First time out with the TA61, LC1

[Keller]

Given who built the trans, I would think the tube is there. And given how it shifted, it should have been there.

Maybe just TV misadjustment...

[Keller]

I've changed to the MotoTron 60# injectors. Also dropped the pan to install a new pan gasket to cure the leak, and to have a look inside.

As expected, I have some clutch shards inside. Not sure if its more than I should expect or not. Any thoughts? This is probably 20 brake launches worth.

Starting to think that the whole transbrake thing is basically a bad idea. It hasn't resulted in great launches, though it does keep the car still and not creeping through the lights at launch. What else it does seem to do is shell a set of clutches in a short time when used at the track.

So...not yet sure if this or a misadjusted TV is the reason for the funny shift behavior.

[kenmosher]

That looks like a LOT of clutch material for the short time you've been running it ...

Also, I've never liked the brakes on the 200-4R ... awfully hard on the trans AND it's a totally different "shock" to the drivetrain vs. foot braking.

[PaCemkr86]

all transbrakes will be hard on the trans and driveline,

The trans will hold up fine, if the trans is built properly and the transbrake is
operated properly
You know as well as i do, there is only a handful of people in the US that can build those 200-4rs to last
We have had over 150 20 psi t brake launches on the 87 limited, and the fluid still looks great

Its all about having the right converter and good trans builder

[Keller]

Originally Posted by PaCemkr86

Its all about having the right converter and good trans builder

I'm trying. I'm trying...

The fluid was actually nice and red. It didn't smell like a rotting corpse and have the consistency of chewing gum...like the last builder I used. So there is some hope here.

I'll fill it up tonight and take it out tomorrow. If it feels OK, I might take it to the track Tuesday night. At least the weather won't be like a sauna.

[Keller]

So I took the car out on Tuesday.

Had misfires almost as soon as I left home. At least I thought they were misfires. Odd, because I checked the coil and module with the Casper's tester thoroughly. It was "chugging" almost unbearably a good deal of the way to the track. I tried a few different things, including disconnecting the MAF (no change - not a MAF problem), dragging the brake (no change - not a TCC problem), and swapping the TT chip to a Red Armstrong chip. The chip change seemed to clear things up. Or at least that is what I thought. So I pressed on and made three runs once I got there. Boost was set at 25-27 PSI for all runs. Still no working EGT. I tried connecting to the meter, and it was completely flat.

Still having issues getting PowerLogger to record runs. Thought I understood all the key sequences and such; apparently not. I managed to record one run, then record right over it the next time. But only with the shutdown of the last run.

The launches were all 1.63-1.63. Didn't push too hard, and given that it was a mixed street and slick night, that seems OK.

The first pass was a 12.778 @ 100.63. The 1/8th was 7.94 @ 82.80. In general, it just didn't feel like it was pulling that hard, but I didn't feel it breaking up. Maybe I was focusing on other things. I checked the IC hoses and suspected several were loose. I got out the wrenches and managed to tighten several clamps a lot.

With no other changes, the second pass netted a 12.385 @ 104.28. The 1/8th was 7.718 @ 85.40. Yeah, I'd say something had been leaking a bit. This run I had data. The WBO2 showed 9.9-10.0 A/F, and .790-.800 O2. Yeah, a little rich I think. Not having the TT chip in, I took a full crank out of the fuel pressure.

My last run, which overwrote my good data from the previous run , netted a 12.404 @ 104.06, 7.741 @ 85.67. This was after a long wait for an oildown. The 60' was .002 over the last run, but I'm disappointed I saw no improvement from the fuel pressure adjustment.

On the drive home, the car still had a stumble or two.

So...
- I now have no issue with injectors being "overdriven"
- I have oceans of fuel, and need to stem the tide a bit - 10.0 A/F not cool
- I need to figure out how to get the PowerLogger to record runs properly
- I need to check the system for MAF to throttle body leaks
- I also want to check for a loose balancer and its trigger wheel
- I need to run a compression check
- Need to fit up a working EGT probe to PowerLogger

Only down about a full second from where I should be...

[PaCemkr86]

So your reds chip is burned for the 60# injectors?

[Keller]

Supposedly. I have new TT and RA chips for the 60# injectors.

BTW, Red has a pretty amazing price on the injectors. Flow matched as well.

[kenmosher]

They are pretty much flow matched off the assembly line, if they are the same ones we were having made. +- 1% in most cases.

Red has really done a lot of testing and verification with the original 60s, so he's very familiar with them.

You know, I hate to say it, but I wonder if you aren't starting to experience some bottom end problems or something? When my thrust bearing was going, my E.T.s went from low 11s to mid/high 11s on the same tune. Then one day it started making the dreaded "knock knock" noise and that's when I found out the thrust bearing was toast (and the crank thrust face). I wonder if the trans brake (break? ) might have accelerated something that was starting to get marginal?

Just throwin' that out there ...

[Keller]

Entirely possible. Been thinking of dropping the pan to stick a Duttweiller gasket in there and cure the leaks, but also to have a look. A little scared to know what I might find...

As it is, I already need to go through the entire front end. I guess every 22 years or so is not unusual. And it would not surprise me if the bottom end had taken a few hard licks after all these runs. Maybe it is just time to have a look.