Posts: 2736
Joined: 6/8/2006 From: SF Bay Area Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: cobraT
"....all these HP numbers are a big ego trip in my opinion. 400, 500, 550, 600, who cares!!!! judge it by the thrill in the seat as you're going down the road, not by some number on a dyno sheet....."
I mean no offense to gadway, and a harsher than I would have said it, but I agree. I think the curiousity gets the best of us sometimes and with all the talk of HP numbers and it is fascinating to watch numbers go up with mods, but this is a major reason I decided NOT to go with an s/c. I would get caught up in the same thing, and would open myself up to more expense.
Again, I am sorry to hear this gadway Do you need to replace trans or just build it up with a new kit. I don't know much about auto trans.
Im really not sure what caused this problem. It is definatley the first problem i have seen or heard of. Our Blue car, the 2005 Saleen race car, has gone through 1 tranmission. But this was pushing 600 HP at the tires and after a full season of drag racing with it. Now thats pulling 1.4 or better 60 foots (talk about load on the trans!) We replaced the busted trans with another stock trans and ran it all of last season and even at this years FFW orlando race. The blue car may not be seen at many races this year but our 25th anniversary car will be, it will be to the same spec as the blue car but will weigh about 100-200lbs more than the blue car. It too will run on the stock 5R55S trans.
Not just saying that it can hold a 1/4 mile blast from a 600 HP race car but we have literally hundreds of guys out there with the stock trans, the 550 kit, and street drive their cars daily. EOlson is a prime example of what you can expect with our kit.
No one likes to see these situations, i never had one like this happen before. It leads me to believe that something else was the determining factor in the failure of the trans. Maybe it was destined from factory. Its really hard to say. I want to make sure Jeff is taken care of and i have tried to make every step in this situation toward the direction of doing so. I really dont feel it has to do with our kit however based on our track record but non the less it happened, jeff's a good guy, and no one anticipated this.
I agree, well said. It is a terrible thing that happened, and I am sure if we had seen a thread like this previously, gadway may not of have even had the car dyno'd. I know if I ever have an automatic, I will not. Even though that the dyno may not be the cause, it sounds like it is what pushed it over the edge. It may of have failed in the future without any upgrades or it may not of have. I do not look at this as a reflection of the JDM kit as we do not know if this was already coming or not. However, now that we do know this, I am hoping we learn from this. I totally trust JDM, and their canned tunes as they have done so many of them, but with an auto, I would let their hard work, and experience at creating those tunes benefit me as I cannot easily afford to repair/replace a trans. Of course, I am saying this after the fact, and would not of have known this if it was not for this very unfortunate experience.
When I previously posted I meant no disrespect to you, gadway. I feel for you, and your situation. I have spent few of my years rebuilding and building some pretty fast turbo 400's in my youth. I wrenched for GM for quite a few years and now I get razzed alot for my Mustang now. We did not have dynos back in the day. You built it and went to the track. Technology is a beautiful thing. My issue today is dynos and automatics. No absolute way to disengage. You always have a fluid coupling somewhere. I squirm every time I see Speed Channel winding up an automatic on a dyno. I think its like spinning a bicycle wheel and stopping it with a stick. Keep it on the tire your OK, but slip and it goes thru the spokes is another story. You have my VERY BEST WISHES for a speedy recovery.
CobraT.....I know where your original comment was coming from and can appreciate that. But keep in mind, most of us that have hit one or two or whatever dyno tunes are doing it so we don't see our motors go poof with forced induction applications (or for the NA folks...to maximize their gains).
The rwhp/rwtq numbers are just an FYI and let you know whether or not the $$$$ you spent on mods was worth while.
Besides, if you've seen dyno charts in miles per hour (rather than RPM's), which I'm sure you have, you realize that tuners would have to run your car up to around 120-130 or so MPH in 3rd or 4th gear on an open highway to get a good read on what your A/F ratios look like around redline at those speeds. I'm sure not many are in favor of that methodology.
Just an alternative viewpoint......we're not all out for ego trips .
CobraT.....I know where your original comment was coming from and can appreciate that. But keep in mind, most of us that have hit one or two or whatever dyno tunes are doing it so we don't see our motors go poof with forced induction applications (or for the NA folks...to maximize their gains).
The rwhp/rwtq numbers are just an FYI and let you know whether or not the $$$$ you spent on mods was worth while.
Besides, if you've seen dyno charts in miles per hour (rather than RPM's), which I'm sure you have, you realize that tuners would have to run your car up to around 120-130 or so MPH in 3rd or 4th gear on an open highway to get a good read on what your A/F ratios look like around redline at those speeds. I'm sure not many are in favor of that methodology.
