I’m Back

[Funmart6]

Well, about oh, 8 years ago or so the transmission in my car started acting up, had it rebuilt and shift kit installed, then about a year or so later, it started acting up again. I then had the transmission replaced entirely (used junk it would seem) and within a month or so of that, it started leaking at the torque converter, so I parked the car with the intention of having it fixed. Now, finally I am feeling the need to put this car back on the road, so I stopped by a shop today and they said the best bet would be to find a remanufactured transmission that would be specific to the car, cheaper and better warranty and they would install it. They said it would be 1800 - 2000 dollars to rebuild the one that is currently in the car. I found a remanufactured unit for 999 dollars, free shipping, 5 year unlimited mileage warranty. So I am thinking I will do that. I still love the car, and have held on to it all these years so, it’s time to get her back on the road.

 

[SM105K]

Yes! PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SAVE THIS SHO! From the pics it still looks pretty clean.

 

[Funmart6]

Well, she’s not as clean on the outside as she was in those pics, but it won’t take much to get her looking good again. A little wax and buffing and she will clean up nicely. The interior is spotless though. The 2 piece bra is in the trunk as well. The rims still have a mirror shine, I guess from all the never dull I used to use on them. I last drove the car this past December when we bought a new house, had to move the car, ran a little sketchy at first but then smoothed out a bit, drove her 4 miles to the new place and parked her. It’s gonna be a process but she will look nice again soon.


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[SM105K]

Good deal. I am excited to watch her come back.

 

[Funmart6]

I just took these pics. She’s a little dirty but all there. Dang sun glare!!!!

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[gamefanatic]

Just thought i'd put a shameless plug in for the Transmission available from SHO Source. They do have options to beef up that tranny to take more and last longer than a standard rebuild, FWIW. Of course not saying you can't get that from a local shop, but good to keep the community alive!

http://www.shosource.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=100_101&products_id=294

 

[Funmart6]

Hey thanks I will check it out.


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[stephen newberg]

Glad to hear you are getting her back running again. Welcome back.

pax, smn

 

[GEN 3 SHO FAN]

Hi Funmart,

I remember reading some of your old posts, good to see you and know that your car still alive.

About keeping the trans healthy, I'm pretty sure that the hoses going out of the trans is badly designed and can makes the trans life shorter. The worst part is the first cooler in the rad (which is in fact not a cooler but a pre-heater), they tend to be clogged over time and restrict the oil flow. I made another routing bypassing this. Ford made also a TSB about that back in the time because they change the flow direction to retreive some probabilities to be clogged.

Other thing is the front cooler, it's only a tube for 96, 97 and 98. Ford realized in 1999 this aspect must be upgraded and put a tube with fins on all of his length (and retreived the fins on the P/S cooler beside for an unknown reason at the same time). These upgraded coolers can be found on 99 and Gen 4 SLO too.

As the time past (I'm running these 2 upgrades since some years + a small serpentine cooler), I'm thinking that the major flaw on these trans is cooling and oil flow. Mine now have 143k and is running without probs.

I'm giving you this info as you said you already changed one time your trans and only one year later she was still having problems. This let me think the culprit isn't in the trans itself.

Let us know how your repairs goes sometime.

Have a good day,

 

[stephen newberg]

It is an extremely useful upgrade to install a transmission fluid cooler.

pax, smn

 

[gamefanatic]

It is an extremely useful upgrade to install a transmission fluid cooler.

pax, smn

+1 on this. Doesn't need to be big, but like Gen3 Sho Fan noted, the cooling design for the transmission is not adequate for most environments. The Gen2 trans cooler is plenty adequate. Even on 2+ hours trips the temps are less than 215°F.

 

[NoSlo]

Since these cars are doomed to die of cam failure, there's probably good transmissions out there (whereas others cars might have gone to the wrecker because of their tranny). Here's some a drive away:



If you need a transmission for "without overdrive button" you can do the same search on car-part.com.

 

[Funmart6]

I will definitely look at adding a different cooler. By the way, does anyone know the differences between the normal AX4N and and the SHO AX4N?

Any recommendations about a trans cooler are greatly appreciated.


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[stephen newberg]

FPS makes a good one. Mine has been in for 14 years now and never a problem. No idea if it is still available or not.

pax, smn

 

[Funmart6]

I found one that is a 13 row cooler. It is 5”x13”. I think that should do the trick.


