? for all C4 users

Stang_ROTY · 08-16-2001, 02:58 PM

I have a Dynamic C4 and TCI 10' convertor. When I go from park to reverse and reverse to drive (1st gear) I hear a little "clunking" noise. Nothing major but I'm just not used to it. Is this normal and how does too little ot too much fluid effect shifting? Also, when I go for a long drive (only done it once), this tranny gets HOT. I mean so hot that I can feel it in the metal Hurst pistol shifter I have. Thanks

Fox Body · 08-16-2001, 05:13 PM

How's your transmission mount? Having too little fluid in transmission could cause it that when you shift from drive to reverse, it won't engage and you won't have reverse. Don't think too little fluid would cause clunking. Too much fluid would overflow out of your dipstick tube when it got hot. You'd see that as it'd drop on your headers and smoke much from the hood.

Gets hot through the "metal" hurst shifter? So hot you can't touch it or it's uncomfortable?

-------------------------------------------------------
351W-powered 1979 Ford Mustang notchback
Stock 5.8L under 4" cowl, C4 w/ shift kit
Holley 750 cfm, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
1 5/8" MAC shorty headers, Al driveshaft
2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters
Front: 225/60/15, Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II
Weld wheels (15x6;15x8), 8.8" Rear w/ 3.55s
14 x 4” K&N air filter (getting the Xtreme setup someday)

"Red, thou art my companion. Hasten now your quickened metamorphosis to Green that I may conquer all who dare abide there beside me. May they be left thither behind burnt black." ---Fox Body

Stang_ROTY · 08-16-2001, 10:50 PM

My tranny mounts fine. No problems. The only thing that bothers me is that clunking type of sound as I change gears. I've always had a stick before this car and I'm not used to this type of tranny. I like it..but it's different. I do get a very small tranny fluid leak but it nothing bad. From park to reverse is a little hard. Clunks but stays in gear no problem. I used the B&M Trick shift fluid. Is that the problem?

Capri306 · 08-17-2001, 01:08 AM

Trick shift fluid is nothing more than Type F with better temperature stability. Simply put, that's a light oil with foam inhibitors, seal conditioners, and no fricition modifiers like Mercon. Sorry to bust anyone's bubble.

Don't worry about that little clunk sound. Perfectly normal for an automatic. What you're hearing is all the slack in the drivetrain being taken up when you put it in gear. Just be sure your U joints are in top shape, and that your ring gear in the differential is properly set.

Now if the trans is running HOT hot, then you need a cooler. You should have a cooler on there, anyways. Heat is about the only thing that will kill an automatic, and very quickly. The heat in your shifter is probably from all the air blowing past the radiator, engine, and exhaust pipes. Mine did that on my stock '79 Capri with a C4, too. Hope this helped to stomp your fears out.

------------------
Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online
1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73
1987 Mustang LX Notch

Stang_ROTY · 08-17-2001, 06:07 PM

I guess that my biggest fear is that 1)the tranny getting hot and 2)the clunking when I'm at idle shifting from P to R or from D to R (and from 1st to 2nd) is some how tied together. It's a brand new tranny and I don't want to burn out the clutches. I called Dynamic and they said the dipstick isn't very accurate and that bothers me a lot. Plus, I'm using that Trick Shift fluid. Should I drain the tranny and re-fill it from scratch and if so, how much fluid does it take. I have a 10' convertor and I heard from Harold at Dynamic that it can take 9 or ten quarts. What do you think?

Quote:

Originally posted by Capri306:
Trick shift fluid is nothing more than Type F with better temperature stability. Simply put, that's a light oil with foam inhibitors, seal conditioners, and no fricition modifiers like Mercon. Sorry to bust anyone's bubble.

Don't worry about that little clunk sound. Perfectly normal for an automatic. What you're hearing is all the slack in the drivetrain being taken up when you put it in gear. Just be sure your U joints are in top shape, and that your ring gear in the differential is properly set.

Now if the trans is running HOT hot, then you need a cooler. You should have a cooler on there, anyways. Heat is about the only thing that will kill an automatic, and very quickly. The heat in your shifter is probably from all the air blowing past the radiator, engine, and exhaust pipes. Mine did that on my stock '79 Capri with a C4, too. Hope this helped to stomp your fears out.

Five0 · 08-17-2001, 11:14 PM

Mine does that clunking sound too so I guess it's pretty normal. If you think about how fast it shifts and goes into gear it would be like taking a t-5 and side stepping the clutch between gears.
Mine runs hot also and I have a tranny cooler.

------------------
James Cox
nochevy@hotmail.com
1991 Mustang LX
12.565 @109.38mph 1.764 60ft

Stang_ROTY · 08-18-2001, 08:43 AM

I guess they do run hot if everyone is having the same symptoms as I am. I got a starter cover from Summit. It's a piece of cloth that I wrap around the starter. Hopefully it works.

