Chernmax Phase 4 begins
#1
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
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Chernmax Phase 4 begins
OK guys 5 things are scheduled to be accomplished during Phase 4.
1. Transmission rebuild (complete) and upgrade
2. Install rear Racingline Motor Mount insert (complete)
3. Install Nissan Altima SE-R larger front lower anti-sway bar (delivered)
4. New LED Tail lights (delivered)
5. Final Dyno Tuning (at PTuning in Manassas, VA)
6. Polish Turbo Intake Pipe (complete)
Car goes into the shop tomorrow for the tranny upgrade and I'll do my best to post all information with pictures of the work. Tomorrow I'll add more but the below is a picture of the new Torque Converter (TC) I had modified by Florida Torque Converter (FTC) USA (Member of the Torque Converters Rebuilders Association). Marcin, the owner and Master tech beefed up the converter with computer balanced machine welds, heavy duty bearings and added 300 stalls as well as some other internal shaving that is beyond my expertise but is meant to increase performance. FTC has been working with me to get everything just right and they are actually happy to be helping our Maxima community. Marcin even did all the leg work to find the TC because no US facility had a new or used 2004 Maxima tranny TC in stock (unless you were buying the whole transmission). He found these in Canada, had shipped to Florida, did the rebuild then shipped to me in Maryland. Anyway it's the first part highlighted.
2004 Nissan Maxima SE
My tranny is a 5AT: RE5F22A (AW55-50SN)
Stock Torque Converter is: AF33-5
Modified torque converter:
1. Transmission rebuild (complete) and upgrade
2. Install rear Racingline Motor Mount insert (complete)
3. Install Nissan Altima SE-R larger front lower anti-sway bar (delivered)
4. New LED Tail lights (delivered)
5. Final Dyno Tuning (at PTuning in Manassas, VA)
6. Polish Turbo Intake Pipe (complete)
Car goes into the shop tomorrow for the tranny upgrade and I'll do my best to post all information with pictures of the work. Tomorrow I'll add more but the below is a picture of the new Torque Converter (TC) I had modified by Florida Torque Converter (FTC) USA (Member of the Torque Converters Rebuilders Association). Marcin, the owner and Master tech beefed up the converter with computer balanced machine welds, heavy duty bearings and added 300 stalls as well as some other internal shaving that is beyond my expertise but is meant to increase performance. FTC has been working with me to get everything just right and they are actually happy to be helping our Maxima community. Marcin even did all the leg work to find the TC because no US facility had a new or used 2004 Maxima tranny TC in stock (unless you were buying the whole transmission). He found these in Canada, had shipped to Florida, did the rebuild then shipped to me in Maryland. Anyway it's the first part highlighted.
2004 Nissan Maxima SE
My tranny is a 5AT: RE5F22A (AW55-50SN)
Stock Torque Converter is: AF33-5
Modified torque converter:
Last edited by chernmax; 04-28-2008 at 10:28 PM.
#5
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
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That's why the rebuild process includes computer balanced tig welding to reinforce the cast mold of the OEM TC.
FTC was going to do 500 stalls, I opted for a little more conservative number of 300 stalls to balance the added stress that I will have and needed to support increased engine power which will exceed 440+hp
FTC was going to do 500 stalls, I opted for a little more conservative number of 300 stalls to balance the added stress that I will have and needed to support increased engine power which will exceed 440+hp
Last edited by chernmax; 04-15-2008 at 03:29 PM.
#8
That's why the rebuild process includes computer balanced tig welding to reinforce the cast mold of the OEM TC.
FTC was going to do 500 stalls, I opted for a little more conservative number of 300 stalls to balance the added stress that I will have and needed to support increased engine power which will exceed 440+hp
FTC was going to do 500 stalls, I opted for a little more conservative number of 300 stalls to balance the added stress that I will have and needed to support increased engine power which will exceed 440+hp
#12
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
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For others FYI
Stall. The prime mover is applying power to the pump but the turbine cannot rotate. For example, in an automobile, this stage of operation would occur when the driver has placed the transmission in gear but is preventing the vehicle from moving by continuing to apply the brakes. At stall, the torque converter can produce maximum torque multiplication if sufficient input power is applied (the resulting multiplication is called the stall ratio). The stall phase actually lasts for a brief period when the load (e.g., vehicle) initially starts to move, as there will be a very large difference between pump and turbine speed.
#13
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
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LOL and if I want manual, I switch to manual matic mode, that's what I've been using now for 2 months to go from 1st 2nd then jump to 4th, 5th since my 3rd gear was shot!!!
#17
#18
what do you mean just fail sounds to me like they were talking out their ***. I mean come on these transmissions are supposed to be bulletproof. Not exactly the truth as many are finding out.
I am monitoring this thread very closely so don't hold back on any of the details there chern.
I am monitoring this thread very closely so don't hold back on any of the details there chern.
#19
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
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Update 1, 4/16/2008
OK got to Fred's shop around noon and they have all the Turbo Exhaust piping off or disconnected. Almost broke my heart seeing the Turbo laying on her side :-( We did find potential horse power (hp) loss due to a failed and almost failed gasket on the exhaust piping. In the pictures you can see on the piping where the exhaust gas was escaping. Another picture shows a blown $3 dollar gasket compared to the new high hp metal race gaskets I got at Advanced Auto for $27 bones ($24 dollars with my veterans discount). We also removed the rackandpinion and disconnected everything attached to the top of the tranny. The Tranny will be out tomorrow and the real work begins. Once the tranny is dropped, I'll finally be able to install the rear Racingline Motor Mount Insert (MMI) which should augment the front MMI and contribute to the overall performance. Less side to side engine vibration leads to faster power transfer down to the wheel...
