I just got off the phone with "level 10". While being extremely courteous and helpful the gentleman who I spoke to also made a huge claim. He said that a Maxima with a performance torque converter and modified valve body is FASTER than a five speed !!! While I fully understand a five speed is only good in the hands of an accomplished driver (not me ) to fully realize its performance potential, is it at all possible that in the hands of that same driver an auto can indeed be faster? I have an auto Maxima and am kicking myself for not buying a five speed, but this info is awesome, if true. Please clarify............

Thanks.

 

Whether it's true or not, I don't know. They are a business, so if they want your business, you think they won't say something to encourage you to do business with them?

 

I have to agree with Cumalot. They are a business that is trying to sell you on their product. I do know those mods will greatly improve the performance of an auto and also the life of the tranny.

 

It happens with Supras, it could happen here.

 

Yes that is a valid claim.. it is true..

a full Transmission Rebuild from Level10 will make you faster than a 5spd.. but if that 5spd does tranny work also.. you will be behind again

Greggie poo.. the Supra Auto's started out faster 0 - 130 before tranny rebuild.. they build boost before the 6spds do

 

In other words, a modded auto beats a stock 5 speed. Fair comparison? Come bring that level 10 against me, a modded 5 speed. We'll see . . . . .


DW

 

well not really.. its not a matter of modded engine.. its a matter of modded transmission.. you would need an ACT Clutch.. lightened Flywheel.. VLSD Tranny or Stock Tranny with Quaife ATB to gain the edge again..

 

here is my thoughts. If an automatic made a perfect shift similar to a 5spd... I could see it being faster b/c it would never doa nything except a PERFECT shift, that is why a lot of dragsters and stuff are auto..

BUT if you are running a normal transmission, they still lose approx 15hp in the automatic transmission... would you still lose that w/ level 10, I think so - not for sure though..

 

What kind oftranny work? Like a flywheel or clutch?

SuDZ

 

Does anybody have the Level 10 website and Don's website? Also, which would you guys reccomend, Don's, or Level 10? What kind of times do they take off the 1/4? Sorry for all the questions.

 

clutch i say ACT..

tranny.. ither the canadian maxima or the I30 stickshift..

or buy the Quaife from Cattman..

flywheel.. i dunno..


95maxrider - $500 vb isn't going to make you shift like a 5spd.. we are talking about a $3000 - $5000 level 10 full transmission rebuild

 

www.levelten.com

Autos are faster then 5spds when it comes down to dragging. Im not talking about 15 and 14 second cars. Im talking about 13's and down. Autos w/ a high stall TC puts you right into your power band. It wont slip like a clutch will. The only way to compare a 5spd launching that way is to dump the clutch. A VB Mod will shift faster & more consistent then any 5spd every will. Remember, we are talking about form a dead stop, if your talking about from a roll, obvious the manual has better gearing.

All the professional dragsters are autos. All the Detriot Muscle cars are autos as well. They are consistent. That is what they want. There is one auto transmission no manual will ever beat... a 2 speed Chevy Power Glide.

Look at the Supra autos. They are slower then the 6spds by .1 in the 1/4 mile if even that. Auto Supras are more used then the 6spds when they start running 11's and under.

My cousins Supra had the Level10 rebuild. Its done on a 97 BPU + Supra MVIK. That has the clutches, vb mod, & high stall TC in it. That Level 10 rebuild on it shaved .4-.5 off the 1320 on the Supra.

How does a auto Supra build boost faster then a 6spd does? The first turbo is instantly on and the second kicks in at 4.5k rpms.

Looks like its time for me to stay off the Supra boards huh?
Dont get me wrong, i love 5spds, i owned 5spds but ask any pro, they will tell you autos are the way to go once you start breaking down 13's and lower.

Some companies make good auto trannies where they are as fast as the manuals. Nissan just took a different route. Look at the GTP's, people are pulling 1.9 60fts stock in an auto. You try to pull that stock in a 5spd Max.

 

I think Level 10's comment about the performance of their auto tranny kit is too boastful. I know they can produce amazing performance results from their modifications, but they still are slower than a properly driven manual tranny. This difference maybe very small such as .1-.2 seconds on 0-60 times and .3-.5 seconds on 1/4 mile. I'd have to see to believe it. The drivetrain loss in an auto is higher and it's weight is greater so from a physics point of view Level 10 is wrong. However, if their auto has some way to put the "power to the ground" better, I agree with them. I highly doubt the latter assuming the two test car would have the same configuration.

