I have been getting the itch for a turbo or supercharger ever since I finished the buildup back in May of last year. Now that the new motor is finally broken in and I have gotten a good deal on the perfect supercharger I have decided to tear it all down and start over. However, the most unfortunate had to happen last Sunday while going for a weekend cruise in the steel blue.

Here is what happened:

I was cruising the coast on highway 101 at around 60mph when a Focus SVT pulls up next to me and wants to race. I was just waiting for a fool to clown so I jumped on the opportunity. But I messed up big time. I thought I was cruising in OD so I pulled the shift lever down twice to go into 2nd gear, instead I was in D so I went into 1st gear at over 60mph! I have 3.73s and the tires locked up instantly. When I realized what I did I shifted into 2nd and the speed dropped back down around 30mph. I wasn't about to let him get away, so I chased him down and pulled up next to him around 70mph and just stayed next to him by playing with the throttle and eventually just pulled away at least 10 cars. (BTW: no nitrous) At the next light he pulls up and gives me a thumbs up and drove away. I proceeded to drive away too but I noticed my car was stock in 1st gear.

I knew it by then that I broke my tranny AGAIN. This is the 5th tranny I have gone through for the 8 years that I have owned my steel blue, and this one is only 6 months old from Art Carr.

I couldn't believe this had happened to me because I already put money aside for a complete tear down for my entire car, and I didn't budget for this to happen!

My parts are as follows:

Vortech S trim from forum member LPDesRoches
TRW 8.0 dished pistons
GTP 6 cam 235/242 .568/.592 @.050
GTP 6 spring 180lb
MSD 6 BTM
50lb injectors
BG fuel pump
custom fuel cell and fuel line

Now the tranny is broken I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I was plan on having the car done by the first week of April in time for the So. Cal fastest street car shootout at Carlsbad raceway but now it doesn't look good.

On top of that I don't do any of the work on my car so there is no way I can save money there.

So now the car is just sitting at Top Flight Corvette and nothing is getting done. I don't know how long it is going to be there because if I put in anymore money into the beast I will have to sleep on the street and starve myself.

Does anyone have $3000 I can borrow?

:(


[Modified by zelement, 1:34 AM 2/6/2003]

 

man that sucks

 

Sorry to hear zelement. :(

As much as I'm sure you don't want to hear this, I would elect to pass on the April event, let the Steel Blue rest and do the trans when $ allow. If the extra downtime means you can dump extra $$$ on more power or more mods, then so be it. I'm sure this won't help your withdrawal though...

I'll be the first to ask this, have you considered a six speed conversion?

 

:iagree:
Jeffy'

 

you have a shift kit that allows you to downshift into 1st @ 60 mph?? :eek: :eek:


The valving in mine wont let the tranny downshift into a lower gear until a certain speed in hit. (stock)

 

Thats what I would think to........that is why auto's suck. But I have to say this, "5 trannies?" Either someone don't know how to rebuild or you need to reevaluate how you drive. I know that high torque cars are monsters and rough on the entire drive train but isn't that something you should have looked at closely after tranny number 2? All the high HP cars I've ever driven (16 years) I've only killed two trannies and that was a POS 82 F-body!! Like the old saying "The strongest part of the chain is the weakest link" You should send all your add on mods back, get your money back, and reinvest into a transmission that won't fail under those demands. We have 9 second vettes here, and you never hear how the drive train get blown apart. Most want more HP/torque from the engine and never seem to pay attention to the rest of the details. This is just my opinion so please no flames. I'm sure you'll get it worked out, I feel for :( for you because I have the same cabin fever.....I can loan you $3000 at 150% interest payable with a week of the money delivery..... :jester . J/K. Good luck and keep us posted.

kitt

 

Well your first problem with the tranny was using art carr. I have a art carr tranny and had the same problem after racing a guy for the first time. Before that though 4th gear burnt up in less than 10 miles. On my way to the tranny shop to have it fixed(didn't feel like taking the tranny out again and paying $200 shipping) is when the problem of not shifting out of 1st started. So I got to drive it to the tranny shop in 1st very not fun. O yea that was a brand new 2600 tranny. I'm on my 5th tranny as well. IMO art carr sucks. :cuss

 

contact Chuck at Performance Trnas, in Naperville. Performance trans is part of Finish Line Performance..

If I owned a 4L60e or 700r4 car he is the ONLY guy I would have build my trans. He knows he stuff, builds them right..

 

I don't think I would have bothered to prove I could beat a Ford Focus. :banghead: :skep: :rolleyes: :nono: :leaving:

 

Sheesh!!

Sorry to read that Paul. :nonod:

 

Wow, sorry to here. I wish someone would come up with an easy way to do a B&M megashifter, or some type of rachit shifter. Mine has kept me out of trouble. (in the montecarlo)
good luck.

 

Yeah I know it suck!

The Art Carr trans has a warranty but I am not sure if I even want to deal with them. They want $200 for labor, ??? for parts, $300 for shipping both ways, and I have to pay TFC to remove and replace the tranny. All in all this will probably end up costing just a much as a new tranny. I don't know what to do.

Yeah i have thought about a 6speed many times, why I haven't done it? I dunno?

 

if you are looking for a killer auto, consider a TH400 with a gearvendors overdrive... you can't kill a TH400.

 

:iagree: with bogus! If you change to a 6 speed it will cost so much money ;). Plus you won't be as consistant.

 

I am leaning more towards the 400. How much would it be and what mods would have to be done? Does anyone know?

 

I think you need to check with gearvendors...

I know the 400 can be installed...

from what I have read, a race prepped 400 is about the same $$ as a suped up 700R4. It seems to be about 2500.00 for the corvette conversion.

http://www.gearvendors.com/cg2wd3s.html

scroll to the bottom.


[Modified by bogus, 11:08 PM 2/6/2003]

 

Sounds like it's time to learn how to do it yourself! :) My tranny's on the garage floor awaiting the $2000 in hardparts it wants. When done my 700r4 will hold up to repeated abuse in the 750-800hp range. The fact that my car only puts out 475 or so makes it even better.

700r4's are funky, you can build 'em to take 450 hp, then the next level you approach is that 750-800hp range. There ain't any 650hp 700r4s, just wimpier trannies that haven't died yet.

{flame suit: on}

 

That 400/GV looks like a great setup, but at $2495, it's heavy on the pocket.

And, for that price, do you get the TH400 and the OD unit, or is that just the OD unit?

Also, how hard is it to learn to drive the car with the OD unit?

 

Hey, RocketSled,

What would be a parts list that you'd use to rebuild your trans with? Sun shell, new servos, etc? Just wondering, in case a few of us DO decide to do it ourselves...

Nothing like a trans on a workbench for a winter project. We grow up, and our model kits get more expensive, but they're still model kits...

 

Good thing you didn't buy my TT then or you would really be in a jam. Maybe you should convert it to a manual!