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moog5050

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Posts posted by moog5050

  2. Transmission Builder Reputation Thread

    in AWD, Differential, & Transmission Tech

    Posted · Edited by moog5050 (see edit history)

    Thank you sir for correcting me - I wrongly assumed that New Era did the Radix and nitrous install, and I apologise for misrepresenting that. And there is nothing at all to be sorry for as there was no wrong doing or direct misrepresentation on your part, I experienced the same exact thing with my first 4L65 build in my own truck with JAG Performance (in not getting what you paid for) and I completely empathize with your situation. Onward and upward!

     

    Mr. P.

     

     

    No problem Mr. P. No offense taken. I am glad Mike found someone honest and competent to bring this truck back to life. I spent lots of money, and more importantly, blood, sweat and tears building it. I told Mike, the sad part is that this truck was my first project and my first real mechanical work and I am certain that the work I did was better than the so called "experts" because I was so careful. I just wouldn't take on a tranny with no experience - but I guess I couldn't have done any worse. Not so easy for a first timer to do tranny work (no pun here). Its sad that you really can't trust anyone. Now modding an 08 vette and I will be the only one laying my hands on it. In any event, good luck with building it better and faster. My wife is still mad that I sold it, but it found a good home.

  3. Transmission Builder Reputation Thread

    in AWD, Differential, & Transmission Tech

    Posted

    I worked on a SSS truck project this last weekend; this particular truck has had 2 owners, both of which are members of this forum. In fact this truck was a forum favorite appearing in a past sss.com truck calendar and I *believe* was even a TOTM winner at one point in time. The original owner had taken the truck to New Era Performance in Rochester NY with essentially a blank check and orders to make the truck stupid fast, costs be damned. End result was a cam/spring change, Radix install, nitrous kit, tuning, full exhaust, guages, converter, and (quoting from the invoice) "built transmission". After the truck changed ownership I was contacted by the second owner because the transmission violently kicked like a mule on the 1-2 shift no matter how soft or aggressive it was driven, to the point of discomfort; the trans was removed, torn down for inspection. The itemized charges on the New Era Performance invoice for this built transmission read as follows: "upgraded clutches, Beast shell, 5 planetary pinions - $1200; Zippy shift kit - $230". That's $1430 for the built transmission, and it had 15K-miles on it when pulled. The following was documented:

     

    • modifications found were: Alto wide band, Beast shell, Superior shift kit, .490 boost valve, billet servos, and drilled separator plate
    • there was soot in the pan :uhoh:
    • all clutches & steels were stock OE material and configuration (not upgraded as mentioned in the invoice)
    • Beast shell did not have a mirror finish? (this finish must be polished/smooth)
    • 3/4 clutch pack had excessive clearance and showing evidence of resulting slippage
    • accumulator pistons were unchanged (all factory plastic) and the forward accumulator piston had failed (cracked)
    • all hard parts (shafts, gears, collars, etc) were factory OE - no upgraded hard parts present
    • the main drum was not sleeved/reinforced
    • it was impossible to 'upgrade to 5 planetary pinions' because the transmission already had them stock (model 4L65-E, RPO M32)
    • there was no High-Rev kit installed (to assure oiling above 5500-RPM)
    • no provisioning was made in the drum to prevent centrifugal clutch apply above 5000-RPM
    • factory (weak) sprag (not the 29-element B/W sprag)
    • no modifications/changes found in the pump
    • the band anchoring hole (inside the main case) was eggholed out-of-round from the shift kit's violent hit on the 1-2 upshift and the main outer transmission case will have to be thrown out and replaced

     

    So what we have here is $1430 paid for a bone-stock 4L65 rebuild/refresh with an aftermarket band, shell, and shift kit. It didn't last long, and there was frankly never a hope of this unit surviving behind a nitroused, Radixed, cammed LQ9. :ughdance::sick::shakehead: In fact it wouldn't last behind a stock motor, due to the loose 3/4 clutch pack, plastic accumulator pistons, and eggholed band anchor (causes loose band & slippage).

     

    Usually performance shops will outsource their transmission builds, but evidence in the invoices makes it pretty clear all work was done by Brian at New Era Performance. The worst part is invoicing/charging the customer for 5-pinion planetary gearsets when the transmission already had them - normally these gearsets are about $500 ($250 each). IMO the invoice should have read "REbuilt" instead of "Built" transmission.

     

    The present owner of the truck was expecting to just open the transmission and perform some corrections on the valve body and correct the shift behavior - he did not expect to find that the past transmission builder turned a perfectly good 4L65 into a pile of junk where not even the case was worth saving. The shame is, to have done the job right would have initially only cost another few hundred dollars. :shakehead:

     

    Mr. P.

     

     

    As the former owner of this truck, this is very disappointing. I guess I should have known New Era was to be questioned when they had a hard time with the shift kit from Zippy. I had to ask Zippy to speak with them directly about the install problem they said they were having. The tranny did work fine while I owned it, but I never really used the nitrous (small 75 shot only 2 or 3 times). I did most of the radix install myself (they helped identify a fueling issue I couldn't figure out when it was running lean) but I did the install. I also did all the nitrous work. I was very proud of this truck and am sorry to hear the tranny and alternator were not what was represented and that I paid for. I told Mike if there is anuthing I can do to help, I will. Thanks for the update and honest assessment.

  6. Ss Fire...fuc*ing Totalled

    in Off-Topic/General

    Posted

    Mike

     

    I just got your message this morning. First and most important, I am glad to hear your family is OK. Your wife did a great job of ensuring that. I am sorry they had to go through it.

