SCCA Legal??????Transmissions??????

[Dawgfan]

Can we go away from the Tremec Transmission that is the weak link in our GTS cars and really all Panoz cars and be legal in SCCA GT2 class?

[panozracing]

no. GT@ requires the car to be factory stock. Its BS and we should petition the BOD in SCCA for a few things so we can actually win GT2 for a change.

why do you say its the weak link? I run the TKO600 with minor mods and it seems to run fine. I have not broken one in a while. They shift slow but they work.

[NZGTRA17]

Originally Posted by panozracing

no. GT@ requires the car to be factory stock. Its BS and we should petition the BOD in SCCA for a few things so we can actually win GT2 for a change.

why do you say its the weak link? I run the TKO600 with minor mods and it seems to run fine. I have not broken one in a while. They shift slow but they work.

And there is a fix for slow shifting = Liberty dog ring conversion. But is this mod legal? It would be the same trans with the same gear set but would just have dog rings instead of synchros.

Kel.

[Dawgfan]

I want to go to a Jerco or some other transmission. I blew one up this year at the Mitty and I am having problems know that I think is a bad/bent fork probably from trying to shift to fast. I have talked to several people and all say the transmission is not strong enought to put it through what we put on through road racing. I am wanting to run the Transam/SCCA Series some next year.

[panozracing]

The tko600 with brass shifter pads and carbon fiber lined synchros will hold up to 600ftlb of torque. I run in the low 500's and the tranny is holding up fine. Dog rings etc. Are not legal in scca gt2/ta2.

If you blew up a stock school car tranny it was the tko2 (3550) which i also blew up. The tko600 is a totally diff. Animal and can handle the power we are feeding it.

[boothkc]

We run stock TKO600 transmissions that outlast the engines. Our engines are 445hp and go 2-3 SCCA seasons (~100h) before getting refreshed. So far the trans, engine, clutch (8.5" Quartermaster single disc) have all survived just fine together. We also usually run 1-2 4h enduro races/yr.

Reliability is fine if they are not abused and built properly.

If you run a Jericho or other trans you will have to run SP or "cheat" in GT2, but anyone with eyes will win the protest.

Kevin

[NZGTRA17]

Originally Posted by Dawgfan

I want to go to a Jerco or some other transmission. I blew one up this year at the Mitty and I am having problems know that I think is a bad/bent fork probably from trying to shift to fast. I have talked to several people and all say the transmission is not strong enought to put it through what we put on through road racing. I am wanting to run the Transam/SCCA Series some next year.

Have a look at the Liberty site. I think that you will find that as part of preparing a road race Tremec they fit upgraded shift forks.

Regards Jerico's etc, I went down this path with my last race car. It was a classic racer with 500+hp that was fitted with an M22 Muncie. It got to the stage where I was sure the trans was costing me a lot of time due to slow synchro shifts and limited ratio choices etc. I fitted a Jerico with a Long shifter. Beautiful trans to shift but I picked up less than .5 of a second per lap. I never had any reliability problems but I have also seen plenty of broken Jericos (mainly fatigue failures in high torque applications).

I think Kevin is right when he says that the Tremec should last very well if properly built. It may be that you need to use a trans builder who is experienced with both Tremec's and Road Racing.

On another note, after having converted one car to a Jerico, if I was going to go down this path again I would want to get the benefit of more ratios (i.e. 5 or 6 speed) as well as having a sequential shift option. If you can go sequential and flat shift then I think you would see some real reduction in lap times.

Kel

[Dawgfan]

I agree with Kel althougt I know all of yo have at one time or anouther had issues with the transmission. I have always heard that the Jerico is by far the best and yes it would be nice to have the sequential transmission and I figure at my home track(Road Atlanta) I could probably pick up 1.5 to 2 seconds. Thanks for everyones input and I welcome all the help in making this and other off season changes/upgrades.