PKRWUD · 08-18-2001, 09:18 AM

As long as the fluid level on your trans dipstick is where it says it's supposed to be, with the engine running and on level ground, don't worry about your fluid level. A new engine and a 10" convertor equal a hot tranny. You should still install an external cooler, but I think you will notice the trans temp come down a bit as the engine gets broken in.

Take care
~Chris

------------------
Retired Moderator
MustangNet

My site: JimPorterRacing

RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR

HEY !!! Are you ASE Certified ??? If you are, ask me about iATN. The best tool you'll ever have, and it's free !!!

08-16-2001, 02:58 PM	#1
Stang_ROTY Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Berkshire County - Massachusetts Posts: 735	? for all C4 users I have a Dynamic C4 and TCI 10' convertor. When I go from park to reverse and reverse to drive (1st gear) I hear a little "clunking" noise. Nothing major but I'm just not used to it. Is this normal and how does too little ot too much fluid effect shifting? Also, when I go for a long drive (only done it once), this tranny gets HOT. I mean so hot that I can feel it in the metal Hurst pistol shifter I have. Thanks

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08-16-2001, 05:13 PM	#2
Fox Body Mustang Maniac Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: GA, U.S.A Posts: 2,266	How's your transmission mount? Having too little fluid in transmission could cause it that when you shift from drive to reverse, it won't engage and you won't have reverse. Don't think too little fluid would cause clunking. Too much fluid would overflow out of your dipstick tube when it got hot. You'd see that as it'd drop on your headers and smoke much from the hood. Gets hot through the "metal" hurst shifter? So hot you can't touch it or it's uncomfortable? ------------------------------------------------------- 351W-powered 1979 Ford Mustang notchback Stock 5.8L under 4" cowl, C4 w/ shift kit Holley 750 cfm, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake 1 5/8" MAC shorty headers, Al driveshaft 2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters Front: 225/60/15, Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II Weld wheels (15x6;15x8), 8.8" Rear w/ 3.55s 14 x 4” K&N air filter (getting the Xtreme setup someday) "Red, thou art my companion. Hasten now your quickened metamorphosis to Green that I may conquer all who dare abide there beside me. May they be left thither behind burnt black." ---Fox Body

08-16-2001, 10:50 PM	#3
Stang_ROTY Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Berkshire County - Massachusetts Posts: 735	My tranny mounts fine. No problems. The only thing that bothers me is that clunking type of sound as I change gears. I've always had a stick before this car and I'm not used to this type of tranny. I like it..but it's different. I do get a very small tranny fluid leak but it nothing bad. From park to reverse is a little hard. Clunks but stays in gear no problem. I used the B&M Trick shift fluid. Is that the problem?

08-17-2001, 01:08 AM	#4
Capri306 Moderator Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,001	Trick shift fluid is nothing more than Type F with better temperature stability. Simply put, that's a light oil with foam inhibitors, seal conditioners, and no fricition modifiers like Mercon. Sorry to bust anyone's bubble. Don't worry about that little clunk sound. Perfectly normal for an automatic. What you're hearing is all the slack in the drivetrain being taken up when you put it in gear. Just be sure your U joints are in top shape, and that your ring gear in the differential is properly set. Now if the trans is running HOT hot, then you need a cooler. You should have a cooler on there, anyways. Heat is about the only thing that will kill an automatic, and very quickly. The heat in your shifter is probably from all the air blowing past the radiator, engine, and exhaust pipes. Mine did that on my stock '79 Capri with a C4, too. Hope this helped to stomp your fears out. ------------------ Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online 1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73 1987 Mustang LX Notch

08-17-2001, 11:14 PM	#6
Five0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: middleburg, fl, usa Posts: 1,134	Mine does that clunking sound too so I guess it's pretty normal. If you think about how fast it shifts and goes into gear it would be like taking a t-5 and side stepping the clutch between gears. Mine runs hot also and I have a tranny cooler. ------------------ James Cox nochevy@hotmail.com 1991 Mustang LX 12.565 @109.38mph 1.764 60ft

08-18-2001, 08:43 AM	#7
Stang_ROTY Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Berkshire County - Massachusetts Posts: 735	I guess they do run hot if everyone is having the same symptoms as I am. I got a starter cover from Summit. It's a piece of cloth that I wrap around the starter. Hopefully it works.

08-18-2001, 09:18 AM	#8
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	As long as the fluid level on your trans dipstick is where it says it's supposed to be, with the engine running and on level ground, don't worry about your fluid level. A new engine and a 10" convertor equal a hot tranny. You should still install an external cooler, but I think you will notice the trans temp come down a bit as the engine gets broken in. Take care ~Chris ------------------ Retired Moderator MustangNet My site: JimPorterRacing RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR HEY !!! Are you ASE Certified ??? If you are, ask me about iATN. The best tool you'll ever have, and it's free !!!