Well I'm taking the plunge and spending the $$ to get my valve body modified and the Torque converter done too. Some initial things of interest:
The converter is 11" in diameter
Once the valve body is out, there is very little to the transmission. Pics will be coming a bit later on. I'm taking a break. Despite the seemingly simple instructions in the Nissan service manual, I'll document some of the hardships on certain steps. It was definitely not easy and I managed to break some tools on bolts that just didn't want to come out. Nissan did not put anything on the threads of the steel bolts that go into the aluminum block. So I have a few skinned knuckles from punching the ground when things would break, or break loose. I don't think I cussed like I did today in a long time. I started at about 10am and finished at 5pm due to the difficulties, taking breaks, and this being a one-man operation.

The fluid came out looking very clean. Even the oil pan had a minimum of metallic particles on it.

As one other quick note, I think I found the 3-wire connector for the speed sensor. I'm going to talk to the guy that I'm sending my stuff to and if I can remove the tail housing without messing anything up, I plan on doing that so I can tap into it. This will be the only way to do it since the TCM computer chip is mounted to the valve body. I'll definitely keep everyone posted on this as well. I have a Yellow Box (www.yellowbox.com) that I have laying around that I used for motorcycles so if I can, I'll be somehow mounting it to the sensor wiring and most likely having to drill a hole in the trans case to feed the wires through.

In any event I'm going to pick up a car from my folks to use until this is all done. More to come.

Good luck Head. Keep us informed.

As one other quick note, I think I found the 3-wire connector for the speed sensor. I'm going to talk to the guy that I'm sending my stuff to and if I can remove the tail housing without messing anything up, I plan on doing that so I can tap into it. This will be the only way to do it since the TCM computer chip is mounted to the valve body. I'll definitely keep everyone posted on this as well. I have a Yellow Box (www.yellowbox.com) that I have laying around that I used for motorcycles so if I can, I'll be somehow mounting it to the sensor wiring and most likely having to drill a hole in the trans case to feed the wires through.


Hey the_head,

What's a Yellow Box? The www.yellowbox.com link is a dud (domain for sale).

Greg
:nervous:

http://www.bluegauges.com/prod_yellow_box.htm

http://www.bluegauges.com/prod_yellow_box.htm

Thanks Slurppie, way cool tool!

Greg
:informative:

Here's a few pics.

Well the box I'm shipping is 54 pounds. I'm sure UPS will love charging me a bazillion dollars for that. At least I get a company discount so that will help. Should have it back in in a week or so, depending on shipping and stuff. I may miss the Saturday Titan meet in Houston - well, I might show up in something else that is.

- well, I might show up in something else that is.

Hopefully not in that red hot rod shown in the first two pictures. Thanks for the pictures, it would be intersting to see what the real differences are to it's 350z counterpart.

Yep, can't wait for some more news!!! :D

So I guess you passed the point of no return on the trans portion of the factory warranty? :) You got guts man . . . I'll be eagerly waiting for the results.

Head,
You've got balls! Keep up the good work and don't forget to strap that blower on when it's available.

So I guess you passed the point of no return on the trans portion of the factory warranty?

Well YEAH!

I look at it this way, if it broke from me beating on it, I wouldn't want to have them take forever replacing it with something that will just break again. And that also would avoid the headache of listening to them (Nissan) gripe about parts and stuff like that I have on the truck. No real balls required here, I've been down this path before on performance vehicles and once committed, I've never regretted it. I also look at it that by getting the valve body modded to shift faster, the clutches should last significantly longer than a stock transmission would be able to handle. I also have the Big Tow option so with the extra transcooler and gauge to help, I don't see this ever being a negative. Let's say that one day the clutches do burn or wear out. There are kits out there now that will enable me to rebuild it the way I want to have it done. The only negative to all of this is money. But I'm a firm believer in the phrase "Speed costs money, How fast do you want to go?". I'll admit that I never got the truck to take to a track. It's just so fun that I can't help it. Ever since it ran 15.1s bone stock I haven't looked back mainly because it was beating some trucks out there with minor mods.

The more I think about it, the more happy I am with this truck. It really does everything I want it to. Plenty of room for me and the family to run around in, great bike hauler, great furniture mover and trailer puller, and it's the new kid on the block so it surprises plenty of people at the track. I've been dragracing a long time and had bikes and cars that would smoke this truck. But what makes this better is the fact that it IS a truck. A full 4-door crew cab and it's usually the largest vehicle in the staging lanes. But it runs along pretty good for what it is and it sure is priceless seeing the look on people's faces when it beats them.

