How fast can you make a automatic

[shofear3]

I was wondering before I get rid of my 95atx for a mtx, How fast can you make a atx? The reson I ask is that I really like my auto, its really clean, but I want a fast sho. I have had 2 other shos in the past a 91 mtx, and a 93 mtx, and there is a noticable difference in this auto. I am going to supercharge either care, the auto or the new mtx. But if the auto can be made QUICK ill keep it. Also what kind od 1/4 mile times can I expect from a auto supercharged compared to a mtx supercharged. Thanks

 

[yamahaSHO]

An auto can be as fast as money will allow. So can an MTX.

 

[shofear3]

An auto can be as fast as money will allow. So can an MTX.

Ive got the cask to make either quick. I just dont want to throw money away on the auto if its not worth it.

 

[ghostrider]

If you like your auto, and you can make that tranny bulletproof. Then by all means, make it go like ****! Them auto SHO's have a bad rap, but if it wasn't for an autoimatic SHO, I wouldn't be in the game.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

It's easier, cheaper, and more dependable to beefen up an ATX. The transmission is really quite stout once built. If I were building a seriously fast SHO, I would *gasp* build off of an ATX foundation.

 

[shofear3]

I just got off the phone with a couple of my local trans shops and was told that the auto trans in the SHO can not be built to take any real hp. They all said they would build it but anything over 250-300 hp would destroy it?????
Anyone have any idea's. Plus they want like 3000.00 to do it.

 

[KentuckySHOoff]

If you like your auto, and you can make that tranny bulletproof. Then by all means, make it go like ****! Them auto SHO's have a bad rap, but if it wasn't for an autoimatic SHO, I wouldn't be in the game.

amen brother

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

ATXs in general have a bad rap. Simply because of parasitic drivetrain components. If they didnt rob so much HP, Id love to own an ATX.

If I were interested in building a drag SHO, Id start with an ATX

I dont have any first hand experience with the SHO ATX, but if its like any other ATX, it CAN be built to be bullet proof

 

[ghostrider]

It's easier, cheaper, and more dependable to beefen up an ATX. The transmission is really quite stout once built.

What Mikey says right there is completely and totally true. For an ATX all you really need is a trans-go kit, probably some stiffer springs, and a good program for your computer for shift points. Probably some other parts that I don't know of, but I don't build trannies. Not sure on total dollars, but everyone loves FPS's trannies. And those go for about 3k. And they are pretty bulletproof. Now a MTX tranny. Well, start with a HD gearset from Josh, that's about 7 grand. A quaife for $1200. And if you road track your car, a custom pump and cooler system for lets say $500. Not sure on exact amount for that. And last but certainly not least, a good clutch/flywheel combo. for roughly $700.

So if you look at the numbers MTX ballpark # of $9400 for a tranny that will be bulletproof. ATX trans, would be 1/3 that cost. Definitely cheaper, and less costly maintenace. Fluid changes instead of clutch changes.

EDIT: And driveline losses won't mean much once you slap on some sort of forced induction. Since with an ATX, you can probably put the power down easier then an MTX. Especially in the 1320.

 

[yamahaSHO]

If you want to track in an MTX, you don't need a pump and cooler. Yes, the heavy duty gear sets are nice, but we have a guy out here that is running the stock gears with a Quaife. He making 500+hp in addition. The gears in his tranny have been shimmed tighter so that when the shaft starts to flex, the gears do not ride on the tips of the teeth. If you're just going to run the quarter mile, keep the ATX. If you enjoy open tracking, canyon driving, etc, I could not have anything but an MTX.

 

[ghostrider]

That list was for the all get out completly bullet proof MTX tranny. And about tracking the car, I could be wrong, since I don't have first hand experience, but I thought with a quaife, and doing lots of laps around a road course, your fluid heats up quite a bit. And heat is our enemy. Also has this guy ever blown apart second or third gear with his shimmed tranny? Who do I need to talk to to find out the how's, what shims, and where to shim in these trannies? That would definitely be a much MUCH cheaper alternative.

EDIT: I just noticed your from CO. Your probably talking about Pat's superSHO right?

 

[AutoSHO]

A fluid cooler is nice but not a necessity... I know of at least two SHOs that have been tracked regularly and extensively with no cooler and no problems, both producing 400+ hp.

And, quite honestly, I have yet to see an ATX even close to as powerful as some of even the basic 9 psi MTX cars out there are. I don't think they've really been tested yet. Ben Bentley's and Jason's (Kaotic's) are the only two Supercharged ATXs that come to mind.

Not to mention, for road racing, an automatic will get you laughed off the track.

 

[ghostrider]

I certainly agree with you Cris that super ATX Sho's are not as powerful as MTX SHO's..... yet. Not many people like the ATX as much as the MTX. And in general, when people think of street performance, they think standard transmission. Not automatic. Given time, if we can keep these old ladies on the road. I could see an ATX sho come close to if not beat a MTX sho.