Just an alternative viewpoint......we're not all out for ego trips .
Mills !
I couldn't have put it any better thankyou.
I just wanted to make sure my tune was safe after installing my Dual Fuel Pumps caused by a lean condition before the Fuel pump upgrade.
Life is about learning. Lesson learned.
Thanks for all the Condolences, currently the Transmission is at the Ford Trauma Center, still waiting final verdict. So far 3 and 4th band are terminal, I'll know tonight if complete transplant will be required.
Thanks for all the Condolences, currently the Transmission is at the Ford Trauma Center, still waiting final verdict. So far 3 and 4th band are terminal, I'll know tonight if complete transplant will be required.
Jeff
Find out if there are upgraded parts you can put back in instead of stock.
Thanks for all the Condolences, currently the Transmission is at the Ford Trauma Center, still waiting final verdict. So far 3 and 4th band are terminal, I'll know tonight if complete transplant will be required.
Jeff
Find out if there are upgraded parts you can put back in instead of stock.
Not sure, I was told today that they have already begun the rebuild. I plan to get a list of the parts that were replaced. That way I can check around in the future if this happens again, But do to the fact That JDM's Blue 600 hp car is holding together it must have been the Dyno.
Not sure, I was told today that they have already begun the rebuild. I plan to get a list of the parts that were replaced. That way I can check around in the future if this happens again, But do to the fact That JDM's Blue 600 hp car is holding together it must have been the Dyno.
Yea you can say we've made a few pulls on it (check out the run file #) Locked in 4th gear, the only thing done to our trans is a PI multi disc converter, the single disc converters will blow through at most power levels above 450 RWHP
The more ive been thinking about this and the more I have spoken with some people about this, Im beginning to think the problem was pre existing. Its possible there was a defect from Ford or its possible since the car was an early calibration 05 Saleen SC auto car. Saleen had some issues with there earlier Auto calibrations for SC cars and It took a little help from the outside for them to see what was going on. We have share a lot of information with them because of our close relationship and they have been able to develop some awesome tunes since. We are trying to work with them to benefit everyone Saleen, JDM, and the car owners! Ive also got strong feelings its was how the car was dynoed but when Jeff first contacted me he was sure it was done properly. Im trying to figure out what really happened here but its hard when only being able to communicate through phone or email.
JimIII
JimIII
< Message edited by JimIII@JDM -- 4/25/2008 5:53:52 AM >
I am failing to see the logic 475kit - Car ran great
550kit - trans now doesn't shift.
Therefore it was the 475kit?
Well i know it wasnt the 550 kit based on the hundreds of cars with out issues, including our own making 600+ RWHP through a stock trans. It may have helped it toward failure adding the extra power, but i feel the damage was done, either through its pre exisiting Saleen tuning or a oddity in the the trans from Ford. OR the dyno was done in manual 3rd gear and it smoke the trans, but i think Jeff said the dyno opperator told him it was in fourth. Our tuning allows for Lockup in 4th so no need to bring it down into 3rd.
JimIII
< Message edited by JimIII@JDM -- 4/24/2008 4:46:23 PM >
I just wanted everyone to know that we do have a strong relationship with Saleen and if it came off earlier that i was blamming the problem here with Jeffs car directly on Saleen its not. I was just trying to bring some ideas to the table and not realising what i was saying. The fact of the matter is that we are never really going to know what happened. Its sad to see this but it seems Jeff is going to be fine after all so no worries! This being the only transmission failure i have known of from any Saleen supercharged car speaks volumes by itself!
JimIII
< Message edited by JimIII@JDM -- 4/25/2008 5:53:15 AM >
I've been wanting to post my final verdict on this issue. My Tranny is now repaired car is good as new.
I also wanted to make it clear if in anyway I pointed the blame towards JDM that wasn't my intent. JDM ( Jim and his Dad) have been great during my ordeal, I have nothing but high praise for them and Saleen Speed Lab.
Please, Please do not ever add Octane Booster to your gas, I was a total retard recently which let to events causing me tremendous problems. Mainly ,with tranny issues having just occurred it was hard to figure out what going on with my car, thanks to JIMIII, It ended up being my Spark Plugs cause by the ****** ******* !!! Octane Booster.
JIMIII you need to tell me what your Beverage of choice is so I can settle up with you when your up in Epping, NH in August.
< Message edited by gadway41 -- 5/14/2008 1:00:13 PM >
Printable Version
RE: JDM 550 kit - 
Do you need to replace trans or just build it up with a new kit. I don't know much about auto trans. 
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RE: JDM 550 kit - 