DblTrbl]

Sounds like possibly a broken axle or a broken input shaft.

[PTT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oclk Dlux I upgraded to a large axle A413 and had a custom TC built out of an '89 converter, but with an '85 face so I could bolt it straight up to my older block. Long story as to why I did that, but it cost me $400. Dang! Wish I knew you needed an older trans. I had a working one from a '85 turbo that I just recently took to the junkyard as I couldn't sell it for $50 on Craigslist. Tacoma isn't far from Boise, I would have delivered it! '87 is when they converted over to the large spline axles. Unless you are running HUGE boost, the smaller spline axles are fine. Just look for a '84 - '86 turbo A413 in the boneyard. Probably cost near $300 if you get a "grade A" that's already been pulled.

Were the '86-up crankshafts six or eight bolt? And were the '86-up torque converters three or four bolt? I thought that '85 was the last year for 6-bolt crankshafts for my 1984 T-1 Lebaron! Likewise for torque converters?

[itsbudda]

my 87's an 8 bolt, so I' gonna go ahead and say 8

[pobort]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTT My 107K mile '84 T-1 Lebaron Convertible blew its tranny last Xmas Eve and I still havent found a original stock replacement transmission. Your '86 will need a non-lockup 3spd A413 that uses the small inner splined axles. I think the '86 year Turbo car transmissions went to the 4-bolt torque converters and 8-bolt crankshafts. My '84 is a 3-bolt/6-bolt respectively. My delimma is that as I understand it I need to find one from an '84-'85 year donor car specifically. I've even toyed with the idea of upgrading to a '89-newer A413 auto and converting to larger splined '87-newer axles and an 8-bolt crankshaft/4-bolt T-Converter entailing lots of labor but possibly a stronger driveline. Not to mention a lot more available parts when upgrading to those '87-newer parts.

this is pretty accurate information.

to the originator. don't get into all kinds of performance mods... especially with a stock power plant. you're just thowing money away for minimal gains. if you were pumping out 400hp and pound the crap out of the car then by all means spend a couple grand for all the good stuff.

1986 is a one year unique trans. 1987 has larger axles and 1985 and earler has a different converter and different pump. the turbo and v-6 transmissions are a little stronger than the carb/tbi transmissions. there are several gear ratios, but then again unless you are all out competition with the car, just don't worry about that, it's totally pointless.

there are always ways to problem solve incompatiblity issues. if you get an older trans use your pump and torque converter. if you get a newer trans then use the bigger axle shafts.

however your problem may not be the trans at all. as suggested check your outer cv joints. I bought a 1986 turismo that the owner said the clutch was bad. went i let out the clutch, there was no movement but the speed was reading... that cant be a clutch because the speedo is run by the passenger axle. so a quick look and the shaft was turning and all the cv balls were gone. a 15 min fix and a $60 autozone shaft and my 'clutch' was fixed.