jacks transmissions...? are they reliable??

[90gsx16g]

Hey im planning on rebuilding my transmission in my 90 Mitsubishi Eclipse gsx, the guy befor me rap*d it pretty good. does anyone have any suggestions as to where i should send my transmission to have it rebuilt? i have a limited budget of about $1000 give or take an extra $1500... i have approximately 500HP at 25 psi.. so i need something that will be ablt to withstand that much power without breaking. Oh and any ideas as to what kinda clutch i should get? I was thinking an ACT 2900, it has a 2600 in it right now which im sure is destryed from the guy before me. any help would be great!

 

[twicks69]

First off, please update your mod list, instead of just stating "i'll fill this in later "; this does not help at all.

What mods do you have that you think you have 500WHP? Why do you think you need a 2900 PP? There are ALOT of options out there, and you really aren't anywhere near the requirement for a 2900 PP.

Do some searching for clutch disks on here, or PM me if you want some other alternatives for clutch/flywheel setups. I would be happy to help.

To transmission builders....

The best "well known" shops out there are:

* Shep Trans
* Jacks Transmissions
* TRE

-- There are plenty of shops that can do rebuilds outside of them.

*Beyond Redline Performance in Green Bay, WI
*AutoMotoSports in Chicago, IL
*Buschur Racing in Wakeman, OH
and on, and on, and on....



Now, if you are running a 1990 tranny, I would first off reccomend finding a late 1991 to 1992 core with a good center differential and front differential -- one that isn't hand grenaded. When I say 1G, I mean from a late 1991-1992....OK, I would reccomend going with a 1G double synchro 1st gear, 1G double synchro 2nd gear, 1G 3rd/4th gear assembly and stock 5th/reverse, 1G forks, 4-spider center diff with torrington bearing upgrade, stock front diff, new input/intermediate/output shafts.

It really doesn't need much more than that. Just don't abuse it.

As for our helical/synchro transmissions vs. a straight cut dogbox, there is a hell of a difference, and you really don't need one. First off, expect to be spending $6K on the gearset, then the differentials, a new transmission case, the transfer case upgrade, driveshaft and axles. You would be looking over $13K at current market prices. If you were making 800+whp, and were intending on being a top-level track racer, then go for it. If it is for a daily driving street-car, there is absolutely no reason for one.

Hell, I could use a dogbox in mine, but there again is no reason. A "Jacks Premium Build", or a "Shep stage 4", or a "TRE stage 3 with a 4-spider center diff" would be more than PLENTY for your car.

 

[1gDSM4g63]

First off, please update your mod list, instead of just stating "i'll fill this in later "; this does not help at all.

Exactly, please specify what mods. You would get a better perspective based on what you have for further recommendations as to what you'll need.

And for what you have stated that this car is a second hand performance car I'd be careful on what you're getting yourself into. The person might have sold you the car for reasons besides needing a new transmission and it may not have the power that he told you, 500hp. You'll regret spending $1500 plus $500-600 on labor for transmission when it either doesn't need that high performance or the rest of the car breaks down a few thousand miles later.

 

[oldman]

Just for clarification, Dogbox Racing is a transmission shop no different than Shep, TRE or Jack's, the name Dogbox is just the name of the shop and have no affiliation with an actual "Dogbox" transmission.

 

[hahnsuper16g]

First off horsepower doesn't kill transmissions wheelhop and tourque do. That being said what kind of tourque are you looking to be putting down and what suspension mods do you have like bushings etc to help prevent wheel hop? I just got a stage 2 from tre with these extras and i love it. I got shotpeening, steel shift rails, heavy duty intermediate shaft and 16% taller 5th gear and the thing shifts like butter. If you went with the stage 1 you would still have enough money for the shotpeening wich i highly recommend. I also considered jack and shep and out of the 3 John over at tre was the most informative. I called him and he talked to me for an hour or so on what i needed to get what i wanted out of my car. His customer service was 2nd to none. Jack and Shep build quality products as well but I think you get more for your money with TRE.

 

[95GSTpeach]

+1 for Jack's. A great guy who does great work. Simple as that. I have his "economy build", and it is by far the smoothest shifting tranny I have ever seen. (not to mention that his work is fairly inexpensive, too)

 

[90gsx16g]

Exactly, please specify what mods. You would get a better perspective based on what you have for further recommendations as to what you'll need.

And for what you have stated that this car is a second hand performance car I'd be careful on what you're getting yourself into. The person might have sold you the car for reasons besides needing a new transmission and it may not have the power that he told you, 500hp. You'll regret spending $1500 plus $500-600 on labor for transmission when it either doesn't need that high performance or the rest of the car breaks down a few thousand miles later.

