[AT] ATIS Holifday Charity Auction

[Jim and Lyn Evans]

I guess I didn't realize that GM changed to a light duty transmission at
that time.  I figured that year of pickup with a granny low transmission
would have the cast iron unit I am familiar with.
All my 4 speed Chevys had a pretty heavy transmission in them, but the
newest was a '74.  My '90 454 has a TH400 automatic, which I would say truly
is bulletproof.

I believe Ford now uses ZF transmissions in their superduties. 

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Steve W.
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 12:25 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: Re: [AT] ATIS Holifday Charity Auction

Yep those transmissions were German made ZF units. Marginal for use in a car
and VERY poor for use in a truck that actually was used as a truck.
The main reason for them was the fact that GM closed down the Saginaw plant
and started buying manual trans from other suppliers. Now if you could find
one of the old cast iron monsters it would bolt in without problem.
Steve Williams
Near Cooperstown NY


----- Original Message -----
From: "Grant Brians" <gbrians at hollinet.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 10:00 AM
Subject: Re: Re: [AT] ATIS Holifday Charity Auction


> Actually the 1980's GM 4 speed truck tranny's are notorious for
> self-destruction. Everyone I know locally with one had to replace it
at
> least once in the first 100K miles - one friend replaced his three
times,
> the first time under warranty! His case was not one of abuse, just
use. The
> reason is that sometime in the late 70's (date is hazy) GM
"re-engineered"
> the manual transmissions to save weight and money.... They ended up
making
> them too weak as a result, with the consequent explosion of repairs
and
> replacements. Shaft breakage, premature bearing failure and case
cracking
> all became common. This was one of the reasons for GM's precipitous
> commercial track sales decline in the 80's. Additionally it cemented
the
> reputation of Ford for reliable light duty trucks because Ford kept
the
> heavy duty components in theirs.
>     Having said all of the above, GM has returned to better Trannys
> since....
>         Grant Brians
>         Hollister California
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jim and Lyn Evans" <jevans at evanstoys.com>
> To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'"
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 4:04 AM
> Subject: RE: Re: [AT] ATIS Holifday Charity Auction
>
>
> > Those 4 speeds were just about bulletproof (I thought)  What did you
tear
> up
> > to warrant a transmission replacement?
> >
> > Jim
>
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>

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