How much hp with fwd transmission?

[nicknorth11]

I've searched and found numbers around 500, but that was for a gs. Also, I'm curious about the hp it can handle if I don't beat on it. I don't launch (or attemt to) and I don't shift hard. Basically, I'd like to know how much hp it can handle if I'm already in third, for example, and floor it.

Thanks guys

 

[92AWDHX40]

well all cars are different, mods too.

 

[nicknorth11]

^ Wow! Thanks for that, captain obvious. Anybody with something helpful?

 

[dsm-freak]

im shure a gst tranny will handle 500 if a gs can. if your not launching it or shifting like an idiot the tranny souldnt self dstruct to easily. the trannys will take alot of abuse if your not a monkey behind the wheel.

 

[rEclipserGST]

Depends really, like he said all cars and different and depends on mods.

Mileage on tranny
Idiots abusing the tranny
Any mods to enchance performance on tranny
Launching...
Finding the sweet spot to launch is VERY important. Along with traction and suspension helps aswell. But yes Stock tranny I agree since a turbo tranny is better than a N/A tranny. So I would say 600hp no mods tranny should hold. But even then... if you have money for anything above 450 hp.... why wouldnt you throw money into the Tranny??

Just my op

 

[viperlp01]

Your FWD... alot more than an awd... Id imagine alot because after you hit so much hp your just break the wheels loose.

 

[dsm-freak]

he is right about that being fwd your tires can spin alot easier than awd to relieve stress on the drivetrian keeping things from breaking.

 

[19BLACKGST98]

I dont really know for sure. I dont drive like an idiot and I thought my tranny was in great shape. I had the money to send it to TRE and they told me that 2nd and 3rd needed to be replaced. I guess I had problems I didnt even know about. That was with no LSD and at 400whp with no track runs what so ever. I hope that helps atleast a little.

 

[clockworktoy]

A million, this is a very vague question. I don't know about you but once i start shooting for 400+whp i will definitely be getting a rebuild with at least an lsd. So let me answer your question, its all depends on the current condition of the tranny, and how it will be driven once the cars making that kind of hp.

 

[tkelly27]

Power doesn't kill transmissions, torque does. As mentioned before, with FWD only so much torque can be transferred to the wheels before they break loose, so they should be able to handle more juice than an AWD trans because of the tires acting like a fuse. This starts to become less true with sticky tires and hard launches. I realize you said you don't do hard launches, but going dropping from 5th to 3rd and going WOT can put sudden torque loads through the transmission.

You should contact a transmission vendor about your desired power levels and their recommended upgrades.

 

[nicknorth11]

Thanks for the responses.

As for the recommendations to get a built tranny, thanks, but I had that figured out myself. Hence, I didn't start a thread asking if I need a built tranny. I've been around 400whp for a while and will be closer to 500whp this summer. I can't afford a built tranny since I just spent so much on other stuff. (Not to mention I plan to swap everything over to an awd in a couple of years and don't want to waste the money on a fwd drivetrain). I just needed to know if I'll be able to play with it this summer at those power levels or if it would break as soon as I hit the dyno.

 

[RC_slow_dsm]

My diff exploded at roughly 400whp. Might have been due to wheel hop and i beat on the car a lot. I upgraded to a Quaife and plan on seeing the hp limits of that soon. I haven't had any problems other than the diff.

 

[rEclipserGST]

So your saying that I won't have to upgrade anything tranny wise since I dont beat on my tranny & I most likely won't be making more than 400hp? I was thinking I might need double synchros on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear.


Goals are:

3" full exhaust
16g turbo
FMIC
tune

 

[JEFFREYCASTGSX]

i have seen both 420a and 4g63 trannys, and i have seen also the amount of power people make on both... I say that the 420a tranny is way stronger

 

[jbark]

if you can spend the money to get to 500-600 hp i dont think the range to beef up the tranny is hard for you to do. and its better to be safe then to launch one time on the strip and drop the tranny on the light. i have seen it in many cars but not a dsm for a matter of fact...mainly those crappy hondas

 

[daren_p]

Lots of factors come into play but here my input. Like was mentioned, on street tires in a fwd you normally just spinning the tires when your making good power (& you don't spend as much time WOT in the upper gears that have traction). My stocker handled the 410 whp I was putting down on my daily tune no problem & was making abit more at the track probably around the 440whp range & could actually put the power down through the gears with the Hoosier DR's I ran. What I can say, is if your planning to make big power/torque on the stock, make sure you have a fluid that will provide the proper protection. Last time I was out at the track I took out the 3-4 slider & the case was more then likely the BG Synchroshift I was running, which is water thin.

