Who here is the A413 Guru?

[Warren Stramer]

I built my racing auto back in 2002 using all the best parts and advice I could source at the time, (Big thanks to Dean Stillie). I've put hundreds of runs and testing on it in the last 13 years (and never broke anything) and it is time for a refresh and update. My question is Who makes the best clutch materials now?, Where can I source the good five gear-steel center planetary?I have looked all thru the knowledge center so I see not much has changed. I built my last one using Mopar clutch discs, is there better stuff available now? Who/Where is the go-to source these days?

[ohiorob]

Good question. It looks like Alto stop making performance clutches for us so has a few other companies or maybe I'm not looking hard enough. every winter I pull my tranny and inspect every thing. I always change the front clutches as they always start to show signs of wear. my ring and pinion may last three or four years before exploding. at your power level your tranny will let you know her weakness. by the way awesome run.

[fixit]

subscribed..
i have the alto package.. with the upgraded band.. nan 3200 stall torq converter.. need to find another 5 pinon and then will build it..
carl b.. emailed me a great how to build a413 with the associated - forward manual valve body instructions..

granted this is a big deal given i've never built an auto.. but what the heck i'll give it a try

[thedon809]

There was a guy on neons.org that stuffed 8 clutches in the rear drum (the drum on the input shaft I believe)... I think he was making upwards of 800whp.

[Warren Stramer]

Good question. It looks like Alto stop making performance clutches for us so has a few other companies or maybe I'm not looking hard enough. every winter I pull my tranny and inspect every thing. I always change the front clutches as they always start to show signs of wear. my ring and pinion may last three or four years before exploding. at your power level your tranny will let you know her weakness. by the way awesome run.

Thanks for the reply Rob. I plan on upgrading with all the best stuff. I found A&Reds lists all the hard parts and such but I don't know what you would get; China Junk?, I can't complain about how the genuine mopar clutches and bands held up. I never used any Alto stuff, what was special about it?
Back when I built my current trans. I used Teflon sealing rings on the input cause that is what I had. Are the steel sealing rings better?
How is the Sonax stuff?.......I chalk it up to dumb luck that I never broke a ring and pinion, or an input shaft
Surely there have been a lot of improvements made in the last 13 years since I built this one; I just didn't pay much attention as I was busy working on my engine........Who ever broke the most stuff should know how to build the strongest unit I would think. Who would that be......Simon maybe?

[A.J.]

Thanks for the reply Rob. I plan on upgrading with all the best stuff. I found A&Reds lists all the hard parts and such but I don't know what you would get; China Junk?, I can't complain about how the genuine mopar clutches and bands held up. I never used any Alto stuff, what was special about it?
Back when I built my current trans. I used Teflon sealing rings on the input cause that is what I had. Are the steel sealing rings better?
How is the Sonax stuff?.......I chalk it up to dumb luck that I never broke a ring and pinion, or an input shaft
Surely there have been a lot of improvements made in the last 13 years since I built this one; I just didn't pay much attention as I was busy working on my engine........Who ever broke the most stuff should know how to build the strongest unit I would think. Who would that be......Simon maybe?

The Alto clutches were nice because they came with thinner steels and frictions so you could fit 6 in each clutch pack. I bought one of the last sets available 4-5 years ago.

Try Transtar or Transmissionpartsusa.com. Those are the places I go to for my transmission parts.

[Ondonti]

I hope this thread gets more helpful...

[135sohc]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A670-Transmi...656b69&vxp=mtr

[looneytuner]

Start a thread for a group buy, Get a list of committed buyers, send letter to be best company that no longer makes the parts, tell them they can sell 20? right off the bat, get Cindy or Chris to commit to another 20.
?????? Oh, tell them they would have this niche to themselves because everyone else has stopped making the parts?

[Warren Stramer]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A670-Transmi...656b69&vxp=mtr

Thanks for the link, I found what I need...I think.

[135sohc]

Thanks for the link, I found what I need...I think.

No idea how legitimate the seller is and their claim of being OEM. It looks very OEM though.

[ohiorob]

Another place to go for parts is Transpartsonline.

[Warren Stramer]

Another place to go for parts is Transpartsonline.

Thanks Rob, I'll check them out.

[Ondonti]

So even on the mighty automatic we are down to scrounging and begging? And if you have to rebuild again in a few years give up?

[Warren Stramer]

If I were a TD vender who specializes in selling parts for these cars, I would be buying up all the best A413 stuff I could get my hands on. Right now the parts are reasonably cheap and mostly still available.
Other than that you can still find cheap complete core trans. for hard parts. Get-um while you can.

[contraption22]

If I were a TD vender who specializes in selling parts for these cars, I would be buying up all the best A413 stuff I could get my hands on. Right now the parts are reasonably cheap and mostly still available.
Other than that you can still find cheap complete core trans. for hard parts. Get-um while you can.

Depressing.

[glhs875]

What about some parts out of/for a 31th Neon trans.? Seems like a lot of the parts should work for a A413.

[thedon809]

Most of the internals out of an neon 31th will work in ours. Keep in mind they use lockup torque converter while some of ours don't. When I built mine, I used both drums (swapped input shafts, mine was non lockup), neon planetaries and neon ring and pinion. Not sure if neon valve body or governer is the same. I would imagine they rev higher so they probably shift higher.

[R/T]

I've been using Transtar clutches and such, as they have a warehouse here in town, and helpful peoples!!

And I think the Neon valve body is the same as our 413's....

[Ondonti]

Most of the internals out of an neon 31th will work in ours. Keep in mind they use lockup torque converter while some of ours don't. When I built mine, I used both drums (swapped input shafts, mine was non lockup), neon planetaries and neon ring and pinion. Not sure if neon valve body or governer is the same. I would imagine they rev higher so they probably shift higher.

Sounds like the issue here is high quality clutches, bands. Doesn't sound like being a neon helps there. I think we all know you can get hard parts from cores... Not being able to build the transmission to hold big power kills the platform completely.

Time to go Chris!