Another blown expy coming soon!

[toms89]

dude this thread is awesome! amazing work on this thing! def strikes the interest lol!

Thanks. Its interesting for me too, to look back at the progress through time.

the motor toar up my stock trans the 4r100 is same on the outside but different on the inside from expy to lightning i found that out the hard way

I know the internals are not the same. But it is a strong tranny rated at 1000 pd ft of torque. Unfortunately what many people dont realize is this is torque the tranny sees after the torque converter! Average auto torque converter multiplys torque from 1.8 to 2.5 times. (depends on coverter) So 486 pd ft or torque in your case x 2.5 = up to 1,215 pd ft or torque your tranny may see.

What I would like to know is what the differences are between the two trannys. Do you know specifically what failed in the tranny. The tranny generally will not fail as a whole. Some part failed leading to the "tranny failure". Did you get it rebuilt or just get another tranny? Need to know the weak links. Working with my mustang I am aware of all the weak links as someone has already been there... done that.. LOL This is uncharted territory. Far fewer lightning powered expys than mustangs.

If I knew what the differences are I could bring it up to lightning spec or better. I know a good tranny guy that rebuilds racing trannys and works on transmissions for a living.

 

[toms89]

I installed my " Killer Chiller " today and it seems to work well. This is basically a heat exchanger that uses the a/c for cooling. The intercooler coolant flows from the reservoir to pump to heat exchanger to killer chiller to intercooler finally back to reservoir to begin the cycle again. After a long drive the heat exchanger was actually cool to the touch and it was in the 90's out. Eventually I will install some gauges for the IAT (in lower intake) and the intercooler coolant reservoir to monitor its effectiveness.

I also replaced my stock tranny cooler with a flex-a-lite 26,000gvw cooler and left the radiator in the loop. The stock cooler was in sad shape. Badly corroded fins... I dont know how it was working at all.

Monday I get my new exhaust installed !!
Then Wednesday I get it retuned....get to add timing as motor is officially broken in.

So I am almost finished with my initial mods I had originally planned!! Hopefully get to relax and enjoy it.

But ......................... my valve covers are leaking This I don't understand this as I am certain I installed them correctly. I took my time and installed them while the motor was on the stand. Correct torque specs and sequence. I have since tightened them trying to stop the leak. Only thing I can think of is the plastic valve covers were warped when removed?? Or the old grommet/spacer/bolts are not allowing them to tighten enough to compress the gaskets. Well in any case I ordered some TFS aluminum valve covers w/gaskets. If I must remove them I want to install something a little stronger.

 

[panda24619]

sounds like you have pretty nice expo coming along! downer on the valve covers though, well should i say cam covers. haha. hope that the new covers fix the problem!

 

[alaskanexpy]

great build!

from what i understood the lightning used a modified version of the 4r100 behind the power stroke super dutys? may have been rumor though.

 

[toms89]

sounds like you have pretty nice expo coming along! downer on the valve covers though, well should i say cam covers. haha. hope that the new covers fix the problem!

Yeah.... cam covers would be a more accurate discription now that they are OHC motors.

They only leak when the vehicle is moving of course and never enough to drip oil on the ground. But they do drip right onto the headers collector area due to the angle of the motor when she is parked. So it smokes as the headers initially heat up after sitting overnight. Can be a bit annoying..lol

Unfortunately the "cam" covers are not easy to access on the expy/lightning. Too much stuff over the top of em. Just part of the joys of modifying a vehicle.

 

[toms89]

Just had the exhaust done yesterday. Complete custome exhaust from my BBK shorty headers back. All stainless, high flow cats, dual 3" to a dual in and out magnaflow muffler with internal x-pipe. The tail pipes from muffler back are 2.5" (help quite it down) with 3" tips. The guy that installed the exhaust was an artist!! I swear it could not have been done any better. I believe hes a little O.C.D. about it which was good for me. I will try and get some photos later.

I have posted a video on you tube... my first video I have shot and posted so be kind..lol

Although it doesnt sound like it on the video... it is a bit too loud for me. It went from sounding like the old volkswagon beatle (high pressure hiss/stock) to a big block race car when I get on it. I am going to see what he can do to help me tone it down a bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efK43D7ChaY

 

[JDMitchell]

I love how you ran your exhaust........ it looks familiar.

