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Here are some general FAQ's, for info on how an A/T tranny or torque converter works, follow the links on the bottom.

How much power can the trannie hold up to? 
Surprisingly, very few A/T dsm owners complain about their transmissions. This is completely opposite to the general consensus that the m/t is poorly designed. We have members in the 300+ hp range, and use their cars EVERYDAY. It's still newish territory (for our group), so we really don't know. Modern transmissions are actually pretty robust, and go thru rigorous testing and updates before being put to use.

Do I have smaller injectors? Turbo? Cams? 
If you have a "1g" (1990-1994) DSM, then you likely have all of the above :(. The good thing is, that many of our m/t counterparts get rid of their stock stuff quite readily for CHEAP prices. Click here to go to the DSM PARTS TRADER to see for yourself! Don't worry too much about the cams, but you will definitely feel an increase in power across the board! You may want to get all this stuff ported to reduce lag. For information about porting, visit the VFAQ site. 

What is "POWER BRAKING" or "BRAKE TORQUE"? 
The most effective way to launch an A/T Attack :). How this is accomplished is, you MASH the brakes, then the THROTTLE, watch your boost rise to desired setting or 5 seconds, whichever comes first, and let go of the brake! Watch out, you MAY peel out, especially with bald tires or FWD. Be careful when it is wet outside, AWD  is good, but not THAT good. PLEASE COOL DOWN after doing this by letting the car idle in neutral for a minute or two with the A/C running. This will cause the radiator fans to turn on and draw cooler ambient air through your A/T oil cooler. Heat kills most automatic transmissions!

What's the best way to launch? 
See above! The second best way to run with someone is to do it at about 25mph. When you punch it, it will violently "kickdown" to 1st (especially if you have a shift kit installed), and just TAKE off in your engines powerband. Hard to get someone to race like this, but you will have the advantage.

Can I do "NEUTRAL DROPS"? (NO!) 
NO!. Stupidly, I have done this about 4 times in my cars life, and it seems ok. Just sorry I did it to a car that I now love :(. Yes, you will peel out. No your trannie / driveline will NOT LAST.

Can I swap my transmission with a M/T?
You probably can, but if your car is an older model, it is usually easier to just sell your car as is, and buy the car you prefer. Both m/t and a/t have advantages and disadvantages, and it is totally up to you. There will be a VFAQ on this soon, for now check out this site for 1g swap information

What is "STALL"? 
Your stall is determined by doing the "brake torque" thing above. Do this for less than 5 seconds at a time with long cool down periods in between. The highest rpm that you reach is about the same as your stall speed. There are some variances and factors that may change from car to car causing varying stall speeds from 2000-to-3500 rpm's. Higher stall torque converters CAN be purchased! Look at the "links" section.

How do A/T's actually work?
Check out the new link below!

What type of ATF should I use?
Stock is recommended for now. See your service/owners manual. People have had good luck with Mobil 1 ATF, and also B&M Trick Shift.

Can anyone with an A/T peel out? :)
Yes! It's a little harder with AWD, but it IS possible! Join us and find out HOW to get your A/T up to speed, and FAST!

• Automatic Transmissions, how do they work?
• Torque Converters... What? What are those?
• Launch/Staging Tips - 3,2,1 GO!
• NOS - Nitrous Oxide
• Turbo selections, what works, what doesn't
• A/T Digest - Talk to our group of enthusiasts and vendors daily!
• Fastest A/T DSM's - Please remove shoes and bow before entering :)
• Members pages (new!)
• Chat Online!