 

$3000- $5000 it better be faster than a stock 5speed afterwards. It would be a disgrace if you spent that much money on a particular mod and be unable to lose .5 seconds on the ET with it. Of course A level 10 with a Supercharger and all bolt ons and custom ecu would be a terribly deadly auto max indeed. Those who can afford $12,000.

 

most of our maximas are street cars and on the street we encounter things like turns and other circumstances where a car cannot read our minds. An automagic does not think "here comes a sharp turn, I better downshift now before I get into the turn" or "maybe I should revmatch from 5th gear to 3rd gear so I can lose that annoying 5.0 who is tailgating me. While the 1/4 may prove best for an auto tranny, I know that I always want to call the shots when I drive my car.

 

O would need all that to bget past a level 10 Max?? Wow. Interesting that all these mentioned mods will help the 5 speed hook up better. I'll admitt, it's hard to launc my car, I either bog or spin like crazy. I always have to feather the throttle in 1st gear.

DW

 

Maybe we should leave it at this...

Autos are best for drags as 5spds are best for street.

 

Arent those tranny's kinda tough to come by though? Which is cheaper the new tranny or the Quaife? I know the Quiafe is like 1500 or so last time I looked but how much does the new tranny run? Anyone price them?

SuDZ

 

nah.. they are easy to find.. i see them on http://www.car-part.com all the time.. even a junkyard 5 mins from my house has 2.. one for $900 and one for $1200

 

once I have an auto beat me then we can talk about that, but while don is the only auto maxima that is fast NA, 5spds are better for everything

 

No, you are wrong there. Auto's are WAY better for talking on a cell, eating, fiddling with the stereo, if your tired as hell in the mourning and don't wanna **** with shifting, if you like a nice smooth ride under normal driving, and MOST importantly if you like throwin your seat back and just cruisin' pimp.

 

Auto's allow cars with boost to create boost from launch rather than from reaching a certain RPM! Thats why Supra Autos are faster! I believe.

-Andy

 

Yup.

I come in peace... that's good stuff Don't worry u won't get flamed unless you say something totally outrageous like you could beat a maxima

 

Oh cool. Didnt know they could be so common. If you had the 5speed i30 would it take the same clutch and crap as the Max? I would think so but not sure if the LSD changes anything else on them.

SuDZ

 

Found some. In fact I found one out of a 97. That should directly replace mine right? It is in my state and looking at about 57K for milage. That is actually less than I have now. If I went with it and before I put it in went for an upgraded ACT clutch or something. I would still be saving 300 bucks. Hmmmm........


SuDZ

 

AHEM All Maximas NO! I know better. Some possibly maybe even most. This would be due to lack of driver skill usually cause they are a fourty something non-racer.

But we have already been thru this once! Right! LOL!

I like Maximas but with all the options I wanted it was out of my price range. I got everything I wanted in my tour for 19,100 with 7k miles on it! Killer deal from private owner!

-Andy

 

Welcome to the Org. May your stay be pleasant and unflamed... very unlikely however, people seem to be a bit on the caffeinated side here

 

I got my '95 Black Maxima SE with only 50k miles for 10,8. (!) That is LOW milage and the car was in great shape. Proly some old granny owned it. Needless to say it has 59.7k miles to this day and still feels like new.

You could trade in that contour and get yourself a 95-98 maxima easily. You could easily get a '95 (which is the quickest year of the maxima) with all the options your little heart desires in great cond. with low milage (perhaps one stored in winters) and have money left to supercharge it, body kit, clear corners, tint, suspension, maybe even rims. Damn, THEN you would have one FAST *** car. Low 5's indeed.

 

No thanks!

I'm in pretty deep on the Contour thing. I have 56k on the car it's a '99 and i have 100k or 4yrs on the premium care warrantee. I have quite a few mods and a few more sitting at my house. I'm very close to giving you guys a run for you moeny. I also like having a car that you don't seen ten of on the way to work. That's not smack on your Maximas it's true for most cars.

-Andy

 

So your saying that auto dragsters are slower the 5spd dragsters?

Last time i checked, the fastest cars in the 1320 were auto.

 

i think the happy grass in canada is really good this time of year if you know what i'm sayin

 

Be sure to mail some down to me then.

 

Craig..

STFU and go back to your room..

 

direct replacement.. you will be fine.. unless you want to get drive shafts also.. thats entirely up to you.. but tranny alone is fine..

 

Sprint! Are you defending me!

LOL!

-Andy

 

I have to maintain some form of Maturity in this Forum

 

You don't have to! I'm a big boy!

I've been around forums long enough to know how to seperate individuals from a group!

You guys seem pretty cool so far!

-Andy

 

How can a NA automagic beat you when even most NA 5spd can't beat you?