TRE or Shephard FWD RACE Transmission - need your input

[civic619]

I have gone through 2 stock DSM transmissions. Last night my tranny bit the dust, it basically sounded like it grenaded itself inside. This happen at WOT in 2 gear.

I have a 95 GST with a 6 bolt conversion (built 9:1 CP pistons, puater rods, crower valve train, dsmlink, rc1000 etc etc etc i dont want to get into detail about my mods) capable of 500HP, hopefully =)

I am not sure which vendor to go with, TRE or Shepherd. I have searched the archives to see if anyone had anything GOOD to say about either vendors with a RACE BUILT "FWD" Tranny. I have found comments on AWD trannys, but hardly on FWD trannys.

I plan on putting in a LSD (torsion type lsd-as I was told this is most beneficial for a daily driver,can someone vouch this info?) and what a tranny that can withstand a good amount of power.

Could anyone here shed some light so I can make a GOOD decision before I spend this insane amount of money? Thanks!

 

[liquordrunk]

My friend has a 1g fwd tranny built by shep. and he loves it. This type of thread has been beat to death. Either or will be a great choice. Just call and find out.

 

[missouri_dsm]

Shep tranny no doubt about it. I have never heard or seen one bad thing about his transmissions. On the other hand I have heard good and bad stories about every one elses transmissions. Then look at the prices and compare. Shep also has the best customer service you could ask for and he gets the job done quick.

 

[gsx951]

I own a TRE tranny and have had service performed on the same and could not be more pleased. A recent rebuilt was done and the transmission was back in my hands in 24 hours. Could anyone ask for more?

With FWD, wheel hop is the enemy and will kill any gear box, no matter who builds it.
Make certain you have the car set up right or your going to end up back where you started.

 

[Awdboost]

I'm built by TRE.. Love his work.

 

[civic619]

Apprciate the feedback guys.

Hey AWDBOOST and GSX 951, Im assuming you guys are AWD.

-Would you mind sharing your experience dealing with Jon over at TRE?
-How was the process from start to finish?
-How long did Jon take?
-Any issues that came about?
-What upgrades did you go with?
-Any core exchange involved?
-Price if you wish to disclose so?

-Overall performance of the transmission?
-What kind of oil are you using?
-Your estimated HP output?

-Can you even compare a built TRE AWD tranny to a TRE FWD tranny in terms of
durability?

-Did any of you guys opt for the taller 8% or 15% 5th gear? if so, how do you like it? Where is your RPM on the freeway at 70mph?

Sorry to bombard you all with these questions. I hope you can help me out and hook a DSM'er up with some infoooo.

 

[gsx951]

-How was the process from start to finish?
Jon's a very cool guy; an organized technician. Things went smoothly. I had some ideas as to what I wanted and allowed Jon to steer my decisions on things I was foggy on.
I was building a 2.3 with a Green and new that I would need more than a worn out stock gear box.

-How long did Jon take?
I was waiting on a tardy engine parts supplier and allowed Jon all the time he wanted.

-Any issues that came about?
No

-What upgrades did you go with?
Everything..... GVR-4 first 10% taller 5th double syncros for everybody and a 4 gear spider.

-Any core exchange involved?
Yes, my old ratty tranny.

-Price if you wish to disclose so?
It's been a while but I think it was $3.700. It was the full TRE race trans will everything on the menu.

-Overall performance of the transmission?
Very happy with this thing. Shifting is great.

-What kind of oil are you using?
Pennzoil Syncromesh.

-Your estimated HP output?
Never been on a dyno or track but it's a 2.3 with a ported head, huge FMIC Green turbo, Magnus intake.....see the blah,blah in my profile. DSMlink says last recorded 0 to 60 was 3.7 seconds spinning all four tires all the way. Gobs of hp and torque on a daily driven car.

-Can you even compare a built TRE AWD tranny to a TRE FWD tranny in terms of
durability?
I'm not able to comment on FWD stuff. My last FWD was a 76hp '85 Civic "S"

-Did any of you guys opt for the taller 8% or 15% 5th gear? if so, how do you like it? Where is your RPM on the freeway at 70mph?
The 10% taller 5th is saving me money on gas. I do very little highway miles. I'll make a note to observe rpm at 70mph.

 

[Awdboost]

-How was the process from start to finish?
It was fine. I went in person to drop my trans, Jon is awesome.. He taught me so much about my gear box. Every time I go up I'm excited, because of all the new info I learn from him.

