Torqueflight vs. Autocross

I've been spending every free minute of my life in the garage lately and I'm hoping to be ready for some autocross before the end of the season. Someday I will have the resources to swap in a proper manual box but that Silversport T56 swap that I'm drooling over is years away...so for now, it has to be run as-is.

I still have some unanswered questions about running this car, not the least of which is what's going to happen to the transmission under typical autocross flogging. I am running an A904 with some upgraded internals and a deep pan but no manual-shift valve body and IIRC, a stock sprag assembly. Probably also worth noting is that the transmission is spinning a 4.10 axle.

Often in autocross, the transmission (auto or manual) would be left in second gear which means that you alternate between heavy throttle and closed throttle. This can be a means to get the car to rotate through some engine braking forces on the rear wheels but it's also just the nature of hustling any car through a tight course. Also with any V8/RWD car, there's a very good chance for lots of tire spinning at various points on a given autocross course.

Will these conditions spell certain doom for a Torqueflight? Is this asking for sprag-destruction?

Currently, I'm sliding around on no-season BFG T/As but at some point I will have the cash for some modern/sticky rubber. Safe to say that the risk of damage will only go up?

Thanks for any insight/experience!

IMO I don't think so.A manual valve body along with the normal upgrades for your power level should be good to slide!

A have been running a 545rfe trans for a couple of years now. I run in second gear all the time. 3.73 out back. On some faster cousrses before I changed my leafs and shocks I would drift faster corners. After I went with firm feel -1 leafs and bilstein shocks I grip the corners a little better. My trans has held up well.

I think it would be nice to have an autocross, corner carver forum on here. I think there are more and more abodies doing this.

I ran 904s for years in oval track cars, zero problems ever. A manual valve body would be a good idea though

I don’t auto cross but honestly you are not going to build anything that will last 100% all the time. Every part will fail eventually and if you change your fluid and watch for metal regularly you will have better success.

Auto cross has always been a “bucket list” item but not yet at least. I say coolers, build up parts and maintained and go blast around that track like you stole it. Post some pics please for those of us who have not tried it yet. Second the new section on the board.