TR-3650 Questions

[PhaidOut]

Ok, I have been reading and looking over threads and such for a few days. Seems that I have a (to put it nicely) crappy service department at the local dealership. I guess i was blindly hoping that changed with a few years of new ownership. I have what seem to be ALL the typical complaints about these transmissions: notchy shifting, gear grinds, whines, etc. It appears NONE of the FSB fixes where ever done to the car and since it has mods I doubt they will do them.

The car is an 01 with 18k on it. O/R Bassani, Mac ProChambers, K&N filter, BBK PUllies, 3.73 or 4.10 (seller said 4.10 but paperwork say 3.73 but I need to jack it up and figure it out yet), Steeda shifter, and a tune. I only have a thousand of those miles on it. Just purchased it late last fall.

I may not need to rebuild it YET; but I want to ask a few questions.

Seems dex III/Mercon or Dex V are the lube of choice - any disagreement?
How much is the question. 3.2, 3.6 & 4 quarts are what I have read.

For rebuilds - is there a best kit out there? Or does anyone make a solid aftermarket build? I don't want to invest big money in a conversion, I don't really need it with my power level, but I would like it beefier than stock. I have read about a few but I am looking for real world experience.

How about a 5th gear in the .53-.58 range? I like my gears but want to hit the highway with the car too.

I am thinking an MGW is going in very shortly. Everything I have read says that is the only way to go. I can not find anyone saying anything other than smooth as butter even with the TR-3650.

 

[Nitrous SSC]

In our 01's 3650 we ran Synchromesh to the fill plug. Ran great.

The stock 5th is .675 The Mach 3650's have a .63

Stock they are actually pretty stout 5-speeds. We ran ours through hell and back and never had issues with it.

 

[01yellercobra]

I ran Mercon III in mine with no issues. I think the fill is 3.1 quarts. Which will put you under the threads in the fill plug IIRC. I always filled mine through the shifter hole. The only way to get a steeper 5th gear to go with the 03/04 models. Those have the .62 5th gear as SSC mentioned. Before I swapped to the T-56 I was planning on having Promotion build one of those later models so I'd have the taller 5th gear.

 

[PhaidOut]

Matt,

I have read about some about synchormesh as well. Not all reviews were outstanding, but I don't recall anything negative. It is another non-synthetic, which I understand is something you want in these. Any particular brand?

That is also what I seen about 5th gears. Everything but the Machs had a .675/.68 depending on rounding... I also read about American Powertrain coming out with a 2.90 first and a .57/.53, only one I found any talk of though. Not sure if it came out yet though. I am calling them tomorrow.

Did both of you notice better shifting?

Pete

 

[01yellercobra]

The GT's had the taller 5th gear as well. My buddy had an 03 GT and his cruising rpm was lower with the same gears. I never tried the Synchromesh in my 3650. But I never had a problem with the tranny. I had the MGW shifter.

 

[2001cobravert]

There was a write-up somewhere (mach1registry I believe) that running 3 liters of Mobile 1 ATF with 24oz of Lucas tranny fix does wonders.
Helps with noise and shifting while cold issues.