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emsguy · 12-30-2011, 08:56 PM

thank you all for your informed and informative responses. I have read them all, and have tried to understand.

I was reminded by your responses that I am a somewhat of a dinosaur. I got my first drivers' license in 1966. That's right. I have been driving for 45 years. My first car was a '65 Buick Skylark GS convertible with a two-speed automatic transmission. I think it was a power glide. I can remember buying Sunoco 260 for 32.9 cents per gallon. I was educated on cars with manual chokes. I can, and have, synched three SU carbs on a 4.2 E-Type DOHC straight six. Rebuilt a TR-6 frame-up. I understand, and have experienced, the smoke theory of Lucas electrical systems. I understand, and appreciate, mechanical systems. Electrons, however, baffle the heck out of me.

You say that the AT of my 2SS senses the torque the engine is putting out and shifts accordingly. I believe you, but I don't understand. If the transmission truly senses the torque output of the engine directly, then it shouldn't matter whether I add headers, midpipes, and aftermarket exhaust. Any change in the engine torque caused by these mods would be sensed by the transmission and it would adjust accordingly. After all, 300 ft/lbs of torque is 300 ft/lbs of torque regardless of which header is used to produce it, or at what rpm it is produced.

However, if the transmission interpolates the torque figure from a pre-programmed map of stock engine values (at 3,000 rpm, the engine is putting out X ft/lbs of torque and at 3,500 rpm it is putting out Y ft/lbs of torque), then changing the headers, etc. would confuse the transmission. It would be looking for X ft/lbs of torque at 3,000 rpm and the engine was in fact putting out Z ft/lbs of torque.

Have I got it?

Once again, I am not questioning your superior wisdom and experience on this point, just trying to understand it.

Thanks again.

12-30-2011, 08:56 PM	#6
emsguy Drives: 2012 2ss convertible Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: illinois Posts: 302	thank you all thank you all for your informed and informative responses. I have read them all, and have tried to understand. I was reminded by your responses that I am a somewhat of a dinosaur. I got my first drivers' license in 1966. That's right. I have been driving for 45 years. My first car was a '65 Buick Skylark GS convertible with a two-speed automatic transmission. I think it was a power glide. I can remember buying Sunoco 260 for 32.9 cents per gallon. I was educated on cars with manual chokes. I can, and have, synched three SU carbs on a 4.2 E-Type DOHC straight six. Rebuilt a TR-6 frame-up. I understand, and have experienced, the smoke theory of Lucas electrical systems. I understand, and appreciate, mechanical systems. Electrons, however, baffle the heck out of me. You say that the AT of my 2SS senses the torque the engine is putting out and shifts accordingly. I believe you, but I don't understand. If the transmission truly senses the torque output of the engine directly, then it shouldn't matter whether I add headers, midpipes, and aftermarket exhaust. Any change in the engine torque caused by these mods would be sensed by the transmission and it would adjust accordingly. After all, 300 ft/lbs of torque is 300 ft/lbs of torque regardless of which header is used to produce it, or at what rpm it is produced. However, if the transmission interpolates the torque figure from a pre-programmed map of stock engine values (at 3,000 rpm, the engine is putting out X ft/lbs of torque and at 3,500 rpm it is putting out Y ft/lbs of torque), then changing the headers, etc. would confuse the transmission. It would be looking for X ft/lbs of torque at 3,000 rpm and the engine was in fact putting out Z ft/lbs of torque. Have I got it? Once again, I am not questioning your superior wisdom and experience on this point, just trying to understand it. Thanks again.