 

[yamahaSHO]

IMHO, an ATX would be boring around the track. Powerful or not. I need to be able to select a gear and keep it in that gear throughout twisties. ATX's are choice for many drag racers. Power brake and mash the gas... Not too much to it. Of course, if you have lots of power, you'll have to feather it a bit.

Since the transmission has been shimmed, no gears have been broken. <knocks on wood> Prior to that, two teeth in 2nd gear were broken off. Launching a car and slamming it into gear is what really wears out transmissions. If you can avoid major shock, the tranny will last a long time.

I may shim my tranny when I start tracking my car as a supercharged car, but with the boost levels I'll be running and the fact I don't beat up the transmission, I think I'll be fine. A heavy-duty gear set would be great, but I could go through MANY used transmissions for that price.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

You don't want an ATX as a road racer and you don't want the 5 speed as a 1/4 mile racer. You haven't seen a fast ATX because the guys that build them, build them for road racing. For obvious reasons an ATX is not the ideal choice for a road car.

The manual transmission might be a little more entertaining to drive, but if I'm hauling my 3500lb *** down the drag strip, I'll be doing it with an automatic.

 

[SHO Dude]

The major difference between the power levels of MTX cars vs ATX cars is in the load losses of the ATX tranny. The MTX shaves about 16% of the torque while the ATX sucks up nearly 25% of the torque generated by the engine. This is mostly in losses thru the torque converter and the hydraulic pump. Simply put, it takes more hp and torque to run a ATX tranny. We build them strong and capable of doing anything you want them to, but it's a lot tougher to get 300hp on the ground in a ATX car than it is in a MTX car. My 400hp blown 3.0L '89 puts 325 on the ground. The same setup in the ATX car would only put 300 on the ground.

Our transmissions are buillt to take this kind of abuse. The shifts are even and identical. The clutches are desgined to take the punishment provided the cooling system is adiquite. Torque converters come in all different kinds of flavors, but the ones we use are the best in the industry. They ain't cheap, but they work and work well.

 

[95SE]

I spoke with Lentech about bullitproofing the AX4S. He said, they've done it, and its far superior than people think.

Cost would be around $3k IIRC, but have a warranty.

If you are not familiar with lentech, they are world renowned for building bullitproof mustang transmissions (AOD's, 4R70W's, etc..)

Jeramie

 

[stevemainian]

The major difference between the power levels of MTX cars vs ATX cars is in the load losses of the ATX tranny. The MTX shaves about 16% of the torque while the ATX sucks up nearly 25% of the torque generated by the engine. This is mostly in losses thru the torque converter and the hydraulic pump. Simply put, it takes more hp and torque to run a ATX tranny. We build them strong and capable of doing anything you want them to, but it's a lot tougher to get 300hp on the ground in a ATX car than it is in a MTX car. My 400hp blown 3.0L '89 puts 325 on the ground. The same setup in the ATX car would only put 300 on the ground.

Our transmissions are buillt to take this kind of abuse. The shifts are even and identical. The clutches are desgined to take the punishment provided the cooling system is adiquite. Torque converters come in all different kinds of flavors, but the ones we use are the best in the industry. They ain't cheap, but they work and work well.

So when rebuilding, theres no way to reduce this torque loss on the ATX? (besides underdrive pulleys, which arent in the tranny, but whatever)

 

[shoble]

I have been racing my '94 ATX SHO all year in the SCCA. What I have found that helps is using B&M tranny fluid. It cost around $70 to do the trans service. The fluid is a blue color which was weird. I have noticed a dramatic change from the standard fluid and if it cost me $70 everytime when I do a tranny service, I will. I also have a chip so that I can get the rpm's up to 7600 k. I have heard that when you have an ATX, you should run 2 coolers. The problem with ATX's is that they just get to dang hot and burn the forward clutches. Anyway you can get your trans to cool down, the better. I have put 3 tranny's in my car in as many years so I have a good idea what happens when you race your SHO. After the 3rd tranny, I did a lot of research and changed a lot of things with my car. I have driven a MTX SHO as well in autocrossing. I hate to admit it, but you get a better hole shot than you do with a ATX. But after you start, I really didn't notice much difference. Another important tip- If you want your ATX to last as long as possible, when you are racing, put the car in drive, hit the overdrive off button, then shift down to manual low one-then go for it! Don't ever, ever, ever, start off in drive. This will wear your tranny out fast!~shogirl33
P.S. MTX's have a bad rap too. I have 2 friends who have lost 3 trannies just this year. Every time they blew up the case! :ruhroh:

 

[stevemainian]

Another important tip- If you want your ATX to last as long as possible, when you are racing, put the car in drive, hit the overdrive off button, then shift down to manual low one-then go for it! Don't ever, ever, ever, start off in drive. This will wear your tranny out fast!~shogirl33

Rephrase that, because it made no sense to me.