I'd like to see a few automatic transmission hop-up articles instead of the same old engine builds. It would also be cool to see a few tweaks that don't come in the kits, or some valvebody mod's that could save a few bucks on buying a shift kit (B&M & TCI would probably threaten to pull their advertising over that). Back in the '80's I remember a blurb about the "Poor Man's Manual TH-400" that involves blocking off the modulator & changing the governor valve to get full line pressure unmodulated fully manual shifts. This tech tip came from Darrell Young Racing Transmissions, as I recall. Does anyone elxe rember this? Maybe it was in "Hot Rod" instead?

I'd just like to seem them encourage more car crafters to build their own automatic transmissions.  Print some automatic rebuild how-tos, where to find the parts, and how much they are.  I build my own automatic transmissions, after getting tired of getting very un-reliable rebuilds from supposed professionals.  I figured I couldn't do anyworse then they were doing, and was surprised to find out how easy they actually are.  I've only been rebuilding them for a few years now, starting with a 700R4, I've done 2 TH350s, 1 200-4R, 1 4L60E, and another 700R4.  I am currently about to start another 4L60E, and after that, I have a 700R4 that I'm going to be building to put behind an Olds 455 that is sitting on my engine stand just waiting to go in.  I've been building engines for years now, and even did it professionally for a while on diesels that are way too big to fit in any car (talking 3 and 4 story high diesel engines), worked on turbine engines for a little while, and now I just stick to my hobby engines.  Anyway, if you can build an engine, you can build your own automatic transmission, without all of the special tools except for a few.  But I wish Car Craft would do some more automatic transmission build ups as well, walking the reader through step by step, and where to buy the parts.  I think most would be surprised to find out that they can build a 700R4 to go behind a mild small block for around $300.00 in parts, including a stock style torque converter.  You can build a 700R4 to last behind an Olds 455 with around 500 ft lbs of torque for under $750.00.  Could save some people some serious cash.  I know it does me.  It also allows me to pick up cars real cheap, when you can buy something like an 87 IROC with a bad transmission for $500.00, and do the work yourself, makes for a nice cheap ride.  

I've just adjusted the little screw inside the modulator to give me better shifts, it worked ok  

If CC does these kinds of stories, they shouldn't be limited to GM transmissions.  Ford AOD/AOD-E, C6 and C4 transmissions should also be covered.

Also, stories on upgrading T-5s would be helpful.

One problem, however, CC is on record in the Disco Nova thread concluding that automatic transmission rebuilds are complicated and require a lot of expensive tools that ordinary CCers don't have. 

do you always have to *** when someone talks about doing an article with GM products?  

Does Mr. Goodwrench know you're goofing off on the computer instead of working?

I don't see how occasionally pointing out that CC shouldn't prefer GM in its editorial coverage is "bitching."  My requests for Ford stories are also supported by the following:

1. CC seems to have no one on staff opposing the pro-GM "gravity" of Jeff Smith. 


2. At times past, GM has been derided as "Camaro Craft" or "Chevy Craft" because its content didn't sufficently recognize the legions of Ford and Mopar Crafters.   Vigilance hopefully will prevent a repeat of these dark days.


3. Most readers of CC are fairly new to Car Crafting and believe most of the bench racing B.S. they hear about the "unquestionable superiority" of GM (mouthed mainly by a bunch of ignorant cheapskates who lack the creativity to build anything but a carbureted SBC crate motor out of a catalog). CC should educate young Crafters about all of the major brands.  If all the kids hear about are 25+ year-old GM "muscle cars" and late model imports, they will completely miss out on the bulk of affordable American performance cars built over the past 18-20 years.


4. Since the mid-80s high performance revival, Ford has become increasingly popular in late-model Car Crafting.  Chevy is still ordinary in (1) sportsman drag racing (mostly bracket racing-- where cheap and consistent trumps quick and cool.  On the other hand, FFW, NMRA and IHRA Pro Stock are on the cutting edge of heads up racing, with huge Ford participation and innovation);  (2) street rodding (yawn, Zzzzzz.  Are they ever going to cancel Boyd's lame show), and (3) small-time dirt oval racing (often aided and abetted by unfair pro-GM rules packages that protect the "old guard" from anything new).  But interest in Ford has otherwise skyrocketed in the past 18-20 years.  Former CC editor Matt King acknowledged as much when he observed that the 5.0 Mustang was this generation's '55-'57 Chevy (which, of course was a prior generation's '32 Ford . . . Which was a prior generation's Model T! (the granddaddy of Car Crafting--hopped up by such luminaries as Arthur and Louis Chevrolet! (after they got the boot from GM))).


5. Knowledge is power.  If CC unfairly tilts toward GM all the time, it raises another barrier to Ford and Mopar Crafters.


6. Ford will increasingly become the Car Crafters'  brand of choice because of its huge advantage in RWD sales.  Only Cadillac, Corvette and Holden (nee GTO) build RWD GM cars.  But Ford, Mercury and Lincoln still build thousands hundreds of thousands of "right wheel drive"  cars that will be the foundation for the next generation of American performance build-ups


7. Ford has consistently outsold GM in RWD sport compacts (a/k/a Pony Cars) for a couple of decades. Now that GM has abandoned the fundamental segment to modern Car Crafting, Ford's advantage will only increase.


8. Fords are fast and increasingly affordable.  With modern technology and the ever-expanding Ford aftermarket, Car Crafters can build Fords for virtually any performance requirement, from street to autocross to bracket racing to 6-second heads-up action to open track.

Dr511scj has previously made this case for Fords-in-CC much more creatively than I have. See http://forums.carcraft.primediaautomotive.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=carcraft&msg=1244.1

Umm, ok, they can show ford transmission articles, too.  

you forgot AMC, someones gonna get pissed  

and if this mag makes you so mad that they dont have as much ford stuff, why dont you read fast fords mag and leave things be?  

Keep asking him questions.

This stereotypically biased, retaliating pro-Ford whining of his entertains me.

The thing is that AMC used GM turbo 400s and Chryslers 727tourqueflites in thier cars so the same tricks apply across the board.

well good, they used t-400's in jags too, so now we got GM, AMC, and Jag covered. its helping out multipul car crafters out there, sure beats helping out just them poor old ford guys.

C'mon guys, I thought we were just supposed to beat up on imports, not each other! As to the main point of this thread, I wholeheartedly agree, would be great to see some comprehensive (but NOT Hot Rod comprehensive, that hurts my brain) DIY articles on auto & manual tranny rebuilds.