     

    With respect to the truck, hopefully you can salvage some of the parts. Its only a vehicle and you will be able to replace it if you want to. I never had any electrical problems with the truck except a bad ground which was replaced at least a year before you bought it. Good luck with the insurance company. Feel free to call me if you want to talk about anything.

     

    Was the N2O system still installed and full? Thank God that didn't blow.

     

    Brian

  11. Nib Efi Live V2

    in For Sale/ Wanted

    Posted

    I am not completely sure, other than I know you can do black box logging with the v2 (don't need the computer with you to log). I think there are other features also. Check the EFI Live forums for more. As I indicated, I never used this.

  20. Awd 03 Silverados Ss

    in SSs & VHOs Only

    Posted

    Now, who wants an 04 stock Silvy SS fully loaded? It is in really good condition and only 46,XXX miles with limited mods, double din, Baer brakes, soft tonneau and bed rug. I will make a good deal for someone. No rust, dents, scratches etc. pm ME.

  24. Awd 03 Silverados Ss

    in SSs & VHOs Only

    Posted

    Thanks Mr. P, it really is nice to receive compliments from guys who have been around here for a long time like you and KRAMBO and that know what it takes to build a truck like this. Someone will get a really nice truck. Truthfully its tough to sell.

  25. Awd 03 Silverados Ss

    in SSs & VHOs Only

    Posted

    Update with actual costs and interior shots:

     

    Here is a list of the modifications to the truck:

     

    Supercharger-Magnuson Radix MP112 Supercharger ($5000)2.9 Reichard Pulley ($90)100mm Dayco Idler Pulleys ($200)Gatorback Belt ($12)Second Heat-Exchanger Fluidyne ($350)

     

    Exhaust-Dynatech stainless headers with highflow cats ($1,500)Magnaflow Catback Exhaust ($640 - includes labor)Volant CAI ($300)DMH Dual Electric Cutouts ($550 - includes partial labor)

     

    Engine Internals- (Total $1,550 - includes labor)Thunder Racing Blower Cam (216/229-603/572-117)Patriot Gold Dual SpringsHardened 7.4 pushrodsPinned crank Dual Roller Timing Chain Cooling System-160 T-stat ($65)New 05 E-fans with Harness ($400)Custom Polished Overflow Tank by Trick Performance ($400)

     

    Transmission and Drivetrain-36,000 BTU Tranny Cooler (gift but $100)Yank TT 2600 ($475)Zippy Shift Kit ($230)Tranny Rebuild (upgraded clutches, beast shell, 5 planetary pinion) ($1,200)TA Girdle with Stud Kit ($120)

     

    Nitrous System-Nitrous Outlet Plate Kit with 6 sets of jets (includes everything, window switch, pressure switches, wot switch, etc.) ($1,100)Custom Standalone fuel system with polished tank by Trick Performance ($800)Additional Bottle, plumbing and 860 Heater to upgrade to dual system ($600)

     

    Electrical - Polished 200 Amp Tuff Stuff Alternator ($450)PCM Tune by Wheatley (upgraded by Turboberzerker - $100) ($400) (includes 2 extra PCMs)Upgrade to alternator wire ($130)Taylor 8.8 Wires ($60)NGK Tr6 Plugs ($40) Gauges-Dual Aerforce Gauges with 2 bar MAP boost ($410)So Cal Overhead gauge mount ($125)PLX Wideband ($300)Cyberdyne Fuel Pressure Gauge ($80)

     

    Miscellaneous-Custom Ram Air Hood with new paint ($1,050 - includes labor)Tint ($80)Carriage Works Billet Grill (black chrome $350)Shopman Chrome Brake Duct Overlays ($80)22" Velocity 166 Wheels with 305/40/22 Toyo Proxes ST Tires ($1,660)Tinted Tails by Jon's Tinted Tails ($220)Street Scene Spoiler painted ($80)Edelbrock IAS Performer Shocks - rear only ($120)Custom polished SS Fuse Box Cover ($55) Billet Oil Cap ($25)Rhino Bedliner ($500)Optima Yellow Top Battery ($185)Drilled and Slotted Rotors, Hawk Ceramic Pads and Earl's Stainless Brake Lines ($500)Carbon Fiber Radiator Cover ($385)Carbon Fiber SS CAI Cover ($80)US Speedo Stainless Gauge Overlay ($220)Gray Suede Headliner ($80)New Charcoal Carpet Throughout with matching customer bowtie mats ($350)Clear Headlights ($120)HIDs 6000 ($180)Close Retainer Clips (killed all wind noise in cabin) ($30)Custom NOAH Cover ($200)

     

    In addition, the entire frame and under carriage were cleaned and painted with black POR (many, many man hours). There is no corrosion on this truck.

     

    All dollar values noted above do not include labor costs unless noted as I did the work where no cost is designated. If you don't want to do the math, the total spent in upgrades, not including the value of my labor, is $24,327.00. You could guess on my labor but suffice it to say it was a lot of time. The regular maintenance or costs for mods are also not included (ex. coolant hose etc.). I have a lot of the receipts but not all of them (basically because many times none are sent with internet transactions). All of the major installation instructions (supercharger, nitrous, gauges etc.) will go with the truck.

     

    Photos of the interior:

     

    silvyinterior012.jpg

     

    silvyinterior010.jpg

     

    silvyinterior011.jpg

     

    silvyinterior009.jpg

     

    silvyinterior008.jpg

     

    silvyinterior006-1.jpg

     

    silvyinterior006-1.jpg

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