swflastang05's build thread

[swflastang05]

A few pics of the new tranny and shifter installed. Just waiting on my new DS which should be done tomorrow, then after installing it I'll check the pinion angle and reset if needed, then reinstall the exhaust and crank it up.




I still need to deal with the leather boot, I have a new boot from a 5 speed car but I really don't like that look, I don't know what I want there yet so I'll probably leave it alone for a bit then if I don't figure out anything better maybe the leather boot will grow on me. Any suggestions?

Also a pic of the new pinion flange. During this install I realized the rear end has way more slop than it should so a new set of gears is in my future...but not until after I run these gears at the track first to confirm if the ratio is good, I'm thinking I may need to go to a 3.73, currently they're 4.10.

 

[swflastang05]

Picked up my new DS today, it's purdy! Billet yoke and 1350 spicer greasless u-joints.



Got the DS installed, checked the pinion angle with all 4 tires elevated the same height on a level surface and I don't know how but somehow the pinion angle stayed the same with all the changes! -2.5 degrees is where it was before and after the swap, I'm very pleased with that since I hate messing with the UCA, you can't fit hardly any tools on it to make adjustments! Here's a shot from underneath with it all installed, ready to crank. I had to wait since it's too late tonight, I would wake my neighbors but also the wife and kids, and that wouldn't end well for me, lol.


Lito sent me a new tune, I reflashed, we'll see how it goes this weekend!

 

[swflastang05]

I attempted to crank it after work today and wouldn't you know it, the freakin' battery was dead! Argh! I charged it for a bit then it started right up! Topped off the tranny fluid running through all the gears, etc. and went for a test drive. Everything worked! Sweet success! It takes some getting used to manually shifting and all but it's not at all like manually shifting the 5r55s, much better. The o/d and lockup features work good, there's no doubt when you engage them. The new convertor is waaay looser than my previous one, big difference there. Then I tried the transbrake very briefly to make sure it works, it ran up to 3700 rpm and I didn't even go WOT yet! I bet this thing will launch around 4000 rpm which will be a HUGE improvement over the foot brake, leaving at idle like I had to do before. Can't wait to get back to the track, I was going to wait for cooler weather in the fall, but now IDK, might have to go before then, lol. The only issue I have is the damn sending unit for the trans temp guage is bad, it spun while I was installing it, I was hoping it would still be okay but that wasn't the case. Got another one on order, I dont want to drive it too much without a trans temp gauge to make sure everything's okay.

Almost forgot, my reverse lights were on 100% of the time the motors running, WTF! I know most dont work at all but mine were on all the time, I ended up snipping the wires in the trunk to shut them off.

 

[swflastang05]

I installed a new temp sensor and had the same result, I'm embarrassed to say I had the wires backwards. Oh well, I guess I have an extra now. Anyway the 4r has been awesome so far, no complaints! Shifts firm and immediate, trans-brake is awesome. Today just for curiosity sake I weighed my car again and this time it was 3680 lbs, last time it was 3720 lbs. The only difference is the 4r, convertor and DS but the DS is steel now therefore heavier than my previous aluminum one, looks like I gained an unexpected benefit of 40 lbs less weight over the 5r55s. I'll take it! I'll be heading to the track when it cools off a bit, right now it's so freakin hot my local track isn't open during daylight hours again until September. The air quality is so bad my timing is about 5+ degrees less than normal, even without higher IAT's. Also did a compression test today just for routine maintenance and checking, all cylinders were 160-165 psi, all good. Now just waiting for some cooler weather..

 

[go302]

Nooice! Trying to decide between a fb 4R or a jake's th400.

 

[swflastang05]

Nooice! Trying to decide between a fb 4R or a jake's th400.

No OD with the TH400, that wasn't an option for me, so I went with the 4r. Very happy with it so far. Very easy conversion, FB has all the brackets, pre-cuts the tabs on the tranny case, etc. bolts right in just like it was OEM. There's some wiring to do but that's not too bad either.

 

[go302]

Yea but the price of a 4R and its poor track record with anything over 1000 scares me. I can spend 2k on a th400 that hold what I need without breaking a sweat. Would like the OD though! I think you nailed it with your setup.

