malibu transmission help

[3400-95-Modified]

I haven't read through the entire thing, but here is the writeup on GAGT for a 6-spd swap: http://grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73212

Reading that thread it sounds like he had a bunch of SES codes after the swap because he did nothing to the ECM before starting it for the first time. Also I do not know what his problem was with the engine running like crap.

Once he went in and shut off all the codes he got (he should have shut off every trans code that was enabled) he said it was running fine with no lights. The only other change he made was to make the ECM think the trans is in neutral rather than Drive... Which is something that maybe the Beretta guys should think about doing, I've heard of some complain about erratic idle... But for the obd1.5 ones out there they need to use Drive due to the Neutral limiter they cant get rid of.

[Rootie524]

this guy used a getrag f23 5spd from a cavi..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKuA-K12e-0

granted im sure the mounts took alittle work but it should bolt up in a sense. i talked to him and he linked me to his parts list and sortof directions: http://malibuclub.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5687

seems totally doable and the gains would be astronomical (overstatement? i think not!)

i only want a 5spd because my car shifts at stupid ass times and it doesnt downshift sometimes when i gun it and it pisses me off. im pretty sure the solenoids or whatever or going that make it upshift/downshift but i dont want to put another POS auto tranny in a car that will eventually have a fully build engine and turbo..i want to control the shifting which is the main reason for wanting to do a 5spd swap. ive seen auto turboed grand ams and they have massive tranny slip from 1-2 gear cuz of all the power. thats what im trying to avoid..and sure i could build a 4t45e out the ass..but i dont feel it would be the same as a 5speed..u know what i mean?

[WrathOfSocrus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getrag_F23_transmission

The torque output of most stock GM 60 degree motors is higher than the 155 Ft. Lb. capacity of that trans.

[Rootie524]

well shit. the guy has a 3400 and that tranny and he said its fine with a stage 4 clutch..he said it could handle on the upwards of 500ft/lb

[WrathOfSocrus]

Then do what he did and see if it works

[Rootie524]

yeah well..i tend to not like to put money into something and waste my time if something isnt going to work 100%..so now im back to finding something that will work.

[WrathOfSocrus]

i only want a 5spd because my car shifts at stupid ass times and it doesnt downshift sometimes when i gun it and it pisses me off.

If that is your only major issue concerning your current transmission then I'm fairly certain that can be taken care of rather easily compared to attempting a 5 speed swap. If you are doing major additions to your engine then you no doubt need to have the computer tuned for it, at the same time shift points should be able to be adjusted as well. I have never attempted to tune or datalog or anything of the sort but it is my understanding that OBD2 vehicles have adjustments for that in the computer and if you are already in there for the engine work then it makes little sense to leave the stock transmission settings. If you are doing all the tuning yourself then you may have to read up and figure it out, or if paying for tuning it may add to the total tuning cost. I doubt it would be anywhere in the same neighborhood of the cost in time or money compared to a 5 speed swap.

Of course the 5 speed is a completely different animal and if you have great desires to go that route I'm sure it can be done. However, if you are building up for power then you need a solid base to put that power through, and the stock specs of that trans are far from promising. I have no doubt that clutch can handle 500 Ft Lbs. That trans in stock form probably handles a lot less. Much closer to 155 Ft Lbs. In a light car you can probably get away with a stock V6 but I wouldn't be taking it to the track and beating on it. I know other transmissions may not be 'plug and play' like that one but the extra effort put towards a stronger trans would pay off in the end.

[3400-95-Modified]

If that is your only major issue concerning your current transmission then I'm fairly certain that can be taken care of rather easily compared to attempting a 5 speed swap. If you are doing major additions to your engine then you no doubt need to have the computer tuned for it, at the same time shift points should be able to be adjusted as well.

Yes you can do this, I'm glad someone said something.

Transmission tuning will increase the performance of a car by FAR. The shift table as you have noted are very conservative and you can easily fix that with a tuner. There are MPH shift up tables for part throttle, and WOT RPM shift points, and also MPH vs TPS for downshift points, so you can easily change that delayed or lack of a down shift when you wanted it.

[Rootie524]

and all that can happen with hptuners? cuz when i went to the dyno i explained how my tranny sucks and if he could change things and he said not really its all mechanical. but i noticed the first time i went that for awhile right after the tune i could do 45mph in 1st gear and 75mph in 2nd. before the tune i could only do 40 1st and 70 2nd..so idk how that happened but then it went away..i could have been imagining things?! idk.

[3400-95-Modified]

and all that can happen with hptuners? cuz when i went to the dyno i explained how my tranny sucks and if he could change things and he said not really its all mechanical. but i noticed the first time i went that for awhile right after the tune i could do 45mph in 1st gear and 75mph in 2nd. before the tune i could only do 40 1st and 70 2nd..so idk how that happened but then it went away..i could have been imagining things?! idk.

yes all those things can be done in HPTuners. the transmission is all electronic... Who the hell are these people that everyone seems to go to that know nothing about tuning and nothing about a transmission... The guy I go to at least listens to what I have to say and does not make false staements about stuff he doesn't know... he ASKS.

[Rootie524]

then ill have to talk to him next time im there if i still have an automatic.

idk wtf is wrong inside the transmission but i hate nothing more than when i am going at a decent pace then i stomp on the gas and it doesnt freaking downshift. it seems to be happening more and more. but when/if it does downshift it throws you back in your seat. so because of that i am leaning so much towards the manual so i know for certain its in the gear i want it to be in.

[3400-95-Modified]

I said it once and I'll say it again... ALL of your downshifts are controlled by the ECM so depending on what speed vs your TP it will NOT shift down, and I know for a fact that a Malibu transmission is tuned VERY conservatively, so I can almost guarantee you that there is nothing internally wrong.

I attached the tables if you would like to see what your working with.

IIRC the tables mean, if you are going over the speed in the speed column at a specific TP, it will not downshift.

Note the car wants to stay in 2nd if you are over 9mph anywhere from 0-50% throttle.

[Rootie524]

ok..so if i got HPtuners i could tune that so i can change the downshift speed. meaning that it wont allow me to down shift if im at a certain speed. i could change the certain speed and TP number so it would downshift? im not familiar with HPtuners. is it pretty self explanatory? ive wanted one for awhile but it seemed like too much for me..but now that im getting more into this car it seems necessary.

EDIT:
looks like i answered my own question: http://www.hptuners.com/products/vcm..._vcmeditor.jpg

doesn't look extremely complicated. and ill be able to use this thing forever! it does sooo much!

[3400-95-Modified]

EDIT:
looks like i answered my own question: http://www.hptuners.com/products/vcm..._vcmeditor.jpg

doesn't look extremely complicated. and ill be able to use this thing forever! it does sooo much!

Yes, good luck and read as much as you can about engine tuning before you start that... Also Ben may have a decent price for HPTuners over anyone else so check out WOT-Tech first.

[Kaos]

This has been by far the most helpful thread I have ever found on my own on a forum. Usually this shizz is buried because it's not common so no one does it or searches it.

My bu will be manual in the next month or two


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