High HP/torque FWD tranny issues.

[Locutus78]

For you FWD guys out there with high hp/torque what are you using for a tranny? My setup is in my profile, last dyno was 416whp and 426ft-lbs, those numbers have increased, just no dyno.

Before anyone recommends a Shepherd tranny, please don't! Here is what a $2600, spare no expense, Shepherd Stage 2 "built" tranny looks like after 4.5 mos. and less than 3k miles
Intermediate shaft

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Shep "HD" 3rd gear

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[97 4G63]

Wow and i thout Shepherd was the best in trannies..

 

[nightspeed87]

What fluid were you running? And when did this happen.

 

[Locutus78]

Wow and i thout Shepherd was the best in trannies..

As did I, that is why I unknowingly went with him. Expensive lesson learned!

What fluid were you running? And when did this happen.

I was entering the freeway, and I was running Syncromesh.

Here are some additional pics.
Pictures

 

[absolute_DSM]

I find it hard to believe that a well built Shep tranny cannot handle 400 ft/lbs of torque. Have you tried calling and talking to them?

 

[Locutus78]

I find it hard to believe that a well built Shep tranny cannot handle 400 ft/lbs of torque. Have you tried calling and talking to them?

And prior to my experience, I would of said the same thing. But hind site is 20/20.

Yes, I have talked with him and here is the response I got from John "You obviously ripped the teeth of of the intermediate shaft. The fwd 3rd gear portion of that shaft is pretty weak. That would have been your original shaft so I cannot cover that under warranty ...." When I talked with him for the build, I told him what my car was gonig to do (torque monster), and I was willing to spend what it took to make sure the tranny would hold up. I had already spent $2600, and if a $200 part would of held up and warrantied the transmission I would of gladly spent it. But somehow even if I had done that, he would of found another reason to not warranty it.

 

[JeanDSM]

ive seen stock 100K mile trans handle better

 

[Locke]

Here are some additional pics.
http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o... Tranny-FTL/

Broken link.

 

[Zex4g63]

I was entering the freeway, and I was running Syncromesh

Straight?

 

[snox135]

Swap to a AWD tranny, I have personally seen those handle 450 ft/lbs of torque stock (2g).

Did you have a lot of wheel hop?

 

[Locutus78]

Straight?

Yes, as per the written instructions Shep sent with the tranny.

Swap to a AWD tranny, I have personally seen those handle 450 ft/lbs of torque stock (2g).

Did you have a lot of wheel hop?

No wheel hop, the Quaife LSD was great. That was the only thing left re-usable in the tranny. But if something had failed on it, they stand by their product, no excuses.

 

[burnnxs]

wow that sucks man .
so what tranny is every body else using for a 400whp setup ?

 

[90laserRSfwd]

Our shop car has an AWD trans modified for FWD use with the Magnus dogbox gearset... we're not releasing details as of yet but @ 32psi on a PTE sc61 turbo we've yet to see a problem.

 

[Locutus78]

From another board the AWD tranny converted to FWD seems to be the way to go. Jack's transmission I know does it, and he seems to really know his stuff, and will share it. I know of two local guys that are using a TRE FWD, and love their trannys, but they don't have as much power as I did. Both TRE and Jacks offer so many more upgrades, ESPECIALLY for FWD compared to Shep.

 

[nightspeed87]

May be off topic but how bad was your wheel spin and traction on that thing with the amount of power and torque your laying down?

 

[Locutus78]

Wheel spin was pretty bad in 1st/2nd (any FWD with power), but with good tires it wasn't an issue after that.

 

[GSTeclipse]

....I have seen shep stage 2 trannys making 500whp with the TQ to match and they have not had a single problem out of them .....

And I have also seen TRE Trans hold well over 450whp as well and not had a single problem for years that they have owned them

I know it sucks and I hate that has happened to you ...but I really would have thought John would have had a better attitude about it , if you explained what was done to your car and he didn't offer anything else to you at the time and just plain out said it will hold the power than it should have ...and thats what my friend did as well and he said the stage 2 will hold it with no problems


Thanks for postings pics along with your thread that helps out alot

Try your luck with TRE or Jacks


Is your tranny casing still good and can be sent in without having to buy a new or used tranny ?

 

[Locutus78]

All the details of the engine and power/torque expected output were explained. Gave him the numbers FP gave me on what the engine should do, and they were right on. And no the case is shot also, you can see pics in the link of the case.
I did not expect any different attitude from John, it was the same attitude I got when there was a problem shipping him the tranny (see below). I should have taken the "signs" when I shipped the tranny to him, and his attitude then. Should have just had him ship the tranny back and went with TRE or Jacks, but as they say hind site is 20/20.

Shipping Issue: Sent my transmission to Shep in one of his own boxes. Tranny was signed for in good condition. 10 days after being signed for in good condition, I called Shep and get the following, "Your transmission was damaged during shipping, your going to have to buy a new bell housing, I will see if I have the time to go to a junk yard and find one for you, but it wil be $250 for the part." What choice did I have, so I paid for the bell housing, and filed a claim with the shipping company. Shipping company denied claim because the package was signed for in good condition.

 

[GSTeclipse]

filed a claim with the shipping company. Shipping company denied claim because the package was signed for in good condition.

Now damn thats just shitty ...did you ask him why he signed for it in good condition if it was not ?

damn even though I didn't have this problem it still pisses me off that other people have to go threw it and then make a thread about it ...hoping that it does not get deleted or them getting bashed for say the company had bad service or shitty product

 

[Locutus78]

Is there anyone else out there with the AWD tranny "modified" to run in a FWD? Experiences with it?

 

[Tech2uned]

I have a TRE transmission, and have had it for about 4 months now. It was the performance build(middle stage) with a taller 16% 5th. It has been working great so far, and I have redline MT90 oil in there. Jon was really great when I was getting it rebuilt, he offered me options, and let me know what did and did not need to be done. It is sometimes hard to get a hold of them, but they are always pretty busy