About

Company History

1976-2018

J. W. Performance Transmissions, Inc. began it's operation in 1976 with one goal in mind: To provide the highest quality product and customer service in the business. Our goal has not changed and we continue to offer our customers the highest quality product with the best customer service.

Located in Rockledge Florida, J.W.'s 40,000 square foot operation has steadily expanded with product innovations such as “The Wheel”, “Ultra-Bell”, and the “Ultra-Case”. J.W.'s founder John Winters Sr. continues to improve the company with his product development and testing of new products. This development shows in every highly engineered J.W. product. The second generation of this family owned and operated company, which is continuing with the same spirit and goals that John Winters Sr. started the company with in 1976, will lead this company into the future. With our small company values, combined with our leading technology, you get the best product available while receiving personal attention.

2018 Marks our 43rd Anniversary!

As a young boy growing up in Morristown, New Jersey, John Winters, Sr. showed a great deal of interest in automobiles and, in particular, the racecars.  During his childhood and into his adolescence, vehicles were a great source of entertainment.  This interest developed into a career, as J.W. Performance Transmissions will celebrates its years in the automotive after market industry.

Upon graduating from Hanover Park High School, John embarked on his  career at a local car dealership in New Jersey.  He was married at the age of 20 to Helen Poole, and started a family in New Jersey.  Over the next five years their son and daughter, John, Jr. and Tracy were born. John, Sr. worked two jobs to support his family.  He worked at the local dealership and at a small gas station, pumping gas.  In 1970 the family decided to move to Florida.  At first they settled in Fort Lauderdale and then later relocated to Merritt Island, Florida.  John, Sr. secured employment with a local GM car dealership where he rebuilt automatic transmissions and provided other repairs for customers.  After a brief period with the dealership, General Motors requested to audit his work.  The auditors could not fathom how he could manufacture so many transmissions with such efficiency. When the audit team concluded the meeting, John, Sr. was offered and accepted a position as a “trouble shooter” for General Motors.  He attended many training classes for G.M.  John, Sr. would be called out when a problem existed that engineers and builders could not solve with a transmission.  John would bring a resolution to the problem and provide feedback to General Motors.  ( See right photo of John Sr. and Helen Winters during their first year of marriage and John Sr. at the General Motors dealership in Florida.)

During 1976 John, Sr. decided to open his own automatic transmission repair business and build high performance automatic racing transmissions for the local racers.  The business was started while he was earning only a weekly paycheck from the local General Motors dealership.  John, Sr. traveled to races in the Southeastern United States to promote his products and knowledge.  During this same time he also campaigned a drag racing vehicle in the stock division at NHRA National and Divisional events.  This campaign included the NHRA Southern Nationals in Georgia and the NHRA Gatornationals in Florida.  David Crume, a family friend, had the honor of participating in the TRW All-Star Series driving the vehicle campaigned by J.W. Performance. During the 1980's the business expanded too rapidly to continue campaigning the vehicle.  It was necessary for John, Sr. to concentrate on the operation and the increasing growth and demand for the J.W. Performance products.  Over the next few years the business flourished and racers from around the Southeast were learning about the superior transmissions and converters John Winters built.  During 1983 J.W. Performance constructed a 10,000 square foot building at 1826 Baldwin Street in Rockledge, Florida.  With a surge in business about 6 years later, further expansion was required and an additional 10,000 square feet were added to the facility.  This past year J.W. Performance Transmissions has completed construction on a new 20,000 square foot facility, adding growth to their operation.  The total square footage is currently 40,000.

Presently the entire Winters family is involved in the operation of the business.  John, Jr., manages the transmission and valve body departments and Tracy, performs the function of Vice-President of Sales/Marketing and business development.  Helen, the wife of John, Sr. for thirty-seven years, has assumed the role of Vice-President and comptroller.  John, Sr., founder and CEO continues to develop new and innovative product designs. John also coordinates directly with the production operations manager and the torque converter builders.