 

[nicknorth11]

if you can spend the money to get to 500-600 hp i dont think the range to beef up the tranny is hard for you to do. and its better to be safe then to launch one time on the strip and drop the tranny on the light. i have seen it in many cars but not a dsm for a matter of fact...mainly those crappy hondas

I guess you missed this post:

As for the recommendations to get a built tranny, thanks, but I had that figured out myself. Hence, I didn't start a thread asking if I need a built tranny. I've been around 400whp for a while and will be closer to 500whp this summer. I can't afford a built tranny since I just spent so much on other stuff. (Not to mention I plan to swap everything over to an awd in a couple of years and don't want to waste the money on a fwd drivetrain). I just needed to know if I'll be able to play with it this summer at those power levels or if it would break as soon as I hit the dyno.

Lots of factors come into play but here my input. Like was mentioned, on street tires in a fwd you normally just spinning the tires when your making good power (& you don't spend as much time WOT in the upper gears that have traction). My stocker handled the 410 whp I was putting down on my daily tune no problem & was making abit more at the track probably around the 440whp range & could actually put the power down through the gears with the Hoosier DR's I ran. What I can say, is if your planning to make big power/torque on the stock, make sure you have a fluid that will provide the proper protection. Last time I was out at the track I took out the 3-4 slider & the case was more then likely the BG Synchroshift I was running, which is water thin.

Good post. Thanks. Btw, do recommend any particular tranny fluid?

 

[daren_p]

Probably going to run Redline MT90 in the built tranny. Unless I'm told otherwise by whoever ends up building my tranny.

 

[dsmmikej]

Hey Nick how much power do you actually plan on putting down? Controlling 350hp to the ground is a pretty quick car being just a fwd! And laso what axles are you running?

 

[nicknorth11]

Hey Nick how much power do you actually plan on putting down? Controlling 350hp to the ground is a pretty quick car being just a fwd! And laso what axles are you running?

I've been around 400whp for a year or two now and will be at 450whp as soon as my car is back together. Currently, my turbo is restricting me, as it's only a 46lb/min 50 trim. However, the turbo's internals can be swapped out to be a 54lb/min turbo, which is what I plan to do sometime this summer. Once I do that, I'll look for at least 500whp.

It's amazing how fast you can get bored with a given power level. 350bhp was my second goal. Then it went to 350whp, then 450whp, then 500whp (which I don't even have yet), and now I want 600awhp. <-- Notice the "a" in that last one!

Stock axles.

 

[dsmmikej]

Thats funny because I'm actually selling my AWD and keeping my FWD. It seems cheaper, .
My long axle broke around 300hp, then I put in an AWD axle w/ carrier bearing. Any trouble keeping all that power down?

 

[nicknorth11]

Thats funny because I'm actually selling my AWD and keeping my FWD. It seems cheaper, .
My long axle broke around 300hp, then I put in an AWD axle w/ carrier bearing. Any trouble keeping all that power down?

I don't drive too hard, and I never launch (or attempt to launch ), so my axles hold up pretty well. I've broken one axle since owning the car. That was when I had roughly 300whp. As for keeping the power down, it just doesn't happen. I could never floor it in 2nd gear. I could floor it in 3rd in the summer when the roads are hot, but not otherwise. I don't think 3rd will be much use at the new power levels.

 

[daren_p]

^^^ Thats why you neead a real LSD

My daily tune last summer was the dyno numbers posted here. That was at 24 psi, I've ran 28-30 psi at the track & still never spun 3rd even with the 18" street rubber. The last couple of outings were with the Hoosier DR's, boy its sure nice to pull 2.0 60's (& thats being easy initially off the line) & not have any spin. Its also nice to run 26psi in 2nd with zero slip vs the ~19psi I normally run on street tires & either slip or are right on the edge. Feels like a totally different car The 3-4 slider was the first thing I broke drivetrain related.

 

[nicknorth11]

^^^ Thats why you neead a real LSD

I plan to swap everything over to an awd in a couple of years and don't want to waste the money on a fwd drivetrain.

Trust me, I would've had one by now if I planned to keep this car. I'll admit it though, you're making me want to get one with those numbers you posted.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Build a W5M33 with a spool, and all the transmission upgrades you want, then when you get the AWD chassis, you won't have wasted money on a trans you can no longer use.

That's what I did. I just finished building my W5M33 with a spool in the center diff. I'm going to stick it in my Colt tommorrow during the heat wave (supposed to hit 45F tommorrow) and run it FWD with no transfer case, for the next season. When I roll it out of the garage in the spring of 2010, it should be in AWD form.