Transmission swap

[Tachyon]

It seems to me that the first limiting factor of the sho is its transmission. I have a 1990 in very good condition, (my grandfather bought it new and didn't abuse it badly.) Because I got it for free, I am considering using the money I would have spent on a car to upgrade this one. I do not, however, want to spend a lot of money on this and have something like the transmission limit me. Maybe I've just overlooked it, but I can't figure out how to get a transmission that will fit and handle, say, a turbo. Does anyone know what said transmission would be?

 

[boat]

I believe the SHO Guys down in Texas (Texan Tony is one of them, I think) made a gear set that can handle high boost without destroying your gears. I want to say it is in the $5k range.

 

[Tachyon]

Thanks. It's an MTX, by the way.

 

[speedysprocket]

There have been a few discussions here and there about replacing the MTX-IV. The biggest problem is the FWD configuration. Many transmissions will bolt up to a sho in a custom n-s configuration (dune buggy, ie) Best thing you can do is:
A) Rebuild the transmission with FIBER lined blocking rings. Somewhere between 90 and 91 they switched from using brass blocking rings, which are a big source of the shifting problem.
B) Upgrade to a rod shifter. Your 90 has a cable shifter, so as Im sure you are aware, the shifting throw is longer than most big rigs. The rod shifter helps to make the shifts tighter and the gearbox more responsive.
C) Drill a hole in the bottom of the transmission to use as a drain plug, and then fill with high quality ATF.

 

[rubydist]

^ all good things to do, but none of which will make the trans stronger or able to handle more torque.

 

[NovaSS]

not much you can do. The differental needs to be up graded or changed. You can have the pins welded dowb several way, pick up a used quaife or get a wavetrac.Some people have talked about using a mtx75 with quaife guts.

as for the original HD gear set, good luck finding them and if you do better luck with getting them to part with them. There was going to be another group buy but not enough people could come up with the $7500 for a gear set for a $500 car

Ifr you have unlimited funds I would pick up a complete Quaife FWD tranny and adapt it to the SHO. Last time I checked it was $12000 and figiure anothe $2-3000 to get axles, adapter plate and clutch.

 

[jayro]

If you want to make the car fun to drive and still maintain it's reliability (speaking in general, I know boost can be reliable...just less margin for error) I would make sure all the maintinance is done first. They get a y-pipe. If you plan on driving it hard upgrade the diff. From there focus on suspension and brakes. A stock engine sho with a tweaked suspension can be loads of fun.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[shomethe$$$]

gave up

 

[mcrowe3797]

Any update on this?

 

[JRA2000TL]

Where in AL are you located?