The second generation of Winters are being groomed to take over the corporation.  John, Jr. is an avid bracket racer who offers a great deal of insight for new products and new designs. Additionally he brings the racer's perspective to the company.  Tracy is involved in D.R.A.W., an organization to help racers, and presides as a member of the board of Trustees.  She also serves on the SEMA MPMC Council.  Tracy assumes an active role with her involvement in the industry, including the preservation and expansion of the industry.  Over the past ten years the company has grown considerably with the introduction of new products and an aggressive marketing approach.


FAQ

60 SECONDS WITH THE TRANSMISSION PROS

John Winters Jr.
Transmission / Valve Body Department Manager
Over 17 years experience

1. How often should I change my fluid?

Every 25 to 40 runs depending on application. Fluid should look clean. If it starts to look dirty or smells burnt than you should change it sooner.

2. How often should I rebuild my transmission?

Every 250 passes for those with less than 1,200 horsepower. Those with over 1,200 horsepower every 100 passes.

3. What is considered a good temperature for my transmission?

160 to 200 degrees F. Over 200 degrees F is considered too hot and will create heat damage to the band and clutches.

4. How often should I rebuild my torque converter?

Every twelve to eighteen months is the suggested time frame.

5. How much fluid does my transmission hold?

  • Powerglide with deep pan = 9 quarts
  • Powerglide w/o deep pan = 7 quarts
  • TH400 with deep pan = 9 ½ quarts
  • TH400 w/o deep pan = 7 ½ quarts
  • TH350 with deep pan = 9 ½ quarts
  • TH350 w/o deep pan = 7 ½ quarts

6. If my solenoid has two wires what should I do with the second wire?

The second wire needs to be ground to the pan or to another location on the transmission.

7. How do I install my torque converter?

Fill the converter with ½” of a quart of transmissions fluid. Install the converter onto the front pump. When installing the converter, insert into the crank pilot 1/8” to 3/16”. There should be 1/8” to 3/16” of clearance between the flywheel and converter mounting lugs.

8. How many amps should my solenoid draw?

All solenoids draw between 6 to 7 amps.

9. How do I identify the cooler lines?

The bottom line is pressure and the top line is the return line, for all GM applications.

The front line is pressure and the back line is the return for the C-4 and TF727 or TF904 applications.

10. What increases or creates stall speed?

The torque multiplication exists when more torque is applied to the turbine through redirected fluid force from the impeller, which is operating at a lesser torque. This condition is commonly called Vortex fluid.

The pitch of the fin angle determines the fluid velocity flow and therefore determines the stall speed. The greater the pitch of the fin angle the more stall is created.

11. How do I adjust my band?

The powerglide, C-4, TF727 and TF904 are the only transmissions that need a band adjustment. The TH350 and TH400 do not require a band adjustment.

POWERGLIDE:

  • Loosen the 9/16” jamb nut tighten the bolt within 7/32” allen wrench to 72 inch pounds.
  • Back the adjusting screw to 3 ¾ turns. The band should be adjusted every 25 runs.

C-4

REAR BAND:

  • Remove lock nut
  • Tighten adjusting screw to 10 foot pounds
  • Back out three turns
  • Install lock nut and tighten

INTERMEDIATE (FRONT) BAND:

  • Loosen lock nut
  • Tighten adjusting screw to fit 10 ft. pounds
  • Back out 1 ½ turns for coarse thread
  • Back out 2 ½ turns for fine thread
  • TF727 and TF904

FRONT BAND:

  • 4.2/5/0 lever: 1 ¾ turns – CCW (off)
  • 3.2/3.8 lever 2 turns – CCW (off)
  • Rear Band:
  • 2 turns – CCW (off)

12. What are the typical causes of oil leaking (puking) out of a transmission?

  • A. Too much oil
  • B. Pump halves not flush, causing a cross leak into vent or into drain, causing foaming.
  • C. VB cross leak blowing out into oil, therefore foaming the oil.
  • D. Pump gaskets blown on pressure or suction side.
  • E. Broken torque converter, or too much torque converter clearance.
  • F. Over heated oil, which raises the overall oil level.