OK got to Fred's shop around noon and they have all the Turbo Exhaust piping off or disconnected. Almost broke my heart seeing the Turbo laying on her side :-( We did find potential horse power (hp) loss due to a failed and almost failed gasket on the exhaust piping. In the pictures you can see on the piping where the exhaust gas was escaping. Another picture shows a blown $3 dollar gasket compared to the new high hp metal race gaskets I got at Advanced Auto for $27 bones ($24 dollars with my veterans discount). We also removed the rackandpinion and disconnected everything attached to the top of the tranny. The Tranny will be out tomorrow and the real work begins. Once the tranny is dropped, I'll finally be able to install the rear Racingline Motor Mount Insert (MMI) which should augment the front MMI and contribute to the overall performance. Less side to side engine vibration leads to faster power transfer down to the wheel...
Last edited by chernmax; 04-17-2008 at 04:20 AM.
#20
what do you mean just fail sounds to me like they were talking out their ***. I mean come on these transmissions are supposed to be bulletproof. Not exactly the truth as many are finding out.
I am monitoring this thread very closely so don't hold back on any of the details there chern.
I am monitoring this thread very closely so don't hold back on any of the details there chern.
I provide IT services to these guys on some weekends and after my tranny failed, i just asked them if it's not unusual. You still think they are talking out of their ***? It must be a coincidence that 3 more trannies were replaced at the dealership that same day I went in. Oh well, hope yours doesn't fail on you, right after your warranty expires.
#21
They are not talking out of their ***, there is no reason to. They operate legite multi-million dollar business here in Brooklyn. They have a humongous warehouse where they rebuild trannies too. They are talking based on parts sold for these trannies. The owner told me that they sell a lot of parts for these trannies, unproportionately high number comparing to other "newer" cars. He said it will take another year or so for retrofit kits (rebuild kits) to be available from aftermarket manufacturers. I've seen catalog from one and there are plenty of mods & fixes to fix other car's trannies with upgraded valves, larger springs, shafts etc. ect. but nothing available for our trannies, yet.
I provide IT services to these guys on some weekends and after my tranny failed, i just asked them if it's not unusual. You still think they are talking out of their ***? It must be a coincidence that 3 more trannies were replaced at the dealership that same day I went in. Oh well, hope yours doesn't fail on you, right after your warranty expires.
I provide IT services to these guys on some weekends and after my tranny failed, i just asked them if it's not unusual. You still think they are talking out of their ***? It must be a coincidence that 3 more trannies were replaced at the dealership that same day I went in. Oh well, hope yours doesn't fail on you, right after your warranty expires.
chern the engine bay is looking a little empty.
#22
#25
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
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Update 4/17/2008
Subframe removed (damn would have been a great time to upgrade the front lower anti-sway bar like Deus did with the Altima SE-R bar.
Tranny removed
Tranny Rebuild kit (Note, chemically cleaned transmission housing in the background, looked brand new when I walked by it!!!)
Subframe removed (damn would have been a great time to upgrade the front lower anti-sway bar like Deus did with the Altima SE-R bar.
Tranny removed
Tranny Rebuild kit (Note, chemically cleaned transmission housing in the background, looked brand new when I walked by it!!!)
#28
great work chris... this car sure is amazing...
do u think w/ the new tranny work your times will be better??? and will u be pumping up[ the boost at all now that the tranny can handle it ?
do u think w/ the new tranny work your times will be better??? and will u be pumping up[ the boost at all now that the tranny can handle it ?
#33
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
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Being optimistic at 8PSI with the tranny upgrade I'm hoping for 360-390whp which is well within the 450-460+hp range.
And before I do any more mags, I'd like to be able to submit actual dyno and track numbers, makes for better reading...
#36
#37
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
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Cool, so others understand my statement is because:
1. I don't autocross
2. Shaved a lot of weight off the car
3. Have the following handling mods:
- D2 Coilovers
- Front and rear Racingline V2 endlinks (with www.energysuspensionparts.com bushings)
- Stillen Rear anti-sway Bar
- Stillen Front Upper strut brace
- BFG g-force 255/45 ZR 18/99Y
- Eibach 5mm spacers
Handling wise this works great for me...
1. I don't autocross
2. Shaved a lot of weight off the car
3. Have the following handling mods:
- D2 Coilovers
- Front and rear Racingline V2 endlinks (with www.energysuspensionparts.com bushings)
- Stillen Rear anti-sway Bar
- Stillen Front Upper strut brace
- BFG g-force 255/45 ZR 18/99Y
- Eibach 5mm spacers
Handling wise this works great for me...
#39
nice work but i need to help you out alittle here, coming from a 400whp sentra SE-R and blowing gaskets all the time i would suggest you dump those gaskets and use just and yes JUST RED RTV(high temp). This stuff works wonders. I had it on the manifold to head, turbo to manifold(with a metal gasket) and NEVER had a leak. the only gasket i would use is a complete metal gasket not one that has a metal center with the materal on both sides(like the ones you are showing in the pics).
Also the torque convertor has 1 stall point...if he added 300 stall then its 300rpm higher then the OEM.
Nice progress and write up. Did you install an LSD while you had the trans apart?
Also the torque convertor has 1 stall point...if he added 300 stall then its 300rpm higher then the OEM.
Nice progress and write up. Did you install an LSD while you had the trans apart?