-How long did Jon take?
John take about 2 week.

-Any issues that came about?
None.

-What upgrades did you go with?
The works

-Any core exchange involved?
No

-Price if you wish to disclose so?
I forget.

-Overall performance of the transmission?
Shift smooth and never had any gears lock me out.

-What kind of oil are you using?

BG

-Your estimated HP output?

400+ on the street
560+ on race gas

-Can you even compare a built TRE AWD tranny to a TRE FWD tranny in terms of
durability?
Ya.. They are different due to Mitsubishi. On AWD the 4th gear is smaller and weaker. On FWD 3rd gear is smaller and weaker. There are more.. Call jon and he can tell you. My freind is running a AWD trans in his FWD.

-Did any of you guys opt for the taller 8% or 15% 5th gear? if so, how do you like it?
NO, I kinda wish I did thou.

 

[Nanan]

-Would you mind sharing your experience dealing with Jon over at TRE?

I went to TRE's shop in person to deliver my trans, I watched Ming tear down the trans and toss it into the hot tank. After that I talked to Jon while he was working on building a tranny for an Evo and asked him about upgrades and needs.

-How was the process from start to finish?
-How long did Jon take?

I dropped the tranny off on a monday, picked it up the next week on tuesday.

-Any issues that came about?

Nope

-What upgrades did you go with?

Double Syncro everything, heavy shift rail/fork 1-2, tornington bearings on the gearstacks and diffs. I wish I had the 10% taller 5th gear done now, maybe next time I need a tranny rebuilt.

-Any core exchange involved?

Eh kinda, the tranny was rebuilt.

-Overall performance of the transmission?

Shifts like butter at 6500rpm

-What kind of oil are you using?

BG SyncroMesh

-Your estimated HP output?

Eh prob in the 250 range.

-Can you even compare a built TRE AWD tranny to a TRE FWD tranny in terms of
durability?

When I was talking to Jon one of his other workers was in the middle of transforming an AWD 2g tranny into a FWD tranny. Jon said that the gearing on the AWD is a great setup for the FWD guys and that the gears are stronger.

 

[gsx951]

Keep in mind that this is an AWD car but the observed rpm at 70mph was 2,700 with the 10% taller 5th gear on Kumho MX 235/45/17 tires.

 

[wishihadatalon]

Shep tranny no doubt about it. I have never heard or seen one bad thing about his transmissions. On the other hand I have heard good and bad stories about every one elses transmissions. Then look at the prices and compare. Shep also has the best customer service you could ask for and he gets the job done quick.

Then you don't hear enough
I have tre parts in my tranny. Shifts smooth when the clutch system is working good.

 

[99gst_racer]

I have one of the Shep tranny's and I too opted for the torsion style (Quaife) diff. I love it. I drove there and dropped it off. It took him one day to tear it down and call me with my options. It took a business week for the Quaife to come in and another 2-3 days for him to build the tranny, then I drove there and picked it back up. I spent about $2400.

I'm nowhere near 500 HP, but I would guess I'm close to 320-350HP. And boy is traction improved with this set-up. I lose traction in first gear only and one I hit second, there's not tire spin whatsoever. Before the LSD, I could spin through 1st and 2nd and bark them into 3rd. Now I can't even bark them into 2nd, and I'm making more power than before. If you are building a street car, I would highly recommend the Quaife torsion LSD.

And the tranny - It shifts beautifully at 7200 RPMs. I haven't had a single problem with anything since. It's by far one of the best upgrades on my car yet..... As far as TRE vs. Shep: They both offer an excellent product. Pricing is a little different, and obviously everyone has the favorites, but I believe you would be satisfied with either one.

PS - either way you go, definitely get the LSD.

 

[civic619]

I have one of the Shep tranny's and I too opted for the torsion style (Quaife) diff. I love it. I drove there and dropped it off. It took him one day to tear it down and call me with my options. It took a business week for the Quaife to come in and another 2-3 days for him to build the tranny, then I drove there and picked it back up. I spent about $2400.

I'm nowhere near 500 HP, but I would guess I'm close to 320-350HP. And boy is traction improved with this set-up. I lose traction in first gear only and one I hit second, there's not tire spin whatsoever. Before the LSD, I could spin through 1st and 2nd and bark them into 3rd. Now I can't even bark them into 2nd, and I'm making more power than before. If you are building a street car, I would highly recommend the Quaife torsion LSD.