Everything looks great, now you just need to help me do a swap.

 

[walnuts4x4]

damn that sounds good.... wish I had time and money for a build like that... too many other toys...

but I like the way your exhaust tips are.... looks familiar...lol

 

[panda24619]

dam that sounds good. love that whine of the S/c. need to get a better camera or use an i pod touch and it would sound better. we could hear that exhaust.

 

[tallsville]

sounds good tom. need to setup a chair or table by the exhaust, then get in expy and romp on it to hear it what it sounds like. or get a friend and do some"drive bys"

 

[99 Expy]

Sounds good!! Hope you are happy with all of the hours and hard work you put into making it an even greater machine

 

[toms89]

Had the expy tuned today! I rode along with the tuner and he punched it from a dead stop and it just dug in and took off. She was pulling pretty hard. I got an inkling of the sensation of my mustang The 4wd was enabled by the way. After he did a bit of tuning I thought it felt much better. (part throttle) A little timing goes a long way. After we got back he asked if I wanted to strap it on the dyno. Ummm.... ok.

So now I got a video of it on the dyno. Its a 2 minute long video. The actual pull is in the last 10 seconds are so. Since I am only making 8psi boost I was expecting between 350 and 400 at the rear wheels. I will add more boost in the future but happy with 8 psi for now. Need to beef up the tranny before additional boost. The tranny was a bit slow to shift under full power which is a concern. He has the shift firmness settings maxed out in the tune. I believe my bands may be slipping under full throttle shifts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkLq2Eg9kTY

The smoke near the end of the video was coming from the tires. It was easy to see in person. Not see easy to tell in the video.

 

[litexpy]

Hi tom truck looks great the big difference in the trannys are internal the regular 4r100 has a 3 pinion plantery and a 4 bolt converter and a lightning 4r100 has a 6 pinion plantery and a 6 bolt converter, also the shift points are different,where is the valve cvr leaking up frt by the timing cover if so there is flat spots where u shold've put a dab of silicone top and bottom of the valve cvr if u did do that they would leak. Looks good sounds real good too, one day i'll get my all done and put it up too see still working on getting the paint work done hard to doit yourself and work a full time job, but worth the time and effort hope this helps.Good Luck

 

[toms89]

Hi tom truck looks great the big difference in the trannys are internal the regular 4r100 has a 3 pinion plantery and a 4 bolt converter and a lightning 4r100 has a 6 pinion plantery and a 6 bolt converter, also the shift points are different,where is the valve cvr leaking up frt by the timing cover if so there is flat spots where u shold've put a dab of silicone top and bottom of the valve cvr if u did do that they would leak. Looks good sounds real good too, one day i'll get my all done and put it up too see still working on getting the paint work done hard to doit yourself and work a full time job, but worth the time and effort hope this helps.Good Luck

Yes I used silicone where the timing cover meets the head. I just came to the conclusion that they are warped and or the grommets are just not as pliable as new so they improperly compressed the gaskets. Once I broke the seal when removed I could not get them to properly seal again.

I did know the converters were 6 bolt on the lightning and different stall I'm sure. Did not know about the 6 pinion planetary.. Thanks !

I understand about work..... Im an electrical contractor so I can "schedule" time to work on mine. But im getting a bit backed up (work) so now I need to put some longer hours to catch up.

Thanks and good luck to you too!

 

[litexpy]

No problem any time i can help i will try?

 

[litexpy]

did you get a hp reading at the dyno and torque ?

 

[toms89]

Yep... Its on the you tube description but you have to double click link to view. 378 hp & 457 pd ft torque @ 8psi boost.

 

[litexpy]

Sweet makes for a fun ride!!!!!

 

[boiler71]

Awesome job Tom!!! My wife and I can't wait to build out bottom end and see what numbers we can pull.

Just something about a blown Expy that is just awesome!

Congrats to you!!

 

[panda24619]

i cant wait to do this. ill drag my expo to MD to get it done right! haha