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Lightning Racing Transmissions (Overdrive)

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Greez Lightning
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Posted - June 24 : 11:35a

There are many things you can do to make an indestructible racing transmission for a 2nd Generation Lightning (1999 to 2004)to handle 600 plus horsepower at the rear wheels.

But the achilles heal has always been the overdrive unit.

Stock Lightnings of course do not have this problem with only 380 HP.

So all these 10 sec Lightnings have to go through the quarter mile in 3rd gear or they will break the transmisson if they let it shift into 4th gear (0verdrive) under full power.

The problem is something called a Sprag Gear that is in the overdrive.
It breaks when the hard shifting built tranny hits 4th gear (overdrive).

It seems that in Fords incredible wisdom they decided to make this gear in plastic of all things.

But the fact is it looks nothing like a gear at all. Its more of a three inch round clip that snaps or slides onto the overdrive unit.
I know as Ive broken 3 of these.

The first one I was in Dallas and Austin for the Heat Wave but I didn't know you couldn't shift into 4th full power then. No one told me. Elvira made it home 1500 miles and gave up a couple of miles from my builder. It limped in to the shop.

Second one I forgot

The third time I was passing a 40 footer on a windy road in Oregon and had no choice but to keep accelerating as it went into 4th and broke it the third time. I drove the rest of the way to my destination in Vancouver and all the way home. Again it finally gave up in front of my transmission shop.

Sorry to rant so long but I wanted to give you some history.

Well now I have it blazened in my memory never to let it shift into 4th under full power.......... until now!

Sal at ACT Performance Tranmissions had a guy fabricate this part out of a metal. I dont know what metal as the sprag is very thin and cant be made thicker due to clearance.

He had many made but the number of fully built lightnings were to little for the manafacturer to keep making them.

Anyway they cost 1500 each and another 1500 to put it in as the entire tranny has to be dissasembled. And when I got around to do it there were none left.

Well Sal got the manafacturer to make just one more for me and he also made yet another part in stainless steel that will replace an aluminium part. He got the parts for 650 and because I put my trucks in Sals booth in shows he is putting in the part for me right now.

Besides the fact Sal is a wonderful man and a genius of racing transmissions I think he got tired of replacing all the trannys I keep breaking. LOL

So now I dont have to run the quarter mile in third gear anymore like all the other L's. I cant wait to see what new speeds can be reached in the quarter mile.

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water spider
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Posted Wirelessly - June 24 : 12:08p

Thats good to know Lynn. I was always told to turn off the OD when doing any kind of hard driving. I have heard that Ford put a plastic gear in the tranny but didn't know which one. I assumed it was the OD because of the statements made about turning off the OD in hard driving conditions.

Bryan

Tom in Tacoma
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Posted - June 24 : 12:55p

I can clearly remember Lynn telling me to take it out of OD before hammering Elvira. Fast as that truck is - what's OD for anyway. It hits 100 in 2nd gear anyway!

Greez Lightning
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Posted - June 24 : 2:39p

Bryan. Yup thats it. The Sprag Gear.

Tom OD means Oh God Ima gonna Die Its used for Hyperdrive beginning at 160.

Edited by - Greez Lightning on June 24 2:56p

Mark05KR
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Posted - June 24 : 4:47p

Quote:

Originally posted by Greez Lightning

Bryan. Yup thats it. The Sprag Gear.

Tom OD means Oh God Ima gonna Die Its used for Hyperdrive beginning at 160.

So when does warp drive kick in?

Greez Lightning
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Posted - June 24 : 5:48p

The only thing on Elvira thats warped is the driver and hes been warped since he was 5 years old.

Edited by - Greez Lightning on June 24 5:49p

offroad250
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Posted - June 26 : 7:58p

Are all the lightnings auto trans? No stick? I remember that concept lightning on the 04 body with 500hp and a tremec 6speed. badass.

Jason

offroad250
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Posted - June 26 : 8:02p

found it.

dunno about the interior color though...

Sorry to hijack! cant wait to see some numbers!

Tom in Tacoma
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Posted - June 26 : 8:24p

Numbers? You want numbers? Elvira is pushing 721hp - I can personally attest that she'll hit 100mph before you even realize it!

Mike
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Posted - June 26 : 10:15p

i can't believe you still aren't done with Elvira... lol...

I get bored way to easy, shoot, i have gone through 4 cars since you got her.

just switch that auto out for a tremec 6 speed and be done with it...

Greez Lightning
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Posted - June 27 : 8:30a

Off Road. No Lightnings never did have a stick. I did like the body style of concept Lightning. I actually hand made and used the Concept Lightning Logo in my bed.

Mike, Actually I stopped doing mods to Elvira right after I put in the Ostrich in the interior. That was over two years ago.
Adding the Sprag to the tranny was not considered a mod but was intended to save the transmission from any further breaks.

I would have moved on to another car or truck years ago but I have so much invested in Elvira I couldn't get half what I have into her. So I just decided to keep her and enjoy her myself instead of giving all my hard work to someone for a third of what I have into her.

Mike
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Posted - June 27 : 11:47a

yeah, i can understand that. i was just amazed you still have her.

i just get bored and need something new, no matter how much I've put into building it. you never get your money out of it so it's not worth trying to sell

Greez Lightning
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Posted - June 28 : 3:46p

Yup it kind of like a wife. Its cheaper to keep her.

I dont want to take a 100K or 120K loss on her.

Mark05KR
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Posted - June 28 : 3:54p

Quote:

Originally posted by Greez Lightning

Yup it kind of like a wife. Its cheaper to keep her.

I dont want to take a 100K or 120K loss on her.

Drive her till she dies. Then get her fixed up and do it again.

You have that truck looking absolutely gorgeous. Why would you ever want to get rid of her. If you have the itch to build something, start working on Big Bird. LEAVE ELVIRA ALONE! (please)

Greez Lightning
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Posted - June 28 : 9:01p

Mark, Rest assured Im just keeping Elvira as she is. I'll never do anything more to her. Just keep her in tip top shape.

As far as Big Bird Im done with him. I was talking to my tranny guy telling him it doesnt shift like Elvira. So he took Big Bird out for a test drive. When he came back, He said "Yes,, Ford spent a lot of money to make it shift like that. Its like a luxury car. You cant feel it shift. And you want to go and fuck it all up" LOL After laughing I said Ok we leave it stock.

I would never spend the money Ive spent on Elvira on a late model vehicle.

If I do anything it will be to fix up a 30's car. Like a 37 ford coupe or a 41 Willys.

Ive never done a hot rod and Id love to do one.

ford_trck
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Posted - July 8 : 11:16p

OOO a 41 Willy's thats my dream car. if you ever build one of those you will have to take lots of pictures.

MrSVTGal
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Posted - July 22 : 2:45a

You could increase the line pressure in the transmission with a chip or programmer (Diablosport will do it, probably others too). It wouldn't even cost much.

When we put the supercharger on the Expy, I upped the pressure a little to make it shift a little faster just to reduce wear and tear. The stock shift was so lazy I was worried about wearing out friction surfaces in the tranny. Now the shift is firm and crisp.

MrSVTGal

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