I think I'm going to pass on the blower. It is a lot of money for something that I don't think will beat the small shot of nitrous I have on by a large margin. In fact, I will most likely be stepping up my nitrous after these tranny mods. I'll be a lot more comfortable knowing that I have at least a stronger tranny when doing that. That's not to say that I think the blower is inferior, I'm sure that with an exhaust and the blower that mid to low 13s are possible. Now, this is just my opinion, but simply bolting on this blower and thinking that one can run with the likes of the SRT-10 are pretty far fetched in my book. There are plenty of people who will argue that, but I'd like to wait and see what happens when a normal guy buys one, slaps it on, and then posts a timeslip of a low 13 before I can totally buy into it. See, the thing is, I have a few things that I do that make a small difference. Not much but it's starting to add up. For example, I run shorter tires at the track. That's worth about 0.15secs in the quarter mile. That may not seem like a lot but it is more than I got by adding a Volant to an already free flowing exahust. It was also worth more than the Banks when I added it. I'm also one of the only people that I know of to run 15.1s with a stock - as in BONE stock - titan. I'm sure there were others but it wasn't something that people were exactly posting timeslips for, either. And this isn't about me bragging or anything like that, but it took more than bolting on a nitrous system and being into the 13s consistently.

Anyway, I think the blower will be good for a lot of people but I also hope that the folks that buy one aren't lead footing it everywhere because (again, just my opinion) they are going to have drivetrain problems.

Once I get this transmission stuff completed, I'll be eyeballing the rear end. There is more than just the odd rear going south on these trucks so it's a bone of contention. My goal is to have the engine completely stock with the stock ECM (and stock program) and attempt to get into the 12s with it.

Head.....you and JetTech should get together sometime and compare battle wounds. Sounds like you had about as much fun removing the tranny as JT did with the header install!

Are you having Lev 10 or IPT upgrade the valve body and torque conv? What kind of stall are you shootin' for? Thanks, and good luck with the project. That rig is gonna be a blast to drive with a harder shifting tranny and a higher stall! Thanks for the pics, too.

I went with IPT. He gets excellent feedback from the turbo Mitsubishi guys running 9 and 10 second cars. He was also a little cheaper and has put up with me asking a bunch of questions. Stall will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 3000-3200rpm.

JetTech is a great source of info and how-to. I agree, listen to him.

Thats going to improve the launch of that truck so much

Good news on the converter. They’re still messing with the valve body.

I was told that the converter was similar to a Mercedes converter (which is a good thing apparently). He says that it’s pretty robust for a stock unit. There is already a rear anti-ballooning plate in it and the lock-up clutch is a multi-plate setup. They’ll be done with the converter today. He’s backed up with work so it’s taking a couple of extra days. I told him not to rush. I want it done right so that doesn’t bother me. I’m getting sick of driving the in-law’s Taurus (complete with butterfly decal in the rear window) so I’m hoping I’ll have it back by Friday to go race Sunday with the Chevy crowd.

I went with IPT. He gets excellent feedback from the turbo Mitsubishi guys running 9 and 10 second cars. He was also a little cheaper and has put up with me asking a bunch of questions. Stall will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 3000-3200rpm.

JetTech is a great source of info and how-to. I agree, listen to him.

Whoa! That stall is going to be wicked on the Titan! Did he say it was a true 3000-3200 stall or was that the flash stall range? I had an advertised 2800 stall in my Chevelle but it would flash stall 3200 easy on a hard launch. Are you gonna move your N2O activation to the TPS after that since you will be well above 2500 on the launch now? I can't wait to hear your impression of it once it's back! What time frame did they give you?

The stock stall speed is 2500-2800, so that isn't a huge increase. Should work great.

I've never gotten mine to flash past 2300rpm, even with an idle speed launch. I'll be thrilled if it goes to 3000. I'll still do the button because it's easier to control wheelspin for me. I might be a bit overzealus with full throttle. But that's just me and how I like to do it. I had a throttle switch on my 87 GT and I'd dump the clutch at 4000 rpm with M&Hs and have it floored before the staging lights even went out. Hell of a rush, 1.6 60' on the way to 11.7s with a 3400 pound on-the-sniffer-smog-legal car.

The other thing is that there are times I may not spray the entire run. Sometimes I like to juuuusst beat some of the guys there. I'm hoping it will be done no later than Wednesday so I can 2nd day air it back and put it all in on Saturday with a Friday delivery. Sunday is a big meet with the Chevy guys so it would be nice to be running and go to that.

OK the stuff is done and will be shipping back tomorrow. I should have it delivered Friday and slap it in Saturday. And of course, run it all at the track on Sunday.

cant wait to hear the results!

damn head your the man!!! i wanna be just like you when i grow up!!! :lol: seriosly thanks for being the pioneer, cant wait to see your track times.

damn head your the man!!! i wanna be just like you when i grow up!!! :lol: seriosly thanks for being the pioneer, cant wait to see your track times.

I grew up?!?!

Well I don't know about being a pioneer but it's awfully nice having Jet trying different things as well. Eventually I'll run the headers but I'm concentrating on shoring up the driveline for the abuse of a 100hp shot. The rear is next...