The build is a GO!

mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
So I went and had some fun last night as some of you have already seen. Pulled my trans and tore it down in anticipation for my new stuff to arrive. I'm glad I did it now and not in a week. Now I have additional time to plan for what other parts I need. I built this trans august of 2012 with an off the shelf alligator stage 5 kit...red eagle clutches and kolene steels. April of this year i dropped it and installed an ml PR spring and modified converter flow valve for zero psi drop on lockup. Dropped it again about a month ago and swapped out my precision ml converter for an suncoast 1055. This trans has never once given me an issue, never limped, never hiccuped or anything. Has made a bunch of 12.0 passes and a whole bunch of street abuse. 4wd boosted launches were also part of it. I can't complain...so whatever.





First off, I had some suspicions that my trans wasn't going to be perfect inside so what i found wasn't very suprising. My p2 planet is twisted and my C2 drum is chewed up.









C4 clutches and steels looked great. Not burnt and no hot spots. C5 clutches look brand new as well. Measured them against brand new ones i have here and they both measure .099" thick. Ive got new ones here so I might as well throw them in.

C1 clutches looked good to, they are single sided Carbonites (16 of them).

C2 stack had 8 red eagles and kolene steels in it...which is why my drum is chewed up I'm assuming.

Here are the c2's.





C3's got a little hot..



C3 steels have hot spots on them as well. None of the clutches had any warping at all. Other than my hub, plant and some burnt clutches, everything else looks perfect.

I've got a whole new Suncoast 5r-1 GPZ non slotted refresh kit and billet c2 hub on its way already. Found a complete unmolested 5 speed input drum assembly this afternoon and have since paid for it as well. That will ship friday. My buddy also bought a spare trans last week for his personal stash and has also sold me the p2 planet out of it for a smoking deal.

I shouldnt have to worry about twisting the splines on the p2 planet ever again since my trans will be properly setup this time around. But if it does twist for whatever reason, i will order a biller p2 from suncoast.

Word of advice...you get what you pay for. I threw a poorly designed "off the shelf" trans kit in my trans and am now paying the price. Mike l has said it multiple times, there is a big difference when installing a kit into a trans vs actually building a trans.

I owe a big thanks to Mike L and Evan for spending time with me, helping me get this build situated!

With any luck, all my trans parts should be here next week with the build following right after. I cannot wait!
 
Jakemax04

Jakemax04

New member
Jun 28, 2013
127
0
0
So the c2 steels had too much clearance between the teeth and the drum splines? What causes those steels to eat away at it like that? I'm guessing it's kinda like the transfer case issue. Just thin metal bangin against the case?
 
PACougar

PACougar

Active member
Jun 27, 2012
2,105
1
36
41
El Dorado Hills, Ca
Jakemax04 said:
So the c2 steels had too much clearance between the teeth and the drum splines? What causes those steels to eat away at it like that? I'm guessing it's kinda like the transfer case issue. Just thin metal bangin against the case?
Click to expand...

It's the hardness of the steels vs the softness of the drum. It's super common.
 
mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
We tore my buddies 6 speed down lastweek and found his drum similar but not near as bad. It took 3.5 years to do it though. That is mine after 2.5 years at way less power. He doesn't have kolenes. It is a thousand horse truck so I'd assume it will happen to an extent regardless what you do.
 
Bonestock

Bonestock

Active member
Aug 9, 2010
1,358
1
38
Worland Wy
mike diesel said:
We tore my buddies 6 speed down lastweek and found his drum similar but not near as bad. It took 3.5 years to do it though. That is mine after 2.5 years at way less power. He doesn't have kolenes. It is a thousand horse truck so I'd assume it will happen to an extent regardless what you do.
Click to expand...


Was that the original drum from the truck though or was it a used 5 speed drum with chatter marks already there?
 
mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
Well doesn't look like the drum will be here when I was hoping. Should be here friday at the earliest. And even then it's probably not happening since Christmas is thursday. Oh well.

so now since I'm out atleast another week, I am debating just going full billet everything. I already ordered the billet c2 hub so I would add the billet p2 planet, billet input and output shafts. I figured it is out and apart right now. I'm trying to justify the billet shafts..fairly certain I will atleast go with the billet p2 planet.

Would a full weight 7000lb crew cab running low 11's and MAYBE one day a high 10.9 need to even worry about billet shafts?

Which shaft usually tends to break first? I've always thought the input shaft was first to go, but the last few days I have heard the output shaft is the first issue..if i can get by with one or the other billet shaft then that will be alot easier to justify the cost only having to do one.
 
Bonestock

Bonestock

Active member
Aug 9, 2010
1,358
1
38
Worland Wy
mike diesel said:
Well doesn't look like the drum will be here when I was hoping. Should be here friday at the earliest. And even then it's probably not happening since Christmas is thursday. Oh well.

so now since I'm out atleast another week, I am debating just going full billet everything. I already ordered the billet c2 hub so I would add the billet p2 planet, billet input and output shafts. I figured it is out and apart right now. I'm trying to justify the billet shafts..fairly certain I will atleast go with the billet p2 planet.

Would a full weight 7000lb crew cab running low 11's and MAYBE one day a high 10.9 need to even worry about billet shafts?

Which shaft usually tends to break first? I've always thought the input shaft was first to go, but the last few days I have heard the output shaft is the first issue..if i can get by with one or the other billet shaft then that will be alot easier to justify the cost only having to do one.
Click to expand...


A guy can definetly rack up some coin spent on billet parts. I have 3 input shafts that are stock. I will give you one if you break yours. But you have to do the ratchet strap r&r lol.
 
mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
I have a spare stock shaft but I don't want to be down replacing a shaft and risking other damage when I could have done a billet shaft from the get go.
 
mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
Not to mention I will be right at $4700 into this trans build including torque converter if i go billet everything..not to bad if you ask me.
 
mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
So i told the wife I may be making some more trans purchases and she asks "can I still get a pair of boots?", so I say we'll of course. So she says "ok well then I don't give a shit what you do to your trans".

She's alright in my book.
 
56taskforce

56taskforce

Well-known member
Mar 30, 2014
1,081
56
48
mike diesel said:
So i told the wife I may be making some more trans purchases and she asks "can I still get a pair of boots?", so I say we'll of course. So she says "ok well then I don't give a shit what you do to your trans".

She's alright in my book.
Click to expand...

You're a lucky man!!! I now get the LOOK every time she sees a UPS truck within a block of the house LOL:roflmao:
 
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