Re: IML: 1981 imperial,trans fluid,shift kit?

[David Whitney <hazegreen66@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, Frank --

 

You are learning that the newer the Imperial, the harder it is to hop it up.  The '80s and '90s cars did not offer the pinnacle of performance wedge/torqueflite combination of the earlier decades or, going back further, the early hemi and straight eight.

 

In general, the lockup functions are controlled by the valve body.  You can put a non-lockup valve body in the lockup case, but not vice versa.  Any aftermarket shift kit for a 904 will do.  If you want to go into the tranny's guts, try to get the lower gear ratio that was offered in the later '80s Imperials to improve off the line performance.  No matter what you decide to do, talk to an old transmission guy before you do it.

 

You could sink big money into trying to make your car a hot rod.  By modifying the transmission you will still have a 4,000-pound car that's a dog in town and gets great freeway mileage (but about 10 percent less than if you left the lockup intact).

Happy motoring,

David

'91 K-Imperial driver
'66 Crown Coupe project
'66 LeBaron dual air and every option known to man

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