Strip Testing, Tuning, and Sorting Begins
Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 8:45PM My good friend Khun Mac dropped by my race shop today and we had a look at the PCS (transmission controller) and discovered we did not have a signal from the TPS . . . so it is not going to shift until we get that sorted out. However, it was a good chance for him to take a few quick romps to check the AFR. It sounded very healthy, but it is too lean below 4500 rpm. No problem . . . my "tuner," Art, will have at that next week-end. Here is what we did:
Dr. Jeff Harper
And the Test & Tuning ENDS! Yep, the motor is now tuned to perfection: huge horsepower, titanic torque, splendid sound . . . . but too much for the transmission . . . . which promptly broke. Oh well. I now have to think through my options . . . another A340, a C4, or a Powerglide. I guess I should also pop for that 9" Ford rear-end as well . . that Nissan 1-ton unit is not going to last either . . . and maybe go for the 4-link as well . . . . . Sheesh!
Dr. Jeff Harper
I took some photos of my racer on Friday night . . . unfortunately I was too busy to take any movies of the beast under power (and shelling the trans).
WOW! With a good tune on it, the new superharged 1UZ really made huge power. More than I had anticipated.
Nice and clean . . . and ready to race . . . and ready for a new transmission.
I built this racer to be easy to maintain. It is.
Dr. Jeff Harper
PLAN 'B'
I have been weighing my transmission options: a Ford C4 (with adapter, slip joint, trans brake, and therefore, a new rear-end too comes in at around US$5000.95), or a rebuild of the existing transmission with stronger parts and a spring in the 1-2 accumulator instead of the existing piece of brass pipe (cost around US$900.95) so the shift is a little softer, and therefore easier on the 2nd gear sprag, the part that I suspect broke. My immediate plan is to take out the broken trans and see what exactly broke before I take my next step. If something like the input shaft broke, then I will opt for the bigger C4, but if it is 'just' the 2nd gear sprag, I will rebuild it. That's the plan . . . but things have a habit of changing over time . . . .
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