Competition Auto transmission for Sledpulling....

[jwilliams3]

I have a couple of friends at work that have been bitten by the Sledpulling bug!! :-laf



We all know everyone (brand) makes a good transmission



My question is more based around the billet side of things:



Are Intermediate and Output shafts necessary for Sledpulling?

I have read in the past that these were needed for high boost launches while

drag racing.



I need some feedback. These guys are getting ready to spend some dough on a transmission!

 

[rubberneck]

They aren't necessary if they don't mind breaking the stockers. LOL



seriously, though, after being down in the pits for the last few years at the pulls around here, i have seen several broken outputs, and flexplates. I dont think there is anything you can do to one of theses trucks that is harder on them than hook them to the sled. I could be wrong, but i dont think the drag strip would even compare. Nothing like dragging 40k down the track over bumps and ruts. I would buy the best of everything i could get in the transmission, or they will be later on.

 

[jwilliams3]

Rubberneck,

Do you sled pull with an auto?

 

[rubberneck]

you are too quick, read my edit. no but i have a couple of friends that do. one suncoast, and one dtt if it matters

 

[jwilliams3]

Thanks for the response.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

I would say yes go with the billet stuff and do it once. I still remember the guy at muncie 03' in the red truck with a topper that snapped his output shaft building boost, the clue was the grinding park paw when he was shutting it down.



Jim

 

[AK RAM]

Input and output shafts are a given, but what about the intermediate? I was going to replace mine and was told to save my money, by the guy I was buying parts from, that billet intermediate wasn't needed as the stock intermediate is such a beefy part already and would be fine. Thoughts?

 

[Bandit1]

i agree with Jim Fulmer, do it once and do it right, however in my situation i decided to not get the billet intermediate or the output, I havent heard of anybody breaking the intermediate shaft ( i am sure they are out there) and the output i was urged against that simply for the fact that at the time i bought my trans there were some updates in progress that went being released yet that have to do with the OD unit. also the output shaft, from what i hear is fairly easy to replace, and like any guy said on here, think of it as a fuse. personally i would rather snap an output shaft than the Tcase or something else that is more difficult to replace. i will have a billet output here soon, just not right yet. but DEFINATELY the billet input, if it goes it generally takes the TC and pump with it and contaminates the trans causing a $$$$ repair. just my . 02, take it for what it is worth. Josh

 

[zstroken]

It just depends on how lucky you are. I know of some guys making big power and they told me they had stock shafts. Haisleys told me that Coppess and Amos were running stock shafts for several years with no problem. The drawback to not getting the billet intermediate is that if it snaps,unless it snaps in the right spot you are going to trash the transmission. The output usually snaps clean and you just drop the OD unit, get a press and replace it. The input will usually snap clean, but you might have to cut the convertor to get it out. That being said, if money were really an issue, I wouldn't sled pull. If they avoid locking the convertor it might buy them some time, and allow them to get away with it. It is just a tough call some shafts weem to hold, some shafts don't. Have them call Goerend and talk to him. He had the best price around on the shafts.

Dan

 

[RPA]

Shafts

I agree with Zstroken. When I had my trans built I decided to put all 3 billet shafts in when Dave Goerend built it. Not because I had lots of money to burn, but more for the piece of mind. I felt it would be cheaper in the long run to do it correct the first time and not have to have it apart several more times to fix what I should have done in the first place. Not to mention as stated above running the chance of trashing the rest of the trans if one of the shafts broke. I would recommend giving Dave a call- 563-778-2719 because his knowledge and customer service in second to none. I could not be happier with mine.

 

[DieselNasty]

I had my direct hub break right at the input shaft and I dont even really know how it could have broken. Is this a common problem?

 

[JoshPeters]

I had my direct hub break right at the input shaft and I dont even really know how it could have broken. Is this a common problem?

Yes it is.



Personally... when I buy shafts... I will go input and intermediate. I want a fuse inside the transmission. SOMETHING has to give somewhere. The output... . as much of a PITA as it is... I would rather drop the OD section than the whole transmission.



Now comes the arguement of a U-Joint should give first..... Well ya know what..... I haven't seen it all, BUT I would venture to gues if I did full billet and something broke... ... more than likely I would find something INSIDE the transmission to let go next. Not by choice... but by luck.



Josh

 

[edgerat]

general rule of thumb on the intermediate is if you are wanting more than 600hp(Bill at DTT says 700hp) then get the intermediate while you are in there.