In your experience, is there a decent automatic currently produced in North America? My trans shop thinks the front wheel drive Mopars are the worst, but nothing made here is particularly good. My old favorite was the Torqueflite 727. The Ford C6 and GM TH400 are in the same class. Modern US engines are powerful, efficient and durable at the same time, why not transmissions?

My E4OD is supposed to be heavy duty, and yet it didn't last in an F-150 with a 302. I have not seen an automatic Ranger go 120k and the average I've seen the the Taurus is a pitiful 60K! I'm not just picking on Ford, I just have more experience with modern Fords. My kid had a Saturn with a bad automatic transaxle at 50k!

The pity is that I don't see the same lack of durablity with Toyota. Dad's Camry and T-100 automatics go on and on without complaint.

Jim

 

My all time favorite tough transmission is the 727 closely followed by the C6. Probably the most underated small transmission is the C4. For its size, it is a tough well built tranny. The old Borge Warner FMX series, used since the 50s by International, American Motors (Nash Rambler), Ford and others was tough as nails and a great pick-up transmission, but it was heavy and the cast iron case made it heavier. The need to reduce weight for increased gas mileage made it obsolete. The mopar 904 is also a good small tranny. I agree with you about the newer transmissions not holding up like the old ones. I strongly believe that the GM front wheel drive transmsissions of the eightys and early ninetys were the worst excuse for a transmission ANYBODY ever built. Unfortunately, I have also seen a lot of Toyotas and Nissans with tranny problems. One can only speculate as to "why" the newer transmissions don't hold up. I think there are several reasons. 1.The designers "know more" now and they design the transmission for the lowest cost that will minimally meet the engineering specs without much margin. The C6/727 designers were just trying the build the best transmission they could. 2. In todays rush, people don't take care of their cars the way they should. 3. The heavy traffic and adverse driving conditions that we all face is really hard on the vehicles too. Getting that fluid change at 25 to 30 k, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST ONE, is really important. People just don't do it. The AOD, E4OD, etc. transmissions are pretty decent if they are properly serviced and are not abused. They are just not "tough enough" to withstand neglect and/or abuse. It is most likely that the Tarus that only lasted 50K was driven by someone under 25 and was not "serviced" properly. They just can't take it like a C6.

 

Dave what are you doing over here? I thought you lived on the .org.

 

Probably not the Dave you are thinking of.