Does 'coupling' degrade?

WVRigrat05

Wound for sound
Jan 1, 2011
3,081
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French Creek, West Virginia
I had two suncoast 1057's that got noticeably "looser"/"lazier" feeling over time...

That's what I'm running, and it feels to me like its getting a little looser, but it locks faster than what it used to, I still think I need tranny tunes, esp. with the extra weight and tires, it doesnt want to downshift unless its past half throttle and sounds kinda hard in it.
 

duratothemax

<--- slippery roads
Aug 28, 2006
7,139
10
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Wyoming
I have close to 200k miles on my built trans that I put together in late 2005. The trans has never been out of the truck or refreshed since I built it.

It is on its third torque converter though. I had two 1057's, the first one started to loosen up and I sent it back to suncoast to be refreshed. I dont know what they gave me back, but it sure as hell wasnt a real 1057. Yeah it was stamped "1057", but it definitely felt completely different than my first 1057 did when it was new. It drove identical to every 1056 ive driven.

At the time I sent it in to be refreshed, 1057 cores were extremely rare....and although I obviously cant prove it, I cant help but think that they might have taken my 1057 and just threw 1056 guts in it........... :rolleyes:

I have a precision ML in it now.

ben
 

LWATSON

future trans limpers
Jul 30, 2008
2,587
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Scotland Neck NC
Ben I dont like to accuse people of doing wrong but I've "heard" that there have been some 57's sent in that returned as restalled 56's. I just sold my used 57 and wanted to send it in to be checked and I was advised not to unless its broke and had no choice.
 

LWATSON

future trans limpers
Jul 30, 2008
2,587
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Scotland Neck NC
Also something for you guys to think about on the blowing through the converter issue. It seems to be worse on tunes that come on strong with less throttle input. A tune that achieves 80% of its power output with only 50% throttle input is much worse that one that produces 50% of its power with 60% throttle. Anyone else notice this?
 

SSchmi5519

LLY Cult Leader
Oct 19, 2008
3,387
1
36
Arizona
Also something for you guys to think about on the blowing through the converter issue. It seems to be worse on tunes that come on strong with less throttle input. A tune that achieves 80% of its power output with only 50% throttle input is much worse that one that produces 50% of its power with 60% throttle. Anyone else notice this?

Ohhhhh yeah, if you cheat to make the truck feel faster at 60% throttle you pay for it.

I don't know why you wouldn't want to use the full range from 0-100, where you only get full power at 100% throttle..

I like mine linear.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
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Phoenix Az
I really like my ML. On the race tune you can tell from 70% throttle and up unlocked, there seems to be no difference between rpm rise and speed rise. Rpms will just peak and drop some after shifts.

On the tow tune I know it's not coupling the best around 90% throttle unlocked but it still pulls hard and rpm/speed work well. I just can't get lock up like I would want. If I nail it at 50, ill stay in forth till 90 but with rpms jumping to 2900 and slowly climbing to 3200 while the speedo climbs quite a bit
 

duratothemax

<--- slippery roads
Aug 28, 2006
7,139
10
0
Wyoming
Ben I dont like to accuse people of doing wrong but I've "heard" that there have been some 57's sent in that returned as restalled 56's. I just sold my used 57 and wanted to send it in to be checked and I was advised not to unless its broke and had no choice.

ahh ha. Glad im not the only one...I knew I wasnt crazy for thinking/noticing that my "refreshed" 1057 that I got back from suncoast felt nothing like my original 1057... :mad: :rolleyes:

They probably did that thinking that 95% people wouldnt notice the difference (probably mostly true that most wouldnt even be able to tell the difference because most guys with built transmissions dont have a lot of experience and have only driven one kind of aftermarket converter).

But I didnt even drive the thing half a mile before I knew it wasnt a real 1057.
 

adeso

wait, what?
May 30, 2011
1,569
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Minot, ND
Ohhhhh yeah, if you cheat to make the truck feel faster at 60% throttle you pay for it.

I don't know why you wouldn't want to use the full range from 0-100, where you only get full power at 100% throttle..

I like mine linear.


If I'm not at 3400uS by 3% throttle then I'm not happy. Makes backing up that much more fun.
 

LBZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
Jul 2, 2007
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On the tow tune I know it's not coupling the best around 90% throttle unlocked but it still pulls hard and rpm/speed work well. I just can't get lock up like I would want. If I nail it at 50, ill stay in forth till 90 but with rpms jumping to 2900 and slowly climbing to 3200 while the speedo climbs quite a bit

This is what my 5 star with 160 000 miles is doing. Like I said, time for a new everything!
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
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This is what my 5 star with 160 000 miles is doing. Like I said, time for a new everything!

only fix for me is a lock up box. Mike and i chatted about this before :D. after a certain point in HP and weight of the truck, coupling just wont be there.
 

WVRigrat05

Wound for sound
Jan 1, 2011
3,081
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French Creek, West Virginia
only fix for me is a lock up box. Mike and i chatted about this before :D. after a certain point in HP and weight of the truck, coupling just wont be there.

This is my problem, minus the horsepower. I notice my converter loves life alot better when my 100 gal fuel tank is empty. I run it in tow haul most the time but it's annoying as shit with the motor wound for sound all the time.
 

LBZ

Super Moderator
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Jul 2, 2007
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This is my problem, minus the horsepower. I notice my converter loves life alot better when my 100 gal fuel tank is empty. I run it in tow haul most the time but it's annoying as shit with the motor wound for sound all the time.

X2
I think at best I was lucky to be putting out 450hp before things went sideways
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
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sounds like you both need converters then lol. im maybe loosing 50hp unlocked at WOT and this is on a 550+hp tune.

or maybe its the custom hieroglyphics brian left on my converter when we pulled the motor :rolleyes: :D
 

coker6303

Keep Calm and Chive On!!
Aug 6, 2009
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Houston, TX
I have a Fleece Ally Locker, works flawlessly! Stays on the truck all the time, love it! For some reason, in the past I could only lock up in 4th at WOT.

Doesn't feel like my converter has loosened up to me. I wouldn't mind a looser one with the twins on the street!
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,670
5,817
113
Phoenix Az
I have a Fleece Ally Locker, works flawlessly! Stays on the truck all the time, love it! For some reason, in the past I could only lock up in 4th at WOT.

Doesn't feel like my converter has loosened up to me. I wouldn't mind a looser one with the twins on the street!

loosening up and coupling are two different things though Russ
 

WVRigrat05

Wound for sound
Jan 1, 2011
3,081
4
38
36
French Creek, West Virginia
sounds like you both need converters then lol. im maybe loosing 50hp unlocked at WOT and this is on a 550+hp tune.

or maybe its the custom hieroglyphics brian left on my converter when we pulled the motor :rolleyes: :D

Hope not, mines only got 20k miles. I think Trans running and a lockup box would make me happier. I don't like autos anyways though so I'm never happy.
 
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coker6303

Keep Calm and Chive On!!
Aug 6, 2009
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Houston, TX
loosening up and coupling are two different things though Russ

I thought it was the same thing. Isn't how "tight" the converter feels describing couple speed? maybe I used the wrong choice of words, still learning!

You have stall and couple rate. The stall is essential where engagement occurs and coupling could be described as load rate?