Big Project

[Ford1288]

So I have decided to get off my butt and try and get some big things done to my car Thurs. and Friday. As alot of you know I ran with everyone at Barona this weekend, and was extremely dissappointed. I expected at least a 9.8 but left with a 9.99 with a terrible 2.571 60ft. (No tire spin) So to help fix this I am going to experiment and put a stock torque converter in my car. I currently have a TCI 2800 stall installed and I think I just dont make enough power to take advantage of it and think it actually hinders my car. (I have never driven the car without the 2800 installed) I am also going to try and put some different rear axles in and see if it removes my rearend noise I have dealt with for years. I am hoping to be done by Friday morning and be ready for the Q that night. Wish me luck and by the way, I am trying to find some used axles as we speak so if anyone has some I could buy or know where I could get some, please let me know.

 

[DSGimportslayer]

that awful noise may not be the axles themselves but your axle bearings. if you want to change those i have a slide hammer you can borrow.

 

[Ford1288]

I have replaced almost every bearing in the rearend. Thats the only reason we did gears in the car, and we still had the noise. It sounds like its coming from the left side so we are gonna give this a shot.

 

[510z]

what gears do you have? was the car losing traction? that converter should work good with a bolt on car.

 

[Ford1288]

3.73s, and I had no traction problems.

 

[510z]

3.73s, and I had no traction problems.

hmmm weird, i really dont think your going to run any better with the stock converter unless there is something wrong with your tci, what shape is the aod in? are you sure you are not driving through the trans, ie trans slipping? it may drive fine on the street but slip at the track under harder conditions.

 

[Ford1288]

That is another reason we are swapping the converter, I do think there is something wrong with the TCI. I bought it off a guy on EBAY and im pretty sure he got one over on me. There is a knocking sound when the car is in drive idleing or at low rpms, we believe its the converter. The tranny itself is good. Has a newer valvebody, shift kit and oil cooler.

 

[Tommy]

Damn, I wish I would've known! I threw away my stock 4 lug axles last week!

I have a feeling it will just be the bearings. Those are easy to replace. Pop open the diff cover, remove the c-clip retaining pin and remove the c-clips then pull out the axles

 

[Ford1288]

That sucks, I am having a hard time finding some online. Might have to wait on the rearend.

 

[Tommy]

Ecology at Heritage Road had about 8 4-lug foxes over the weekend with the 8.8 rear end


I think NavyFc117 did a 5 lug swap. He may have the 4 lug axles ???

 

[wickedbird]

Damn, all this negative talk about the AOD makes me want to sell mine and go buy one with a 5spd. Good luck with all of that!

 

[Ford1288]

Yeah if this stock torque converter doesnt help the situation im going to do the 5 speed conversion sitting in my garage...

 

[510z]

they are actually great transmissions when built correctly but it can be pricey to do that, t5's arent all that great in stock form either if you are going to put any power to them.

 

[orange395w]

Can you explain your launch technique from your day at Barona for me? Just trying to figure things out.

 

[Ford1288]

Footbraked as high as I could (1,000rpm) then moderately got on the gas wondering if the tires would spin if I just mashed it. Then did the same thing for the rest of the runs except was able to go full throttle and didnt spin the tires at all.

 

[orange395w]

So every run you got rpm up to 1000rpm on your launch?

 

[Ford1288]

Yeah, which is a tad bit better than the 800 the street or the q will give me

P.S Thanks for the video, worked perfect.

 

[orange395w]

Yeah, which is a tad bit better than the 800 the street or the q will give me

P.S Thanks for the video, worked perfect.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions on the converter. If I were you I would postpone your converter swap for the time being. What I think happened is the converter didn't get a chance to flash. The converter you have is advertised at 2800rpm, but it will stall different in every car depending on many variables. Considering your car is pretty much stock that converter isn't going to stall very high.

Next is a converter usually needs at least 1000rpm in order to flash. If your converter only stalls to say 1800-1900rpm and you are trying to launch at 1000rpm the converter will not flash and you will have a sluggish launch.

Also when you load the suspension as you did by footbraking until right before the car would move you take away any initial shock that the car may have needed to get going.

I would give the car some more testing by taking off from idle and see what happens. I can almost guarantee the car will improve. WSRC drivers should take note. Same applies to that car.

 

[orange395w]

Oh by the way, my converter is a 4500 stall and my best launches off the footbrake come at 1600rpm.

 

[Ford1288]

"Next is a converter usually needs at least 1000rpm in order to flash. If your converter only stalls to say 1800-1900rpm and you are trying to launch at 1000rpm the converter will not flash and you will have a sluggish launch."

So if this is whats happen, I need to change my converter right? And how can I launch off idle, just sit there with the brake pressed until the 3rd light then get off the brake and on the gas?