Competition Ran 12:3 But We Ouched The transmission

[HVAC]

Well gentlepersons, I'm home a bit earlier then ususal. That's not a good thing in this case



I pulled the center console out, the bottom leaf springs, half the old fuel in the tank the tailgate, the propane tank, and about $7,000 dollars worth of change from under the seats Ready to race!



We blew the compressor to compressor pipe on the first run. Nothing new there eh? That being fixed we noticed the seat belts were not working. WTF! We guessed that with the electronics disconnected, maybe we had caused a problem. Tomorrow I may take the Super Sawzall to that seat to see what the damn problem is!



Second run we did a new best time of 12:3!!! Now that was totally cool 8) We were trying a different technique off the line and it seemed to pay dividends.



I love standing in the crowd when Adam brings the rig up to the burnout box. You hear stuff like "Here comes that diesel truck again, WOW!!!" and "That things BAD". Everybody likes to see something different don't they? I can hear the the voices swell as Adam is door handle to door handle with a Chrysler muscle car with a dual four barrel and a cross ram manifold car runnin'slicks!



Now for the drop of the other shoe. On the last run we developed mechanical problems. We checked the turbos, no problem there. Doesn't seem to be in the engine, it runs. The noise from underneath is NASTY!!! =O It's got to be in the transmission. I drove it onto the trailer with good oil pressure too. Could we have twisted the flex plate? Guess I'm pullin' that transmission tomorrow eh?



Well that's racin' eh? $$$ :{

 

[Brandon]

hope you get back to the track soon nowel. kinda sounds like the ca flex plate, lots of them been replaced in ca lately. Good luck

B... ... .....

 

[HVAC]

Flex Plate = Good News

I hope it's the flex plate of course. I'm going to take this opportunity to go to another torque converter. We need lock up to make that battle ship (think heavy) get down the track. We were in the staging lanes when a enthusiastic fellow stops to ask a couple questions. What's the boost, what's the horsepower, what's the torque, waditrun? Each time we answered his heart rate doubled! Then he asked what it weighed and I told him "About six thousand". Well that just about sent this young man into ventricular lock up!



It's fun puttin' somethin' different out there

 

[Cummnzpowr]

my transmission too

after dinner with a friend from running my truck... . got on freeway and it never did go into overdrive... and it seemed to shudder... . i'm convinced no-one can build a bullet-proof transmission ... . the thought of a 12 second muscle car seems better every day ... wonder what the old scrap heep is worth with 400 horse

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Awesome times at the track Nowell, it must be a lot of fun hangin' in the stands while someone else drives



Hope your problems aren't too serious, keep us posted on the ol' Torqueflite hybrid. . .



Vaughn

 

[TxDieselKid]

Big Daddy Diesel sets the pace again....

That is bitter sweet Nowel! Best of luck in thinking it's the flex plate.



Let's see, 24vers have the fastest trucks don't they? Eric is NOT far back at all I know, but more 24vers!!!



Andrew

 

[StakeMan]

Great times for #2 only HVAC.

 

[Terry]

Hey HVAC, the electronic box mounted under the center seat is the inertia switch for the seat belts. It's mounting attitude is critical.

 

[DHRA]

Well, I went the wrong way last night! I ran a 12. 68 in the first run but saw that the passenger side was covered in water.

After an hour of letting the engine cool, I opened the radiator cap and it had lost alot of water. So I went to get a gallon of water and it took all of the gallon to fill it!!!!! Hmmmm. So the hp was down, I pegged the thermostat, but I had a 60" of 1. 69 and pulled 72 lbs of boost at 1600 degrees (little high for 67 degree weather)

I took the truck for another run and once again, 12. 69 and a gallon and a quart lost out the radiator cap! Ouch! My worst fear has happened since I installed the copper gasket. I blew compression into the water holes. Therefore the measly 15 psi radiator cap was no competition for the 72 lbs of boost. Interesting that in the warner climate this has not happened.

I'm off to NAPA tomorrow to get a 25 or 30 psi cap to get me through the Mopar Nat's next weekend and then it's off to find the meanest gasket out there!



BTW, congrats my West Coast comrade on a fine run and thanks for the video!

 

[HVAC]

Diesel Racin'

Stacker, I need to speak to you. Tried the cell number you gave me and Piers answered! I looked back into some emails and I believe I have the right number now.



TexDiesel, keep the 24v flag raised high!



Terry, thanks for wading in here. I found the problem as you outlined. I had pulled the plate under the center console and pitched it into the back and beyond. Last night at the track I could see the connector and couldn't remember where it came from.



Thank you kindly to those of you that have chimed in here with your appreciation regarding our efforts

 

[Jim Fulmer]

That's pretty bad when Piers get's our calls Poor guy!



Jim

 

[Mopar-muscle]

ouch , has there been a rash of flexplate failures ?



so whats the outcome , you've had plenty of time to drop that trans



i'll keep my lockup thoughts to my self , i just remember reading inone of my trans manuals that the purpose of the stator is torque multiplican , lock the TC and you lose that ... .

 

[BPINE]

Good Job Nowel and Adam 1, I have noticed one thing about these 24 valve trucks it takes a 12 valve driver to make them go fast. First it was Adam 1 then Adam 2 then Blair and now back to Adam 1 ???? I think we should put these drivers on a scale and pick the lightest one it must be important if you need to take the change out of the ashtray after all.