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[Funmart6]

Update: Well, back on June 21st I ordered a remanufactured transmission from a place in Bay City Michigan called "Atransmissions" which is also part of a company named "Got All Autoparts". It all sounded like a good deal, good warranty, free shipping, yadda, yadda, etc. When placing my order the man there explained in great detail about what they do, everything is new this and that, great, fantastic, said I would have my transmission in about a week, which I didn't really believe, but he assured me saying it doesn't take long to build one of these transmissions, so fantastic, sold. Well, that was too good to be true. For the next 2 months, each time I called about the status of my order I would be told that it is "almost ready to ship", only never to be shipped. At times I was also told they had ordered the wrong transmission, that they ordered a standard Taurus transmission and not one for an SHO. Another time I was told they had to order another torque converter and it was coming from California so it was taking longer, but they should have my transmission ready in about a week. Then, I was told the transmission they had ordered failed testing and had a cracked case, it was one thing after another. Finally after all this they said they were looking for another transmission and that there was only one in the state of Michigan and it would take a few weeks to get and at this point they asked me if I would just like a refund, so I said yes to the refund. Well, this started another bunch of junk. They were supposed to send me a check for the full refund, and again I would have it in a few days, they would give me a tracking number and everything would be good. Yeah okay. Never got a tracking number so I called them back and was told that their accounts dept mails out on Fridays and I should have my refund by the middle of the next week. Again, no tracking number was given. The next week comes along and no check has arrived and I am getting worried now and really getting ****** off at the whole fiasco. I called them back and they say again the check should mail out by the end of the week and now I am given a tracking number. So I wait a day or so and check the status of the tracking number and it has never changed from saying "pre-shipment", in fact all throughout the weekend and into the next week, the tracking number status remained the same. I could see now that I wasn't going to get my refund any time soon, I paid with a card thankfully, and when I asked why they couldn't just credit the funds back to the card they said they couldn't do that because it had been over 30 days. So, I contacted my bank and made a fraudulent charge claim against them. My bank then told me to not contact the company and that they would handle it from there on. So, whew, long post I know. Anyway, I got my money back so that is good.
The SHO is now scheduled to go to a local shop, the shop has ordered me a remanufactured transmission from their own vendor and it should be ready to be installed in a couple of weeks. The shop I am using is very reputable, I've actually talked to the owner in person. It's been an ordeal but making progress finally. I wish I had never dealt with Atransmissions because it was a total waste of time.
Anyway just venting and giving an update on the SHO. Sorry for the long post.

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[stephen newberg]

Good update. And a useful warning. Glad at least you got your $$$s back.

pax, smn

 

[GEN 3 SHO FAN]

Notes for your trans project :
- take a SHO one, some part are differents from SLO, in other things the Torque converter is differently shaped for a sportier behavior (Nimz123 makes a good write up here about that many years ago, 2005?)
- take only one from a SHO from 98 or 99, there are internal differences with 96-97 (shift sensors IIRC and maybe others parts)
- recommandation for a better cooling (I think many Gen 3 SHOs died because of an overheated transmission, maybe a number similar as cam prob)
-> bypass the hose going into the radiator (itsn't for cooling anyway its for heating heating oil during winter) this part become cloggled
-> adding a cooler is a good thing but don't forget to fix your hoses very tight (I recommand to double the clamps if possible)
-> choose a cooler that isn't finned internally (made like ATX Gen 2 SHO), it will become cloggled, take a tube with external fins (note : Gen 2 cooler is very big and he could never be clogged entirely)
-> the front stock cooler, if you have a 96-98 SHO can be replaced by a 99+ (Gen 4 SLO included) from 99, this cooler come with external fins which is better for cooling
-> replacing the metal hose behind and under the rad is a good place to put another small cooler (between the exit of the trans and going to rad). In salted areas this metal hose will rust quickly (must be replaced anyway). The oil is exiting the trans and is very hot there, putting a cooler will help even if its situated in front of engine. I put there another stock cooler 99+ there but its a little bit too long (will fit but not esthetic)
-> suggestion of location for an aftermarket one (small serpentine finned tube) : I put mine at the end of the front stock cooler (driver side) between the stock cooler and the rad, not optimal but ok

Good luck,

 

[Funmart6]

Update.
The transmission shop called me yesterday morning and said the transmission we ordered is in!!! Took less than a week to get, if only I had let them order it in the first place, I'd be driving the car by now, live and learn. I've got tires ordered and they should be in around midweek. I'll get those on and I've got a family member who has a car hauler that we will use to take the car to the transmission shop. So, in about 10 days or so the car will finally be at the shop. Making progress!!!

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