Auto Trans Upgrades

[WattsyGQ]

Hey all, currently have the auto pulled out of my '90 tb42 GQ as it shot the front seal. Just wondering if there are any upgrades worth doing while it's out/after I put it in, I seen the nomad valve bodies that wholesale automatic do and also their torque converter lock up kits and would like to know if anyone else has these products! Also what after market or altered cooling set ups people are running as overheating lead to my seal dying, cheers!

[NissanGQ4.2]

All those you already mentioned and this: http://www.automatictransmission.com.au/release.asp?NewsId=40338

[jff45]

If you're planning on stripping it down you can add extra frictions in 3 of the clutches. I've just finished a beefed up trans I did to Infinity Q45 spec but haven't found time to do a thread on it.
IMO, no point spending big on the Nomad valve body if you don't plan to freshen up the rest.
You can also fit a Transgo shift kit to the valve body - $140 on Ebay. I even have a spare valve body with the Transgo kit fitted. I changed to a Nomad but don't feel much difference compared to the Transgo kit.

[taslucas]

My gearbox was pulled out and stripped while trying to find an elusive problem. The specialist recommended using a nomad valvebody when it all went back together. It was going to be missed extra in labour because it was all apart anyway so I went for it. But as said above, it was only worth doing because the rest of the box was like new inside (it must have been rebuilt not long before I got the car). Going from a stock (but great condition) box to a nomad valvebody, I noticed heaps of difference. It felt like it shifted like a race car, held gears longer and better and also had more engine breaking. Mine is a series one auto in a TB42s (carby) gq wagon. Possibly there'd be slightly less noticeable difference starting with a series two box....

[WattsyGQ]

Yep I'm hearing you mate, I'd say I have a series one box. Currently have the box out at a mechanics place and he's putting a new front seal in and a service kit through it and that should fix it. Since it was only leaking fluid he doesn't want to pull it right apart to suss it all out which i suppose is fair enough. Hopefully we'll get it back in next weekend and if she's the goods I'll look into a nomad valvebody. Have you got an aftermarket cooler on yours? Thats the main thing I want to do, temp warning light has came on a few times out in the bush and it got way too hot in the falls festival line up where it eventually popped the seal.

[jff45]

Your trans temp light comes on at 140 C. That's very hot for normal ATF. If you believe heat damaged the seal in the oil pump, imagine what it would have done to the thinner seals on your clutch pistons.
IMO, it's harder to remove and refit the trans than it is to pull off the bellhousing and valve body to pull just the reverse & high clutches to see what condition they're in.
An internal seal, o'rings and friction set is about 1/3 the cost of a Nomad valve body.
Seriously, if you have heat related damage then you'll only be throwing money away fitting a Nomad without opening the trans..