BW35 rebuild

[Greaser2]

My auto trans is very sluggish so thinking clutches and others are shot so start of day one. Removed. 

[Greaser2]

I’ve rebuilt several manual but never an auto. One valve body, magnet has some debris. I had opened this and cleaned it last about 2 years ago. 

[MikeRL411]

Bands are not redally available for this transmission, good luck, A complete rebuild kit, less bands is available,

[Greaser2]

Bands don’t look horrible but the front has chipping. 

[Greaser2]

Rear clutch disks are worn out. Otherwise not bad. 

Edited December 7, 2024 by Greaser2

[Greaser2]

7 minutes ago, MikeRL411 said:

Bands are not redally available for this transmission, good luck, A complete rebuild kit, less bands is available,

What do u think of the bands?

[Ooph!]

This place in Britain seems to have them

 

https://www.autolinkautomatics.com/

 

and found them using this site that lists a few others as well

 

https://go4trans.com/band-bw35/

 

Good hunting

[datzenmike]

Borg Warner had a transmission plant in Letchworth Great Britain acquiring another company there after WW2 and producing automatic transmissions, certainly by the late '50s

 

The Letchworth BW-35 was one of the two automatics (alongside the Muncie) used in the early 510 and any other car in the mid sixties. It was retired in April '71 in favor of the new in house made 3N71B

[Greaser2]

Since the front clutches were in nice shape, likely replaced and it was so sluggish from standing and cold, thinking the torque converter is bad. So, will need to find a shop to test. 

[datzenmike]

On 12/7/2024 at 10:34 AM, Greaser2 said:

Rear clutch disks are worn out. Otherwise not bad. 

 

What color was the ATF? Clutches look burnt.

[Greaser2]

The ATF looked good, I had replaced it about a year and a half ago.  Yes the rear clutches were gone. I don’t think this would cause sluggish starts however??

[datzenmike]

Sluggish is relative. Automatics are not as solidly connected to the rear wheels as a standard and they can only give as good as they get from the engine. If the engine is not tuned up then performance will suffer. There is enough slip that it can idle at a stop. Hard to say if they are slipping as they all slip anyway. The rear clutch is very important in drive (first gear) take off. It should be engaged and holding. By the look of those discs the ATF would be very dark from friction material worn off.

[Greaser2]

Found an old timer in Houston that seems to know everything on these, he cut the converter in half. Looked fine, lite wear. Rebuild will be $200.  He seems to think the seals on the rear clutch are bad so will replace those as well. 

[MikeRL411]

On 12/7/2024 at 10:37 AM, Greaser2 said:

What do u think of the bands?

 Granger [company from which I bought the rebuild kit] says as long as the material is there no replacement is necessary, but as long as the transmission is disassembled why not replace,

[Greaser2]

2 hours ago, MikeRL411 said:

 Granger [company from which I bought the rebuild kit] says as long as the material is there no replacement is necessary, but as long as the transmission is disassembled why not replace,

I found new front and rear, not too expensive. 

[MikeRL411]

23 hours ago, Greaser2 said:

I found new front and rear, not too expensive. 

Where?

[Greaser2]

Front on eBay. Rear at Autolink Automatics out of Europe per the link above.  My Houston guy says he knows a guy in Houston that can resurface the bands.  Plus he gave me a contacts in the Midwest he says has parts. Fatsco. Or A&A trans parts.