For my current and hopefully final stage of modifications (famous last words), I have decided to convert the car to an automatic transmission. With the amount of power I am putting to the ground, the Tremec 3550 just can't handle it. Not to mention the fact that I plan on doing a lot of racing for money, and I want to be as consistent as possible.
For the tranny, I again went to Lidio at Alternative Auto inMt. Clemens, MI. I have been more than happy with the work he has performed on the car. Lidio's recommendation was to bullet proof a Ford 4R70W transmission.
For the transmission setup, we are adding a 3500 rpm stall convertor. We are also adding a Baumann Engineering Baumennator TCS. The Baumennator is a microprocessor-based, fully-tuneable electronic transmission control system.
The Baumannator TCS controls shift scheduling, line pressure and torque converter clutch operation, while providing complete tuneability of these functions via Microsoft Windows® based tuning software running on a personal computer. A laptop PC can be used for in-vehicle tuning and troubleshooting of the system. Shift points can be adjusted graphically as a function of load (throttle position), allowing each shift point (1-2, 2-3 and 3-4) to be tuned independently at each load point between closed and wide-open throttle. Upshift and downshift points are independently tunable for each gear at all load points. Overdrive (fourth gear) can be used at full throttle without any difficulty, while the inherent flexibility of the system allows tuning to avoid the constant 3-4 and 4-3 part-throttle shifting ("overdrive hunt") found with most non-electronic transmissions. The line pressure curve versus load may also be tuned to alter transmission torque capacity and part-throttle shift firmness. Torque converter clutch operation is also adjustable, allowing the minimum and maximum allowable throttle angles as well as cut-in and hold speeds to be set. The Baumannator torque converter clutch strategy does not allow the AODE or 4R70W converter clutch to slip under steady-state conditions, as with the OEM strategies for these transmissions. This provides significantly better converter clutch durability in high performance and heavy duty applications.
For the shifter, Lidio ordered a factory AOD shifter. Once installed, the car will look as if it came from the factory as an automatic.
While Lidio was going to have the car for a while, I decided to have some weight taken out of the car and set the suspension up a little more for drag racing. To accomplish this, the following parts were used:
- CCM Ground Pounder Tubular K Member.
- CCM Coil Over Kit (Along with Tokico 5-Way Drag Struts.
- CCM Tubular Control Arms.
- CCM Caster/Camber Plates.
- Moroso Rear Trick Drag Springs.
