Cryogenic treatment (Page 1/3)
BingB AUG 23, 01:31 PM
Anyone ever had any parts cryogenically treated? Specifically, a transmission.

I am planning on switching to a manual and the getreg 5 speed is not known for its strength.

Does cryogenic treatment help very much? Would it be worth $300 to do the internals of the transmission?
IMSA GT AUG 23, 04:30 PM
While you wait for an in depth answer from soeone who has done this, my understanding is that cryo treating makes the steel parts stronger but will do nothing to the aluminum case. That now becomes the failure point.
olejoedad AUG 23, 09:18 PM
V8 Archie had the manual transmissions cryo treated for his SBC swaps. Don't know if he did the getrags or just used the 4 speeds.

If you're running a stock 2.8 or even a stock 3.4 the non-cryo treated transmissions should hold up well.

The getrags's failure point due to too much torque is usually the intermediate shaft pushing into the bell housing.

It causes lots of damage as you can imagine.
ericjon262 AUG 24, 05:39 PM
The getrag is a pretty tough transmission, not sure who told you they weren't.

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Dennis LaGrua AUG 25, 07:46 PM
At Carlisle I had the pleasure of speaking to John Schinella and John Calles who were with the GM/Fiero development team back in the day . I asked what opinion did they have on V8 swaps -that were mated to the Getrag. They confirmed that the Getag is a light duty transmission reliable for only 170-180ft lbs of torque. To use that box with a powerful V8 engine is not following design rules. I did a 3800SC swap for a guy about 10 years back . That was only a 260 HP engine. He insisted on having the stick, used the power and one day he shattered the Getrag case to pieces..
I don't believe that there is any way to strengthen that transmission for high performance use with any engine other than the 2/8L/3.4L V6 engines.
IMO, do a powerful engine swap the right way following good design rules. As boring as they are to some I only use automatics.

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Frenchrafe AUG 26, 05:20 AM
How come I don't shatter mine?
I do use racing oil, though that won't have a lot of effect on internal shaft end loads.
Maybe it's just not dropping the clutch like a grunt!
Feather that loading up with your left foot....

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cartercarbaficionado AUG 26, 05:36 AM

quote
Originally posted by Frenchrafe:

How come I don't shatter mine?
I do use racing oil, though that won't have a lot of effect on internal shaft end loads.
Maybe it's just not dropping the clutch like a grunt!
Feather that loading up with your left foot....



it's usually a issue with prolonged use. I pulled a getrag from a low mile 87 v6 car and the case is thin in the area around the shaft and is significantly harder than the rest of the case so I'll likely end up taking it apart and putting a torque plate inside and a exoskeleton on the outside to spread the load out before I shove it into the formula.
it's definitely a mileage may vary issue like the 84 cases. all 4.10 cases crack but the high geared trans is more durable for most people.
BingB AUG 26, 09:59 AM
So the main weakness is in the bell housing and the bell housing is aluminum.

Is that right?

I don't plan on doing drag strip drops at crazy RPM, so I will probably never break a getreg, but If i do have a more powerful engine I want a transmission to hold up to it.
olejoedad AUG 26, 10:36 AM

quote
Originally posted by BingB:

So the main weakness is in the bell housing and the bell housing is aluminum.

Is that right?

I don't plan on doing drag strip drops at crazy RPM, so I will probably never break a getreg, but If i do have a more powerful engine I want a transmission to hold up to it.



The entire housing casting is aluminum.
If you're running a stock or slightly modified 2.8 you should have no problems, unless you do high rpm clutch dumps.
cartercarbaficionado AUG 26, 04:59 PM

quote
Originally posted by BingB:

So the main weakness is in the bell housing and the bell housing is aluminum.

Is that right?

I don't plan on doing drag strip drops at crazy RPM, so I will probably never break a getreg, but If i do have a more powerful engine I want a transmission to hold up to it.


a 4 speed v6 transmission is about the strongest you'll get other than an f40 swap but that has its downsides too.