 

[swflastang05]

I ordered a chromoly 6 pt bolt in roll bar from Wolfe Racecraft 2 months ago and it finally arrived this week! Needless to say I wasted no time installing it beginning last night and finishing today, I must say it was worth the wait, the cage comes powder coated gloss black, looks great and fits like a glove, a very nice piece, I'm very pleased with it. Here's some pics:

Here's what it looks like when you open the box


It bolts to the floorpans with plates underneath, per NHRA specs.



The plates on the DS underneath required massaging the brake and fuel lines a bit



The PS didnt





I had to redo my battery box mounting since the bar ended up where I previously had it installed.






It was a HUGE PITA to reinstall the OEM seats with the bar! I covered the bar with fender covers all around but still ended up scratching it argh!




Next will be race seats and 5 pt harnesses, I'm looking at the Corbeau CR1's, I hope they're easier to install, at least they're lighter, lol.

 

[1quick08]

The bar looks great in there,the whole project looks great!

 

[swflastang05]

The bar looks great in there,the whole project looks great!

Thanks, it's gettin' there. The bar only comes in one color if you want it powder coated, which is black, luckily that matches my interior perfectly!

 

[swflastang05]

I ordered the Strange Engineering Alloy Axle kit with 35 spline axles, lightweight chromoly spool, and c-clip eliminators which was delivered last week so this weekend I tackled it, even though I wasn't planning to until I went to the track one more time (to make sure I don't need to change gear ratio after the tranny swap), I couldn't resist temptation I guess lol. Anyway the install definitely takes some time, especially for someone like me that's never messed with rear end gears before but again thanks to this forum and its members I successfully got it done. Here's a few pics:

I used a 38mm axle nut socket to press the bearings on since I didn't have an old bearing laying around. Just had to grind the inside out a bit, worked great though.


Gears set up, backlash .009 @ 4 corners, run out .002 max


Axle housing ends gone!


Axles installed




Wheels back on, done!

 

[05stroker]

Very nice!

 

[Scott]

Looking good Kyle!

 

[swflastang05]

Very nice!

Thanks the next project will be seats, I'm researching those now.

Looking good Kyle!

Thanks Scott, your thread was very helpful for this install!

 

[swflastang05]

After much research I ended up ordering a pair of Corbeau A4's in black micro-suede with brackets. They arrived this afternoon and as usual I couldn't resist the urge to install em' right away! The install wasn't bad at all, I was a little nervous about the airbag stuff after reading several threads about it but the install was really a piece of cake. I must admit though they ain't kidding when they say the standard seat fits up to 36" waist, larger should order the wide version. Only problem is the standard seats just barley fit with my roll bar so the wides would be a no-go, and my ass just barely fits in the seats (I'm 36" waist), I guess there's some motivation to lose some weight, lol! The new seats do sit a little lower than OEM but I can live with it, now I can adjust the steering wheel down a notch and it's all good. I was a little disappointed in the weight, the seats weigh about 29 lbs, although they're advertised at 27 lbs which is okay but that doesn't include the brackets, which are about 9 more lbs. I installed new bolts and spacers for the seat belts so both the OEM belt and 5 pt harness can be used as desired for the street or track. Over all I'm very pleased with the seats though. Here's a few pics, I'll get some better ones during the day later on.

Passenger side harnesses and airbag bladder / sensor removed. I ended up zip tying the harnesses under the new seats.


New seats installed






And a couple random pics from this weekend (OEM seats)

 

[swflastang05]

Now I need to get to the track! Bradenton has been closed for several weeks due to a drainage pipe that collapsed near the finish line but they reopen this week, hopefully I'll get there sometime in the next few weeks and make some passes. Then again when it cools off a bit in the next couple months, the cold weather makes a HUGE difference in power with my car.

 

[roberts]

Badass man I love this build!!!! So ur saying u should of bought the bigger seats!! Ill remember that when I decide to do seats!!

 

[swflastang05]

Badass man I love this build!!!! So ur saying u should of bought the bigger seats!! Ill remember that when I decide to do seats!!

Thanks, I wish I could have the wider seats but they won't fit with my roll bar so I'm just gonna have to lose some weight lol!

 

[TheBlackPearl]

Any track times yet?

 

[swflastang05]

Any track times yet?

No, not yet. It's still so freakin' hot here, still in the 90's! Too hot. I was planning to go on the 22nd but I ran into a snag with my new tires and had to order new17" front Welds, which have to be made at the factory with a 3 week lead time so it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Probably get there in the beginning of December, maybe the weather will be better by then too.