Well after 4000 miles the Spec 3 is done. Went from 1.4x 60' times to 1.6x with the clutch spinning out of the hole and into 3rd gear.

On top of everything else I was told last night during tech inspection not to come back unless I had an SFI approved bell housing.

After weighing all options it will probably cost twice as much to build the T56, buy an approved bell housing and a new clutch than it would a TH400.

After searching many threads many people seem very happy with their Rossler TH400 trans and for the price of it seems like a good deal. I know I will need a cross member, flexplate, trans cooler, and shifter, but I have no idea what torque converter I should go with. I already have a body mount torque arm so that is one less thing to worry about.

The car sees VERY limited street use. A maximum of 30 freeway miles to and from the track, and beginning 2006 the car will be towed to and from the track. The car is putting down about 525rwhp and about 575rwtq. I will be adding another 50rwhp in the near future.

I have been looking at the Rossler TH400 TURBONATOR II.
Full Competition TH400 with Manual Reverse Ross-Lock Trans Brake $1295.00

Does manual valve body mean I must manually shift the transmission into every gear? Would I roll up to a stop light and have to push the shifter back into first every time? Also, would I have to worry about the bell housing meeting an SFI approval?

As for the stall converter, what make/brand does everyone recomend? What stall rpm should I go with (3500, 3800, 4000???)? Do I need a lock up converter and what are the advantages/disadvantages? Do they make torque converters specifically for this swap, or will I have to use spacers?

Anyone out there with a TH400 setup please feel free to chime in and describe your set up. Any feedback in much appreciated.

-Ross

 

rossler seems to be a great trans.

reverse manual valve body is the way to go and yes that means you will be shifting the car and putting back into first when you stop.

as for converters i would run a TCT, they are expensive(1300 or so) but well worth it. i'm sure some others can chime in with some other good brands. and yes converters for th400/350 for ls1 are specifically made for the ls1.

don't kid yourself into thinking this will be a cheap project. you need trans, converter, shifter, cooler and lines, driveshaft either made or current one's length modified, trans temp guage, some good trans fluid, etc..

 

Another great company is Coan. They offer race trans and converter. I have being running their converter in my car for 3 seasons now. I love that thing. It is very reliable and very consistant. Just my .02

Ken

 

I got my tranny from Rossler and there great people to deal with. I got everything except a converter. I really cant afford a 1300.00 converter right now. Any other brands you can recommend?

 

For the swap need:
-shifter
-trans
-converter
-flexplate
-speedo cable
-trans crossmember
-new dipstick

 

I offer a complete kit that includes evrything but shifter. Give me a call 281-290-8899

 

The Coan I run was 900.00. About 948.00 to my doorstep.

Ken

 

Yank has all the parts you need
and the converters are $795.00
call us 775 826 9955

 

Thanks everyone for the quick feedback!

MADMAN, I have seen your TH400 kit mentioned in a couple of threads during my searches, I will deffinately give you a call sometime next week. I have read descriptions of what comes with your kit and it looks great.

I have also read with the TH400 with the longer tail will work with the same driveshaft as the T56. Is there any truth to this? I have a Denny's Nitrous Ready in the car now and it would be great to not have to change it.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the stall speed of the converter? The enigine is doing about 380-390rwhp and I will be spraying it with a 150shot and will most likely go to a 200shot soon after.

At what rpm do most people leave on the transbreak? With the T56 I was dumping the clutch at 6600 N/A and 6000 on the nitrous. Will the suspension have to be completely reworked as well?

Thanks again! Sorry to throw out so many questions at once.



Ross

 

Ross

Just call Brian (MadMan). I bought his TH-400 kit. I comes with everything (complete tranny, converter, drive shaft, cooler, etc, etc.) needed except tranny fluid and a shifter. The TransKing will back up their products - even when raced. I went with the Turbo Action CHeetah shifter. Nice. No racheting. I can't even miss a shift I wanted to.

Launching off the transbrake with Harlan's two-step to cut off the nitrous. 200 shot right out of the hole. Nice little rush . Our set-ups are not all that much different.

David

 

you would still need a TH400 slip yoke. i just had my denny's lengthend to work w/ my short tail TH400. give MADMAN a call great person to deal w/.

JR

 

I noticed after looking at your sig that our setup is really close. Does that Cheetah Shifter come with a button for the transbreak or do you have to buy that separate? I was looking at the model number 70002B. I was planning on wiring the 2-step to the transbreak button.

Does the MADMAN kit come with a flexplate, and if not which one did you go with? What size stall did you go with?

Thanks

 

Does a 6speed need progaming like the A4?

The cheetah shifter has a transbrake button on the side of the shifter. I run a 4k stall.

 

Brad, what TH400 trans do you have? Remember you said it in the MFBA Work Slackers chat room, but forgot what exactly it was, haha

Do the 6speeds start to have problems with the VSS since it isn't reading anything if the speedo isn't hooked up? I could care less what the speedo says as long as it doesn't interfer with programming/how the car runs

Chris

 

With manuals, you just need to make sure the VSS signal is correct. Our car is running without a VSS signal, but if you want to run this way you will need to make sure your neutral and drive tables are the same (timing etc ...). I believe manuals do not have dual table like autos, I could be mistaken though.

 

To answer a couple of the questions. MadMan's set up comes with a SFI cerified flex plate. The CHeetah comes with the transbrake. Computer wish, I switched from a M6 to the A3. Only had to delete the speedo info. Since mine is a reverse, manual shift I do the shifting off the shift light. Again call Brian he can modify your order per your needs.

David

 

Chris I run a TCI Trans and Converter.

Sounds like Brian has you covered with everything. I'd go that route.

 

I'm running a locally built 400 w/ a brake, JW Ultra-Bell, CSR carbon shield, Coan converter, and B&M Pro Stick. Not that hard to do the swap. I'm also not running a center console which makes everything easier.

 

I talked to MADMAN on the phone yesterday. Looks like a really good deal.