 

[Todd T]

I overheard a certain Vendor in Muncie claim they could get into the 120 percentile in torque multiplicaton with their milled Stator.



do your homework I'm sure it won't be hard to figure out who.



they were a vendor.

 

[CRoth - BD-Power]

Everybody go to your closest dyno and do two runs, one in lockup and one out of lockup. Post the results and we can discuss those.

 

[HVAC]

To Lock, Or Not To Lock?

WOW! This is a cool twist we are taking, I like it



Mopar Muscle, I do not claim to be an expert on auto trannys, however I think the torque multiplication is *ONLY* advantagous when getting the load moving. From that point on I would think locking the converter would provide the best performance/economy. Shoot me if I'm off base here.



I think Christians point is that you will experience more horsepower on a run with the converter locked then with it unlocked, and I'd say he's right. I'm pulling my TC out next week and installing a converter that has it's design based on using lock up. I'd say that BD, Suncoast, and ATS all provide converters that are intended to use lock up frequently. Another problem I have is I need a higher stall converter to be able to generate more RPM at the lights which will result in more boost to launch the truck with. I'm guessing that either of the three brands mentioned above will provide a higher stall then the converter we have been running.





UPDATE!!!



Took the lil racer over to my local transmission guy and

with my prybay I showed him how loose the flex plate was. Turns out the converter bolts were loose and that's what caused all the racket we were hearing on Wednesday night. I also noticed a bit of transmission fluid dripping which I atributed to a failing fron seal. I mentioned that to my transmission guy and he mentioned we need to check the bushing as well. So, I need to find a torque converter to replace the one we've been running and then we will reseal the front pump housing and put a new bushing in it and I will be back at the track to push the 24v into the teens Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[TxDieselKid]

Re: To Lock, Or Not To Lock?

Originally posted by HVAC

and I will be back at the track to push the 24v into the teens Oo. Oo. Oo.

If your running in the 12's, wouldn't the teens be a step backwards?



Also, Eric made a referance to a video, where can I find this?



And finally tonight, I don't guess you will tell us what kinda of TC your going with other then one with lockup huh?



Send me that old one for some more "testing" if you want!



Andrew

 

[CRoth - BD-Power]

To add to this thought,... ... .



Do you want to lock the converter as soon as you leave the line? Ala Stack n Jack???



Or is it better to let the converter spool a little to get the truck off the line then lock it up?



Or not lock it up at all?



Honestly from the testing we've seen lock up is not the final answer, a faster spooling converter helps a great deal. Think of a converter that seems to always spool quickly and holds at peak RPM. You will definitely not transfer as much HP as you would in lockup but you'd get to your peak HP much quicker.



All this is just food for thought. Different strokes for different fokes. I'm sure their are many different ideas on this and they all probably help.

 

[Archive]

Re: To Lock, Or Not To Lock?

Originally posted by HVAC

.





UPDATE!!!



Took the lil racer over to my local transmission guy and

with my prybay I showed him how loose the flex plate was. Turns out the converter bolts were loose and that's what caused all the racket we were hearing on Wednesday night. I also noticed a bit of transmission fluid dripping which I atributed to a failing fron seal. I mentioned that to my transmission guy and he mentioned we need to check the bushing as well. So, I need to find a torque converter to replace the one we've been running and then we will reseal the front pump housing and put a new bushing in it and I will be back at the track to push the 24v into the teens Oo. Oo. Oo.

Nowel:



glad to find out it was something relatively minor, it sure didn't sound that way on Wednesday nite.



It was the first time I've seen the red rocket make the full trip down the track with out blowing the hoses off, and it was awesome, and to hear the crowd talking about it was equally great.



Let me know when you are ready to go again, and if the credit card can stand another hit from the motel, I'll be back out to check things out, maybe even put my ricer up on the line to give you some competition.



:--)









big jake

 

[HVAC]

TexDieselMathmatician,



So, you don't have eleventeens in Texas? This can be quite helpful when doing your taxes You may have busted me DieselKid Pretty easy to pick on us alzheimer patients though



Regarding the vid, BIG Bad Dodge shot a vid Wednesday night while we instilled fear into the heart of the Mousestang owner who lined up next to us. He red lighted bigger then $#i+! Send me an email and I'll send you the vid, it's only eleventeen bucks It's a large file, so if your providor doesn't allow big files you may be [CENSORED].



Christian, I need a higher stall which will allow me to generate more RPM at the line. This will allow me to develop more boost. I'm only making 8 psi of boost before coming off the line. We are spinning the slicks coming off the line so I don't think I need torque multiplication for long after launching. Especially if I can generate 20 psi to come off the line with. Your 4x4 is going to react differently. I feel that with BIG power I need to get the converter locked asap. Once we phase in the Nos, torque multiplication will be even less important, and getting locked up will provide us better times.





Big Jake,



Thanks for your kind words and I'm glad you finally got to see a full run. Thanks for coming out to the track for the fun.



But I'm not pulling any punches! You bring that ricer out and I'm gonna make mince meat outta it!!! I'll tear the wings off of that butterfly and feed the rest to the frogs