Transmission Temperature Question for Jim G.

[ruby2]

Jim G -
I picked up John Edge's SSR last week and still trying to understand everything he had done to the car. He said you were knowledgeable in some of the mods he had done. The SSR has the PI Vigilante billet torque converter, vet servos and B&M deep trans pan. It is running 4:10 gears, a 180 thermostat and performance tune. It runs great.

My question is what is the normal transmission temperature on a stock 2004? Read most of the threads on the aux gauges. This SSR seems to run around mid gauge or 200 degrees after an hour at 70 mph at a 90 degree ambient temperature.

Ruby 2

[Greg Ducato]

I'm not Jim G of course but I do build his transmissions so forgive me if I jump in on this. The Vigilante is a great performance converter but it is only 9.5 inches in diameter and in a heavy truck like the SSR builds quite a bit of heat. If you don't already have one, then invest in an auxillary trans cooler. Mike in AZ sells a nice kit that is easy to install and runs in tandem with the factory cooler. The temerature of 200 degrees on the highway is a bit warm since this is the time when the converter clutch should be on and keeping slippage at a minimum. The 2006 computer will always allow a little slippage in it's stock settings but a good tuner can turn this into an "on and off" lockup and get rid of the partial lockup which will help control heat. I would be more comfortable with temps at 185 or less. Let me know if I can help.
Greg

[Jgrden]

I have Mike's tranny cooler on order. In Texas it is a good idea to have one.

[Double-L]

Well I am not Jim either but have been running a 9 1/2 2800 to 3200 PI Vigilante for over three years, If you are going by the pod some are not known as the most reliable, When we built the tranny I got the wrong pan so just run the stock pan and raced it and the needle always seem to stay right around the 200 mark, I just went on putting off the pan and cooler for over a full year of racing and driving it everyday, So when I did put the B&M deep pan and a good cooler it still run right at the 200 mark but if you are not going by the factory pod just disregard this, Have a good day

[ruby2]

Thanks for all the feedback! It is my 2004 with the PI torque converter. The previous owner also installed a larger transmission B&M oil pan (2-3 quarts, I think) but as noted the temperature still runs about the same. Normal temp around town has been about 185 degrees but on Interstate after two hours it got to around mid range. It has been tweaked with a predator. I'll keep an eye on it.
Ruby 2 and

[JimGnitecki]

I view the auto transmision in an SSR as a stressed componewnt because of the weight of the vehicle, its tendency to be driven like a hot rod despite the weight, the marginal overall SSR thermodynamics, and the fact that the transmission being used with either of the two engines, but especially with the 6.0 liter engine, is technically beyond its design torque limit.

That 200 reading seems to be the norm on automatic SSRs, with or without tranny coolers. As Greg Ducato has already said, that is a bit warm for best long term durability.

I would recommend that anyone who drives their SSR like a hotrod versus like a cruiser get one of Greg's "built" transmissions.

I view the automatic transmission, along with the elegant roof mechanism that so few GM mechanics understand fully, the cheapo ignition switch that causes all manner of electornic glitches, and the overly sophisticated SSR electronics, all as vulnerabilities in the long term durability of an SSR.

Jim G