Transmission

Are the Thunderbird Transmissions really that bad??? I've had my 89 TBird (Standard V6) for just over a year now and I haven't experienced and tranny problems yet (knock on wood). But I've read alot of threads about tbird transmissions, and no one speaks well them. My transmission maintaince for every car i've owned is to replace the trannny fluid and strainer every year, then the following year to replace the tranny and torque converter fluid and strainer. I like to top off the fluid with Lucas Transmission fluid. With this type of maintaince should my transmission last? Right now my car has over 154,000 miles.

'88 T Bird here 3.8 AOD original equipment no special treatment other then regular maintenance and a light foot on the pedal. 110,000 miles. Only problem we had has to do with the rear axle --which is a popular issue for 80s. Something to do with shims and/or spider gear--it was warranty years ago.

well SUERED , i suppose that makes two of us who havent had any major transmission problems. i was just curious because ive read alot of people who have had tranny problems. which is kinda surprising to me because ive researched tbirs made in the mid 80s and early 90s, and the transmissions are suppose to be pretty reliable. the 3.8, 232 engines were suppose to be the only major problem.

My wife owns the T Bird and is a lightfoot. Circumstances make for some of the results. I think a lot about the head gasket deal but so far our V6 has been great on trips in recent years --including a drive around Lake Superior in 2001. Maybe it depends upon what production facility the particular car was built at ---as to the head gasket problem?? I would ask of the experts.

It's more luck of the draw with the headgaskets.

I used to have an '85 Ford T-Bird 5.0, and my first transmission went at 164,000 miles, original tranny. After that, it just went downhill from there 3 trannies in a year. It just depends, it was great until the first tranny went.