Modifying a worn out DMF

[65sixbanger]

Ok I shouldve known better than to put this pile o s*&t dmf in my truck but I did so now I want to reduce the clattering noise it makes. I bought with the ZF and I just assumed it would be ok, but you know what happens when you ASSume. I guess the only problem is that it clatters, but when the windows are down it is kinda annoying, and really its only at idle, take-off or slow speeds. I dont want to pull the tranny in this weather, so I was just wondering if welding on it would cause it to flex too much. I was thinking it would, but I have a perfect angle at it with the inspection cover off and I could put a solid bead on it. 12" x 3.14 is about 36'' of a bead so I know that hold up.

Any thoughts?

 

[Black dawg]

it will work. it will also make your trans noisy as there are no springs in your clutch disk.

 

[Black dawg]

its also pretty tough to not throw the balance off

 

[65sixbanger]

I just finished putting a new clutch disc in that has springs, and I can weld good

I still think it would flex the flywheel too much but IDK

 

[Black dawg]

perfect.

 

[franklin2]

Wasn't there a couple of guy's who ran the solid disc and the solid flywheel and the center of the disc broke out?

Also your trans is going to be noisy, even if you run a disc with springs in it. I tried the 30w motor oil trick, and cannot recommend it. The tranny will not shift in cold weather until you run it down the road about 5 miles to warm the oil up. So that means double clutching it. I just changed that oil out and am now running 10w30 motor oil, and it's a little bit better. I only have to double clutch it for about a mile.

 

[65sixbanger]

I haven't ever heard of the disc breaking, but I do know that the SMF conversion is pretty popular, but not in this form

Also, I wouldn't run motor oil in the ZF, its supposed to take ATF... Much easier to shift than motor oil I would imagine..

 

[Mat J]

franklin have your tried a 30wt aft like something big trucks run? a member here has had good success with it.

if you want to fix the dmf, pull it out and lucky mod or smf it. you could weld it and probably get away with it, you will just need to be careful and weld only a little at a time, you dont want to get it very hot. i would weld a little, let it cool then weld a littl 180 of where you did and try and work your way all the way around.

 

[65sixbanger]

franklin have your tried a 30wt aft like something big trucks run? a member here has had good success with it.

if you want to fix the dmf, pull it out and lucky mod or smf it. you could weld it and probably get away with it, you will just need to be careful and weld only a little at a time, you dont want to get it very hot. i would weld a little, let it cool then weld a littl 180 of where you did and try and work your way all the way around.

Thats what I was thinking I could do. I just dont want to have to mess with pulling it for the Lucky mod right now.

 

[franklin2]

The only thing I think I would try next is a synthetic oil. They say it's not as thick when it's cold.

The thicker oil and overfilling it is to reduce the noise from the SMF(I have the Lucky Mod SMF). It does a fine job when it's all warmed up, still a little bit of noise, but tolerable. But it's a real struggle to shift when the oil is cold. The 30w oil is all but impossible to shift, and it was around 25f the other day. The truck would probably not even be functional if it got really cold with the 30w oil in it.

I don't know where to get 30wt tranny fluid, and if it's 30wt, it will probably still be too thick in cold weather. I am not sure of the official wt rating of the dexron that the zf calls for, but it looks pretty thin.

One other option I thought of was overfilling with dexron. I wonder how much that would reduce the tranny noise at idle?

 

[Fordsandguns]

My FIL said that him and his son did this on one of their trucks without any problems.
Did it like Mat J said, welded a little let it cool, and barred the engine over and did another. Did it like that until it was completely welded.

 

[65sixbanger]

Ok I guess I might try this maybe this weekend. I will use a mig for sure.

 

[65sixbanger]

Come'on, I know some more of yall might have input... Is there a reason this hasn't been done that much?

 

[RustyBolts]

The only thing I think I would try next is a synthetic oil. They say it's not as thick when it's cold.

The thicker oil and overfilling it is to reduce the noise from the SMF(I have the Lucky Mod SMF). It does a fine job when it's all warmed up, still a little bit of noise, but tolerable. But it's a real struggle to shift when the oil is cold. The 30w oil is all but impossible to shift, and it was around 25f the other day. The truck would probably not even be functional if it got really cold with the 30w oil in it.

I don't know where to get 30wt tranny fluid, and if it's 30wt, it will probably still be too thick in cold weather. I am not sure of the official wt rating of the dexron that the zf calls for, but it looks pretty thin.

One other option I thought of was overfilling with dexron. I wonder how much that would reduce the tranny noise at idle?

For the record, According to Mr. Thinker in Green Magazine, 30wt is 30wt is 30wt whether it's marked as tranny oil or engine oil. 30wt tranny oil will flow like 30wt motor oil at the same temp, according to kim and his sources.

 

[sle2115]

I'd definetely go synthetic on 30 wt and I think that's what the person they are talking about is running, 30 wt Synthetic ATF.