Alright im gonna start off by saying that i keep writing all mods about my car into my profile and i save them but when i go back later to read them there gone. This is an on-going battle that i trying to win Now as far as the rest of the car goes.. I'm not doing anything with it till i hear from Archer Racing Brothers about whether or not i can bring it in to them. And i know the guy who had it befor me beat on it (even though he denies it), but he was the second owner to the car and i am now the third. I am currently trying to get a hold of the first owner so i can figure out exactly whats in my car all the way down to what kinda windsheild washer fluids in there just kiddin about that last one. But as far as i know the first owner rebuilt the engine completely. Bored out to a 2.4 liter stroker with titanium sleeves, aftermarket pistons, cams, rockers, valves, crank, lifters.. everyithing that was in the engine was "supposedly" replaced with all new after market parts. I have a Evo 3 16G turbo, FMIC, SAFC-2, Data Logger, short ram, Cyclone air intake manifold. I have only driven it twice and i have parked it since then becuase my pressure plate or my tranny is completely fu**ed. And my ecu burnt out. I dont know the complete list of mods yet. BUT i do know the only suspenion mod there is are larger sway bars and soon to be strut bars. Sorry its so long. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[twicks69]

I think you really need to take the engine completely apart and restate your modification list. I hardly believe you that it has a 2.0L that has been bored out to a 2.4L, along with aftermarket rockers, and titanium sleeves.

Why don't you start by taking pictures and then posting them up; better yet, find the reciepts of these installed parts, then put up a modification list.

I am not meaning to be an a-hole; I am just trying to get a feel of what the car really has.

Also, there is no way in hell that you are doing 500whp on a evo 16G. 420whp I would have believed (as I know people making this power with one).

I really think you need to bring your car to a reputable shop and have it looked over.

 

[90gsx16g]

Yeah thats why i'm waitin to hear from Archer Racing, i didnt really believe it either but i am indeed planning to take it apart. it'll ###### have to wait till this summer though. Right now im just tryin to get it running so i can drive. I'm just plannin the transmission for when i find out whats actually in it. I just listed what the second owner told me so as i am tryin to reacj the first owner who put the mods in. I am not gullible by any means me and my friends are perty skeptical too but we firgured its good project car at the very least. Thanks for the input

 

[JackM]

Thanks for the nice posts about us all

In an early 1G if you have a $1k budget you can get away with a pretty strong unit. For $800+shipping I could build your unit to work for your application reliably, but I will have to have a welded center diff. A 2 spider is not going to live long with a 2900, especially if you accidentally shock it off the line a few times. With your gear set, I think the best build for you would be our $1300 'value' build, but that is a little beyond your budget you said you had. The value unit will give you a very nice street trans and be strong enough for a 16G no matter what you do.

Jack

 

[90gsx16g]

Well i got a max of $1500 to spend on a transmission right now... but i'll $2500 more extra to spend ona transmission in a few months. ( not that i'll need that much of course ). Do you guys gave short shift option available?

 

[1gDSM4g63]

You better get your car check out first. You're getting way over your head on performance parts not necessarily needed. And as a third owner who knows the amount of beating your car went through.

You also might want to considered the transmission the least of your worries. Most likely more important factors of the engine need to be replace beforehand. Normally a stock transmission can endure a 16g.

 

[pitbull419]

I second the motion of finding out what parts your car really has.
And what else, if anything is wrong with it.
Some smoke is unseen until you look for it. Especially If the previous owner was blowing it up your a$$
Even if all the parts he says are really on it, a stock tranny will do you fine.

 

[twicks69]

I second the motion of finding out what parts your car really has.
And what else, if anything is wrong with it.
Some smoke is unseen until you look for it. Especially If the previous owner was blowing it up your a$$
Even if all the parts he says are really on it, a stock tranny will do you fine.

Completely agreed with.

Who was the first owner, and second owner? You were saying Archer quite a bit -- were they the first owners? Is this a street car that they worked on? Is this a race car that they actually owned and raced? If the second owner is even telling the truth of whats on the car? Or are you just going to Archer for them to check it out?

If you are going to Archer for help, they are a good reputable Race Shop!

Please post pics of car and engine bay.


Jack -- Always here to join the fun!!

 

[90gsx16g]

Thanks for your help guys, Im gonn have it checked out and i'll let you guys know.

 

[JayRolla]

Ive known Jack for many years and I would have to say he has done some of the best work. Everyone with one of his trannys say they are the best shifting tranny they have ever run. Here is a video of one of his trannys in action.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/4c7b19ce-98f0-43a9-a638-997a01470e0b.htm

Im pretty sure this is his race tranny with the welded diff.

 

[JackM]

Agreed, it's hard to break a trans with 'raw power' from a 16G, you just have to be VERY careful with shocking the unit with that 2900 clutch.

Jack

 

[90gsx16g]

i think i'll stick with a 2600 ACT, i wont be driving it everyday at 25psi. Just when i go to the track. And i do not believe i am getting ahead of myself.. yet. As this IS a DSM and my project car so whether or not the previous owner was indeed blowing smoke up my a$$ i will eventually have a need for this transmission if not already. Thanks for all the information from everyone. And i will be contacting Jack's transmission's soon

 

[emoguitarboy]

+1 Jack

He stands behind his work, I'm just lucky enough to have him local. Plus Andrew, Tyler, and Kevin all know their stuff. And if you don't like the trany I'd consider buying it from you

 

[ruloco23]

Ran a 11.8 @ 117 just this last Sunday on a Jack tranny. Went right into gear with no problems at all.

 

[Jst4Cyl]

this is all.

 

[emoguitarboy]

Ran a 11.8 @ 117 just this last Sunday on a Jack tranny. Went right into gear with no problems at all.

Yea, ya punk, I'm still pissed about my 15

But I'll try to break it this weekend, then If I can get the money over the winter, I'll get the JT