Project "Payback"

[Vegas69]

Nice

[skatinjay27]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Nice

x2
whats even funnier is that having such an off topic video (to the main thread subject) fall right in line with the majority of this thread!

[Vegas69]

It ain't no secret that I've hated the way my transmission has shifted since day one. Mainly a super notchy 2nd gear that has improved a little over time but not enough to make me happy. A TKO 600 just isn't a worthy race transmission in stock form. Down ****ing is like sticking your prick in a virgin.

There are a few shops that modify these things to make them shift up to 7-7500 rpm reliably. Liberty in Michigan and American Powertrain in Tennessee. Liberty wants about $750 plus freight both ways and American powertrain is around $1250 but they harden the parts to make them more durable. From my understanding, they only add upgraded synchros to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear. Neither price includes a new shifter.

Since I do all kinds of racing with this thing, I'm replacing the brass synchros with carbon fiber empregnated synchros in 1-5. I've downshifted into 1st 2-3 times running misc. autocross events. See paragraph one. I figure while I have it apart, I may as well do them all. The carbon fiber synchros are $50 a piece.

I was hoping to find a red flag tearing this thing apart. I did find a broken spring retainer in the shifter but seriously doubt that's affecting anything. I ran it through the gears with the inspection cover removed. I noticed that second required the shift sleeve and synchro to move much farther to mesh than any other gear. These carbon fiber synchros are supposed to slow down the shaft more aggressively than the brass and aid in making the synchro and sleeve mesh faster. Everything is in excellent shape so far.

It really wasn't that difficult to dissasemble. I went out after dinner and had it out and apart in about 3 hours. You need to be careful because it's a needle bearing nightmare.(Especially in the 5th gear race) There are misc. shims beind bearing races that you need to be careful with. The front plug for the lower gear shaft is known to leak when they sit and mine did as well. It sets the preload on the bearing on that end and it will get glued back in to stop the leak. I am going to add a Pro 5.0 shifter with adjustable stops....

I'll be into this deal about $600 including synchros, shifter, gear oil, and sealer.

[Lenie]

Todd, if my transmission was out of the car sitting on a table apart in that condition it would scare the hell out of me! Kudo's to you for jumping in with both feet and taking care of business. I'll just sit here w/a beer in hand and applaud. Nice work.

[69x22]

You might want to hold off on the Bud Light till you get that thing back together.

[Vegas69]

Don't congratulate me yet. It's still got to go back together and work BETTER than before and not leak.

When I moved here back in 1999, I was an auto mechanic for GM. Two year degree, ASEP student apprentice, ASE master tech, the whole nine yards. I was 22 and landed a job at a GMC/Pontiac dealer. Anyway, I could do anything bumper to bumper. These guys in Vegas all had specialties and that's all they did. Brakes, interior, engines, alignments, trans, suspension etc. Premadonnas... I'd been there about a week and ripped the auto trans out of a firebird and tore it down for an overhaul. I ended up meeting one of my best buddies to this day that was a tech in that shop. I found out later that all the techs in the shop were placing bets on whether the car would ever move again. It did...

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by 69x22

You might want to hold off on the Bud Light till you get that thing back together.

You're right, I'll drink Corona's until it's back together.

[Track Junky]

$600 bones, not a bad deal. Pretty ballsy taking it upon yourself to do this so close to September.

Hope it works out bro, dont want to miss you in September.

I scheduled a Thunderhill trackday for August 12 to flog my car. I adjusted my watts link by matching it up with my rear leaf roll center yesterday and it feels alot better but really dont like the way the vette wheels feel out front. The turn in and the way the rest of the front suspension is reacting feels sketchy but I wont know until August 12 if its a good or a bad sketchy. Taking a set of my old torque thrusts with me to get a real feel for the difference.

[DFRESH]

Way to go brother---inspiring for sure---no fear from you ever with tearing into it---i'm always amazed at your persistence and willingness to do it yourself.

Next, I'd like to see you repaint the car in a weekend---just a scuff and shoot. Just let me know before hand please. I'll bring the Apple Pie for that one.

D

[Greg from Aus]

Great work Todd, nothing like grabbing the bull by the horns.

Greg