And the tranny - It shifts beautifully at 7200 RPMs. I haven't had a single problem with anything since. It's by far one of the best upgrades on my car yet..... As far as TRE vs. Shep: They both offer an excellent product. Pricing is a little different, and obviously everyone has the favorites, but I believe you would be satisfied with either one.

PS - either way you go, definitely get the LSD.

Thanks for the reply! What exactly did Shep do to your tranny aside from the LSD upgrade and rebuild? Any performance mods? What is your trannys potential in terms of power output? Do you know if he has the 5th gear option?

 

[missouri_dsm]

Then you don't hear enough

I would love to see a link to a thread about a bad experience with a shep transmission. I have searched and never found any. Maybe I dont search hard enough. Its kind of like santa clause, They might exist but I have never seen one.

 

[99gst_racer]

Thanks for the reply! What exactly did Shep do to your tranny aside from the LSD upgrade and rebuild? Any performance mods? What is your trannys potential in terms of power output? Do you know if he has the 5th gear option?

It's been so long; I can't remember everything..... I believe I got the basic rebuild. He also installed a brand new input shaft (if I remember correctly). My car is just a street car that sees occasional track use and it has definitely proven it's potential for that. John does offer the taller 5th option but I did not opt for it. I really wish I would have now though......

Shep's customer service is impeccable. When I arrived to pick it up, he showed me the damaged internals of the trans and he explained how and why it all happened. Then he explained everything that he did to my trans (which I no longer remember ). Then he took me over to his trailer and let me climb in and sneak a peek at the Talon.

 

[civic619]

I think I may end up going with Shepherd. I tried to call TRE but I get no answers and no response on emails. I know they have been on vacation last week and sux because my car broke last week.

on a good note, I just got off the phone with John Shepherd and he is a very cool guy. I told him what I wanted and suggested I go with a tranny with a HD 3-4 and a LSD. The LSD was not a quiaffe (SP?) but was substantially cheaper. I am kind of wary about this because I have heard nothing but GOOD about the Quiaffe LSD and their lifetime warranty etc.

Does anyone know what kind of LSD John is using? I asked him and he said a no name brand LSD that is holding up pretty well, identical to quiaffe and has had no complaints. He said he has sold over 25+ units without any issues.

I have my two cores already boxed up and ready to be shipped out, the decision factor is on who to send it to... TRE or Shepherd. Right now I am pretty much running out of time and patience. My car is a daily driver and need it back on the road asap. Sheps turn around time, as I asked him the question he chuckled...is pretty quick, less than a week. That was a plus for me.

I am pretty much 90% on Shep but the only thing holding me back is the LSD issue. Would it be smart to go with this No name LSD or spend the extra hundred bucks on a the Quiaffe????

Again, thanks for all your input.

 

[99gst_racer]

I thought John used to run a Kaaz LSD..... He must have switched.

If the Quaife is only a hundred bucks more than the no-name, then I would go for the Quaife. If the price difference was $400+, then I would probably opt for the no-name; especially if Shep praises it.

You could always try a Kaaz. I believe they are running about $400 cheaper than the Quaife (or at least they were when I bought my Quaife).

 

[wishihadatalon]

I would love to see a link to a thread about a bad experience with a shep transmission. I have searched and never found any. Maybe I dont search hard enough. Its kind of like santa clause, They might exist but I have never seen one.

I dont know about threads but last time I was at TRE they had a tranny sitting there that Shep refused to take back because he couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. Needless to say Jon took care of him at tre. Not saying everyone will have the same experience as this person and they both make good tranny's. As for TRE not answering their phone EMAIL them. Im sure if you are interested then leave your number and he will call you. TRE has a small crew and it just got smaller with Ming going back to his home country. But Jon gets to emails same day everytime I email him.

 

[gsx951]

Ming is a very cool guy. I think everyone who's ever met him will miss him.

 

[Al_Scrap_Iron]

Go with Shep.

AL

 

[Dtab123]

well in my experiance i dont wanna talk about tranny qualty i just have a word to say about shep service they did'nt want to help with anything i had cash fro the tranny. heres the story. i called them i did'nt nee4d the full race tranny and i told them what specs i need and everything and all the dude could say is that he can't help me and that i should go somwhere else now i don't know the guys but talk about good customer service and i asked him about the rebuild and he just said that i can't help you.
so from my point of veiw it's not worth the hassle i have a tre now and it's a good tranny no problems on or off the track.