[Panoz26]

I am currently shopping for a new transmission - my 3550 is DEAD, Gone, Toast....
Have not explored the Jerico's - will have to do so - was/am leaning toward the TKO 600

Devin

[Dawgfan]

Also check out the Rockland Gear web site. I am also looking at the 6 speed Transzilla. I just don't think we will be using 6th gear very much. Just don't stretch it out that much and I run at Road Atlanta more than anywhere else. VIR may be the only other track unless maybe Daytona.

[NZGTRA17]

Originally Posted by Dawgfan

I agree with Kel althougt I know all of yo have at one time or anouther had issues with the transmission. I have always heard that the Jerico is by far the best and yes it would be nice to have the sequential transmission and I figure at my home track(Road Atlanta) I could probably pick up 1.5 to 2 seconds. Thanks for everyones input and I welcome all the help in making this and other off season changes/upgrades.

If you do fit a Jerico, take some care around the installation, particularly if you use one of thier 5 speeds. Jerico recommend the fitment of a trans cooler for road racing and I have had 2 racing aquaintances fit 5 speed Jerico's without coolers (sprint racing applications). Both suffered case failures (cases run out to about $1500 - $2000 USD).

Other boxes worth considering are Saenz and Quaife.

Kel.

[Dawgfan]

Thanks Kel, after some more research and a plan round table discussion with a couple of guys that help me we will make our choice. I really want a jerico but the transmission that Rockland Gear has is supposed to be the real thing. I plan on comparing the price of both and try to get the biggest bang for the buck. I know jerico if a proven product that has been around for years with very little failure and will take the punishment. One more thing. I am tired of hearing people tell me what a basturd child the Panoz is. I love drivening my old car and people don't understand how these cars handle and how much fun they are to drive. Yes, tires are a lot of money and other parts are too but it's a car that gets a lot of attention and I think that sets all of us apart from everyone else.

[NZGTRA17]

Originally Posted by Dawgfan

Thanks Kel, after some more research and a plan round table discussion with a couple of guys that help me we will make our choice. I really want a jerico but the transmission that Rockland Gear has is supposed to be the real thing. I plan on comparing the price of both and try to get the biggest bang for the buck. I know jerico if a proven product that has been around for years with very little failure and will take the punishment. One more thing. I am tired of hearing people tell me what a basturd child the Panoz is. I love drivening my old car and people don't understand how these cars handle and how much fun they are to drive. Yes, tires are a lot of money and other parts are too but it's a car that gets a lot of attention and I think that sets all of us apart from everyone else.

I had a look at the Rockland gear T56. That is a lot of trans for the power and weight of our cars. What does a T56 weigh? It must be up around 115lbs I expect. Another thing to think about is the internal rotating weight of the T56. I know racers in NZ that use Tremecs and remove 5th gear to reduce the rotating weight of the trans. Extra rotating weight = lost hp to the wheels. The 22 degree helix of the Rockland box will help offset some of this power loss but food for thought.

I cant afford to go with the likes of a Quaife or other flat shift capable box at present so I am likely to go with a TKO600 modded by Liberty with dog rings and uprated shift mechanism (forks and shifter). I am not doing big hours per annum in my car so I think that this box should be capable of providing good longevity even with the 480ftlbs of torque that I expect to have with the 369 engine build that is now underway.

When you think about the likes of T10's and Muncies that have been used for years in big heavy muscle cars that were only ever rated at 350 - 375ftlb torque capacity yet lasted well behind some big engines, a TKO rated at 600ftlbs is plenty of gearbox if the internals (shift mechanism etc) are engineered correctly. The light weight of our cars really helps with gearbox longevity as well.

Let us know what you decide and how the fitment and on track improvement works out.

Kel.

[Dawgfan]

Hello all. I will probably be buying a Rockland Gear T-600 6 speed. I am considering the 6 speed with Bull Gearing to quick shift. I talked to them and it takes them 2 days from the time you place the order until they ship. I have been told the price is just over $4K.