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The transmission has officially surrendered. 2nd and 3rd gear are done. A perfect time for Boe to rebuild the transmission and install the quaiffe that has been on the shelf for almost a year. About 1000 miles ago, downshifting from 3rd to 2nd became very difficult...almost impossible. I knew I was on borrowed time and just waiting for the inevitable. From day 1, 2nd gear never felt perfect and I felt if the transmission was going to fail, 2nd gear would be the cause, so i babied it most of the time....well some of the time.
I have decided to step it up a few notches now that I am comfortable with the engine and feel confident that it will hold up under such demanding conditions. After the rebuild, I remember when I was about to start it for the first time.....actually sweating....hoping it would run, and then, if it did run.... no abnormal engine noises. I am over that now and ready to move forward.
Frank (SQR) arrived last week and we took the car out for a few datalogging runs as we both thought the car could make more power with the stock head and cams...and we are going to push it to the limit. I wanted a conservative tune at first to make sure things would be OK but now I want a "less" conservative tune andhe has assured me that the car is running fine and there is more power to be had with the stock cams and head. He took the information to the california tuning session and came back this friday ready to revamp the software.
As a test, i installed the platinum NGK's (PFR6H-10) into the head to see if these plugs, that saab has installed from the factory in the higher horsepower applications (viggen, aero) would be detrimental to the efficiency and/or safety of the engine (I say no). My assumptions were correct and Frank assured me that the plugs performed admirably.....at a significant difference in price however. My goal is to see if these plugs would be a better value to me. Presently the BCPR7ES plugs last approximately 1000 miles....and then performance goes down the tubes...the plugs are then scrapped. I don't mind changing plugs but I am very curious to see if these plugs will last longer and if the price differential would be worth it to me. So put your fears to rest...platinum plugs can work well in tuned cars....well my car anyway. Economically I feel that the old cheapo copper plugs will be a better value and that is the reason they are used...time will tell. I would, however, follow YOUR tuners reccomendation regarding choice of spark plugs as I'm sure they have their reasons.
Today's tuning session did not go as well as the others. Paul and Frank and Nicholas (SQR associate) took the car out to do some tuning on the fly. Paul drives while Frank monitors the car under extreme conditions....monitoring close to 7000 parameters on his laptop. Paul drives the car quite hard, as I do, but probably a lot safer, a credit to his driving skills.... and Frank trusts him. Paul came back kind of half smiling.....and said..."Dave, I've got some good news and some bad news......which do you want first?" I chose the bad news first......"Your transmission is toast..you now have an aero 3 speed...1st, 4th and 5th are your only gears...2nd and 3rd are done.......and the good news??....."your car runs REALLY good now!!!" I can't wait to get the new transmission installed to see the results.
That's it for now,
Dave
posted by 70.16.202...
, Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:18:07
, Tue, 13 Mar 2007 08:09:18
, Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:27:30, Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:58:34
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