Tranny update

[Van]

Hi all,

I finally got around to ripping apart the tranny today. I dropped it Saturday and I had to crack the case and see what fell out right then. I discovered what appeared to be the end of a shift rail floating around, as most of you at the HS on Sat. saw, lol.

Well, today I confirmed what I figured. The end of the 3/4 shift rail is history.

The car did not lock up until after I had coasted to the end and had cleared the track and then tried shifting it down to first to go again. I had figured I had already lost third at that point. The tranny stayed in third, and then grabbed first too.

One very cool observation too. :) I've said before that I run the Valvoline 75w90 Synthetic gear oil (GL5). All of my synchros are picture perfect. Two plus years running the Valvoline... Just FYI, for those who think I'm crazy, hehe.

It's looking like I'll be upgrading the shift rails, rail ends and the shift forks myself using TRE spec parts. Hopefully with a few other minor TRE goodies.

[Hal]

Just a word of note.

If you send your tranny to TRE you may have to wait MONTHS to get it back.

Check the Talon Digest archives, for more information.

If you can order the parts from him... great.

Hal

[Van]

Yeah, sending the trans anywhere isn't an option.
Neither is paying someone else mucho dinero to do what a manual shows me.
TRE sells parts, but won't have the TRE spec shift rails I want for two weeks. :(

[Van]

He finally got all of the parts together for me.

This is what I 'm getting.

All four oil seals
TRE trash filter
TRE trans magnet
Input shaft bearings
TRE-spec modified 3-4 EVO shift fork
TRE-spec shift rails
New snap rings

Total was $258.90 + shipping. I had the parts shipped 2-day. I hope to have her back on the pavement by Sunday. We'll see.

I got my spare flywheel turned today, the RRE lightened flywheel is coming out. I think it sucks for drag racing.

The 2600's street disc is worn just a tad more on the engine side than I'd like. So I'll be putting a 2G awd Mitsu clutch disc in there with the 2600 PP.
Gotta break in a new clutch then. I'm not sure if I'll do the 500 mile thing this time. We'll see, it did work great before...

[Hal]

I have a new mitsu disc... I can save you a few $$ on it :)

Hal

[Van]

Sweet Hal! Thanks. Is sometime tomorrow cool for me to pick it up, that way I can hit MHM too?

[Hal]

Sure... anytime after 3:00 pm

[Van]

After 3 it is.
PM me your address and how much it is.

[Van]

I'm gonna try to be there about 3:30ish Hal.

If you e-mailed me earlier today, I won't get it. I just updated my profile with the right e-mail addy. My old e-mail was such a joke, they just recently shut it down.

[Van]

Details (post #8)

The trans is back together and installed, hehe.
Thanks to Hal for that new 2G friction disc!

I'll try and keep this short.

First off, my trans was perfect before, it shifted well, no problems, etc. I broke the 3-4 shift rail end. This rail end part is right under the shifter mechanism that you see on the trans by your intake tube.

I could only afford a "cheap" and dirty rebuild. I did upgrade a few parts that I mentioned up above. Jon at TRE is the man. Easy to talk to and willing to give out tranny info.

Only two things are a pita, seriously. Getting the shift rail assembly into place and removing the input shaft's front bearing's (1st gear) outer race.

The manual does a halfway decent job at pics, special steps, etc.

I had to make two special tools, very easy though, to pop that input shaft bearing's outer race from the trans housing. I'll get some pics of them in here soon. You will laugh...
You can do both of the input shaft's bearings by yourself with no special tools, except for that outer race up front. Pics soon, total special tool cost <$10.

When you assemble the shift rails/forks assembly to the input and intermediate shafts, as they sit in the trans; make sure she shifts well right then! Do not wait until later!:rolleyes:

I believe that when TRE rebuilds a trans with his tre-spec shift rails, he does some "customizing" on each trans, on the shift rail ends and the shifter mechanism. Since I just ordered the parts, they would not shift at all when assembled. :eek: It appeared to me as though they come to him fresh cast and he then does some grinding on them, very nice though. Mine were very tight, he was very close for an educated guess, probably .035" I had to grind out and file in new radiuses. I haven't confirmed this scenario with him yet, but be forewarned that you may have to have a nice flat file and a dremel/die grinder in hand if you get into your own tranny and order the TRE-spec shift rails. She shifts very well now, so nice, for being on four jackstands still, hehe. Now I *really* know why our trannies don't shift like BMW's...

There are TWO 1/4" steel ball bearings, underneath the viscous coupling. When you pry off the VC, watch for TWO ball bearings. One of my ball bearings is now an ACE Hardware steel ballbearing, hehe. All they do is hold the center shaft, (going to the transfer case,) into the VC via sitting in a groove. There is no load on them.

It's not too bad and don't be afraid of tearing into your tranny. :D

[Hal]

Actually, there is only one reatiner ball.

There are "spots" for two, but only one is used.

Hal

[Van]

Hal is correct, this was pointed out to me about five times today.

Well, my trans now has two balls, hehe.

She shifts very well thus far and I hit 10 psi in the first mile, hehe.

[BatmanGSX]

When can I have a ride?

I want the new TRE "AWD" 5th gear. With my tires, at 8000rpms (my new rev limiter) mathematically I would be going 244mph. :cool:

Of course anything over 140mph scares me (actually 100) and it's not like I would have the power to get passed the drag but I still want to say, "my top speed is mathematically limited to 244mph."

[Van]

Pretty soon I guess...

She's running very well and begging me to boost her to redline. Shifting great thus far. I'm not pushing her too hard yet with the new friction disc in there, only 15 psi. Soon though. ;)

Interesting thing, somehow my battery just fried and I needed to swap in my spare alternator and buy a new battery. They were fine when the car went down, hehe. :confused:

I can absolutely tell the difference after fixing my cat-back's small neck down. :D I lost some low-end, but gained easy spool-up. I also don't miss the rre lightened flywheel one bit.

Can't wait until I can get to the track again and race. It'll probably be September though.

[hoffman]

good to hear shes holding together. what is this rash of broken trannys lately? keep your trannys away from mine, i don't want it to get any ideas.
:p