? 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

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?

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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?

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. http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/smile.gif

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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Retired Moderator
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