ok, i have a 1998 sedan cavi with the 2.2 and a P R N D 2 1 tranny, (3t40 i do believe) ok, first is slipping, not much but u can feel it from about 15-25 when u are winding it out, but if u baby it for like an hour then run it hard it runs like a champ, im losing alot of power through my trans, i kno ti i can tell, its different everyday, (the seat of the pants feel at least) now, minded my g-ma takes it to church on sunday mornings. how could i stop this slippage, would a shift kit stop it, and if so any recconmendations and also do they shift harder, and what exactly does a shift kit do. i kno im a newb but just go with it.

When's the last time the filter was changed and the tranny flushed?





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A shift kit would help (if one is available) but if its already slipping, a shift kit would be a stopgap. The clutches are probably a lilttle bit burnt by now, before long a rebuild will be needed. THAT would be the time to install the aforementioned shiftkit. And if you DO happen to find one, use a mild one.

And yes, a shift kit would make it shift harder, they typically reroute fluid in a way that engages the clutches with less "comfort" slippage, the main benefit being the clutches SHOULD last longer (less transitional slipping), and the fluid should not heat up as much. Anytime an automatic shifts, that period between gears as it shifts is the clutch packs slipping against each other, usually that doesn't become an issue, until the fluid ages, loses friction modifiers, and starts heating up. That causes them to slip worse, compunding the problem.

when was the fluid changed, haha. well, at about 115000 miles i hit a rock and it cracked the gasket seal, being i was about 30 miles from home and no way to get it towed, (i was broke) i drove, now i was told if it moves there has to be fluid in it, so it ran fine the whole way home, i relaced the filter and gasket, there was a slight residue around the magnet, and i put in a little bit of lucas tranny stop slip crap i dunno what it is. and it ran fine, but now its starting to due this, now if i acutally flushed it flushed it i think it might help i dunno, cause it only took 4 qts and it was full and i was told that the torque converter still had dirty fluid in it. now that you have heard my story, laugh at me, but be reasonable and help my find the cheapest way to fix this without a rebuild

Cheap and fix don't often fo together when it comes to automatic transmissions. Your on the right track by getting it flushed, you never know, you might get another 25-50k miles out of it before it finally dies.

Don't use synthetic fluid in the 3T40/TH125C, it's too slick for the clutch packs and steels and just cause it to slip more. I use mine more in a performance manner and I'm using B&M's Original TrickShift fluid (It's very similar to Ford's Type-F ATF, in fact, it's the same blue color. Using Type-F used to be a popular trick to get the older GM transmissions to shift a little firmer, by reducing the amount of slippage.). Although with the number of miles on the tranny and the fact it was driven low on fluid, the damage is already done. Any fluid trick is only going to be a temporary stop gap, to prolong the inevitable.

well, what fluid would you recomend, for the most stop gap. i hate to be happy about this, but my friend just rolled her z-24 and i might try to weasel the 2.4 and trans out of it. but i dunno, i think the rims would be a nice addition also, but who knows that would be when, and only when the tranny either goes out, or is on its last nub. but hey, i think a 98 z24 sedan would be a nice sleeper, hell i already shut up a kid yesterday in a 5 spd newer neon, i had him by at least a car lenght, we got up to the next light and i was like, well, i cant waste to much more gas, my grandma has a doctors appt. tomorrow and needs her car. it was priceless

I'm not making any promises, but I would try the Type-F fluid. Just a drain and refill. You'll still have enough of the Dexron fluid to maintain some of the friction modifiers, but with reduced slippage. The Type-F is usually less expensive than the TrickShift and won't be quite as firm shifting, but still reduce slippage. Remember this is only a stop gap till you do the swap or rebuild the tranny.

Here's a couple of links to 3T40/TH125C info:
"3 Speed Auto, Finally Done" By Event (Picture links have expired)
"Stock Torque Converters, 3 Speed Gears and more" By me.

These links give you more info on what's available for and can be done to these transmissions.