Bruce, my tranny BROKE!

[tazgn]

Bruce,
I took the car to the track for the first time today. On the first run I got to nearly half track and got a big BANG and a kick in my a$$. Then nothing. Just coasting. All I have now is Park and roll.... No reverse either. With the tranny in gear, there is a slight whinning sound. I just got the car towed home and in the garage. I haven't looked at anything yet except fluid level. And it's great. What should I look at first??? Also, it may be the shifter, but I can't shift into D,2, or 1. I fuigure it's too late there now to call you, but if you have any ideas, PLEASE reply here, e-mail me, or give me a call please. I just got everything running good and now this..

Thank You Bruce,
Derrick O'Brien

 

[tazgn]

Update

Bruce,
It looks upon initial investigation like the input shaft. With the converter dust shield off, I got under it with the car running. The "whine" actually more of a metal to metal rub sound from under the car is coming from that area. And I can see the input shaft that goes into the converter slightly going up and down (kind of hard to explain). Also, the not going into D,2,1 is the shifter, not the tranny. I think I have something when I installed the alky system that got in the way of the linkage there. No big deal, I'll fix it tomorrow. But, I do not have ANY gears. I verified by manually shifting the shift lever on the tranny to all gears with nothing. I guess it's body building, I mean tranny ripout time again.

Derrick

 

[WE4]

Aw Man.... that sucks....

Does it have line pressure? That is step A. If it has line, we will take it from there. Let me know... BT

 

[tazgn]

Bruce,
Just got doner taking pressures on the tranny. I have pressure in all gears. I can't really give good numbers for the pressure since I'm using an old rail mounted fuel pressure gage that I hooked to the connection and the face will spin on it. But I can definitely say greater than 100 psi in all gears. There is a terrible grinding type sound in the converter, front of the tranny area. The fluid that I drained look perfect. No contaminates in the bottom of the drain pan, not burned, etc. I think, unless you want me to do something else, I'm going to pull the tranny. I have this gutt feel that it will be very apparent what's wrong when I pull the converter off (at least I hope so). Is there anything else I should check while the tranny is in?

Thanks,
Derrick

 

[WE4]

I am bummed.....

Nope. I agree with you. I just feel bad. I would guess OD planet or ring gear failure. Both parts we now have developed billet and HD pieces for and are now testing and have results. If it turns out to be the above I will GIVE you the new parts at no cost to you. They arent available yet but were in 5 cars at the nats. All did very well. If it is converter, that too is odd , but will be handled in full, in a very timely matter. Again, I am sorry you had a problem and I cant imagine at this point what happened other than what I said.

Ahhh...... Aloha?

Bruce We4

 

[tazgn]

Bruce,
I got the tranny out. The converter physically looks good. The input shaft (the center shaft) moves in and out about 1/8th of an inch. I don't remember if this is normal or not. I can spin the inner shaft and can feel it is turning something inside the tranny. Can't spin the outer shaft. Probably normal there. Where should I go next? Probably gonna pull the pan off and see if there is anything obvious in there. But I would like to get your input on what to do so I don't screw anything up. I'm much more competent in the engine compartment than the tranny. THANK YOU for the support though. And as I've told EVERYONE before, THAT is why anyone would be crazy to get a tranny from anyone else. Is there any way I can look for anything obvious in the converter? It looks normal to me from looking into it.

THANK YOU Bruce.
Derrick

 

[WE4]

Lets stop here for today.

Call me at work when you can on Monday, and I will come up with a game plan. I really need to think about it to figure out what the hell happened. Call it a day a we will talk tommorrow. This sucks.

 

[tazgn]

You're THE MAN!!!

Will do.... I pretty much already called it. I couldn't handle the taste of tranny fluid any more. I'll call tomorrow. But I have the run recorded on video and from the DFI. Lasted about 3 seconds. and most of that was slow with turbo lag (due to soft launch). And only got up to 13 psi boost. Then a loud bang and tyhe thud under my seat. It also registered a couple degrees of knock at that time on the FAST system (probably false knock from the tranny). Then nothing. My first thought as I coasted off the track was a broken driveshaft, as that's exactly what it felt like. Just knock driveshaft knocking around under me. But I'll call you tomorrow from work when I get a chance. Probably at lunch time here, so about 2pm your time. Thank You again Bruce. I'm actually not as bummed out about this as much as I should be because one, the motor survived and actually is running really good. And second, I got the tranny from you, and I'm sure you care about this as much as I do.

Derrick

 

[WE4]

"And second, I got the tranny from you, and I'm sure you care about this as much as I do. "

Derrick


I can tell you right now...It bothers me MORE!!!




And,
we will see when the Olympic swimmer delivers it. LOL
Gotta laugh, cause crying is for sissys and I wouldnt want you to see me..........LOL BT

 

[tazgn]

Bruce,
The tranny/converter is sitting in fedex in sacremento until tomorrow because it's not "due for delivery" until tomorrow (when you pay for second day, they MEAN 2nd day, NOT next day!!) I know, it's taking a long time to get it there but the damn packing/shipping place sat on it for a week until I went in and said I was going somewhere else. Then they had it packed and shipped 4 hours later. I e-mailed you privately through your website my address and phone number too. Just wanted to make sure you got it. And thanks man. If I was a woman (or gay), I would be on you in no time!!!

Derrick

 

[WE4]

Hrmmm

Originally posted by tazgn
Bruce,
And thanks man. If I was a woman (or gay), I would be on you in no time!!!

Derrick

Ahhhhhh.... This is ahhhh, a good thing......Right?

You Hawaiians REALLY do have some strange customs.........Huh?

Just to inquire.... "do you cook and clean?" ROFL

 

[Hawaiian Turbo]

Easy there Bruce and Derrick, or I'll have to start spreading rumors at the track. I guess you'll be bench pressing a trans this weekend Derrick, Good luck, and hopefully we'll see you at the track again.

 

[WE4]

OK... The swimmer has arrived!

Ok well first trans shows up. We rip out of box like a kid at Xmas.
I throw it up on the bench and am dying to see what failed.
I pull pan......Nothing wrong!
I pull pump and ck..... Nothing wrong!!!
I go deeper into it.....nothing wrong!
I ck all shafts and hard parts...... nothing wrong!

So I reassemble and install a new converter and reinstall in test car. TRANS WORKS PERFECT!!! WTF?

Well..... Derrick, ( now known as "BIG D") you are THE FIRST to have a problem with our billet converter. What happened? I do not know but I will know more tommorrow. But I KNOW it is converter now and nothing wrong with trans. Trans was SPOTLESS! Perfect even!!!

Again, Derrick , I am very sorry for the inconveince.

However, it is on its way back to you as of Tuesday afternoon.

You once said if there was anything I would like just ask....well.....
I could really use a Hula Girl bout now. Lei and all!
LOL
Now you just gotta figure out how to fold her into a box!!!! ROFL

Thanks again Derrick as I wish they were all like you!!! My regards................. BT

"WE4"

 

[WE4]

Hehe

CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE?

Well , Can you? ROFLMAO!

 

[WE4]

Update!!!

Well, I have to reveal, The problem was converter. For some reason, the turbine actually broke! Rusty was fuming!! He said He was EXTREMLY embarrassed, surprised and sorry. Only thing we can think of is it was just a flaw in turbine itself.

Converter is new ( We built another) and on its way back to me. I will forward it onto you asap. Trans left today I believe. Derrick, you should have all in time to install next weekend.

Again, very embarrassed and very sorry, Bruce "WE4"

ahhh.....Aloha?

 

[tazgn]

Thank You SOOOOOOOO Much Bruce!!!

I don't know if I should just brag how I was making "SOOO MUCH POWER" from my little V6 to break a turbine or not. But at least the problem was found. I was kind of petrified that I would send it all back and have everything work for you and not find anything wrong (kind of like my damn automatic rear hatch on my minivan which literally ONLY works in the dealers parking lot it seems).

Once again, THANK YOU VERY MUCH Bruce!!!!! When you come to Hawaii, you'll have to come over here to Oahu and see why I say there have to be more TR's per area than anywhere else on Earth out here.

Derrick

 

[tazgn]

Bruce,
I was just wondering if the converter was sent out. I assume it has but was curious. The tranny still hasn't made it's merry way across the ocean yet. They need to get those props on that boat spinning faster. But this is a nice break to let me fix some things on the car though.

Derrick

 

[WE4]

They are together in the same crate

 

[tazgn]

It's NEAR!!

Bruce,
Just wanted to let you know that I got the letter from the shipping company that the tranny is here on island. But, go figure, I can't pick it up till later this week when they will be ready to let me get it. I can't quite figure that one out (same thing happened before), but I SHOULD be able to install it this weekend (I HOPE) and I'll let you know how it all works out.

Thanks AGAIN Bruce,
Derrick

 

[Geoff87]

Derrick, I guess i'll be seeing you at the track soon!