Chris@CTA
Veteran CEG'er
Maybe this is in the wrong forum. Moderators, please move if not appropriate for this particular forum. After not having or seeing my SVT for almost a year other than the phone pics sent to me a couple of days ago. Will take more pics with a good camera or camera phone, and post here later.
For those who don't know of my car or wasn't aware of the repair work, the transmission in my SVT decided to throw the third gear synchros after 6 years of car storage and almost no miles driven. I won't drag this out, but basically I bought a used transmission off the forums, of no one's fault, turned out the transmission (with Torsen diff) was a dud, over $1100 in the garbage. CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK. Torsen was checked out is for sale as it is still good.Get my tranny pullled, send it to a notable local tranny shop, they pull it apart, determine that third gear components are failed, they can't source replacement parts, nothing available, practically everything discontinued years ago. Ford has nothing, tranny shop says I am SOL. CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK. In the end, I contacted Terry Haines, and after much correspondence, my transmission was pulled and sent to Terry for a trusted rebuild from the master himself. All said and done, all of tranny related work took around 6 months.
While at the shop, I asked that shop tune my car, inclusive of updating the fuel system, new injectors, no more FMU (Supercharged), dump the piggyback fuel pump and put in a high volume Walbro in tank fuel pump, smaller supercharger pulley. That part actually went without a hitch, except for having to try 3 different supercharger pulleys. Third one worked.
So, I have a Vortech version 2 Generation 1 splined Supercharger and jackshaft. I want it to be upgraded to the pin style Generation 2 Vortech Supercharger kit with jackshaft coupler. After months and months of correspondence, no go, machine shop can't do it, tried to build the coupler , can't balance, always some excuse. CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK. I asked the shop to contact Vortech, they don't have the parts any more, they don't do the upgrades to coupler and pin style jackshaft any more. I contacted Vortech, hoping they could help out their dealer with specs or something so that the shop can build a coupler for me. Maybe I CAN CATCH A BREAK. This is still TBA as the shop hasn't closed the chapter on this upgrade becoming reality.
The shop was now ready to run the car. A problem was discovered. The aftercooler was leaking fluid into the intake. Since the original one was custom made from years ago, there was no way to just buy another one. For this, a new core had to be sourced, some pieces from the original one had to be chopped off and rewelded, some made from scratch, all and all, this process took over 6 weeks.
This brings us to today. I was looking forward to picking up the SVT, driving it and breaking in the new parts. After major surgery, tranny rebuild, and updating power mods for the supercharger, I didn't expect the car to be perfect first time out. Of no one's fault, the speedo wasn't working, turns out the VSS and harness are MIA, somewhere between Canada and USA. Shop didn't notice this during the dyno tune. I noticed it the moment I drove the car. Related to this, Traction Control light was on. FYI, I have one of only a couple of known SVTs with factory Traction Control. No biggie, can still drive the car, just have to pace my speed with other vehicles on the road. Half hour into my first run with the SVT, alternator bites the dust. Guess that this happened because the engine sat for almost a year without running and the alternator being original, 16 years old, just decided it was time for it to quit. CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK. Called road side assistance, and after 3 hours from the initial call, the SVT is back at the shop.All day I was angry and yet disappointed. I waited nearly a year to drive the SVT. Needless to say, for the short time I drove it before the alternator problem and having the RPMS limited to 4000rpm for break in of the new clutch and aluminum flywheel, I had forgotten how nice the SVT drives. I asked the shop to bump the rev limiter a little higher for the break in period. They told me that they didn't want the engine to build boost during the break in to not put strain on the clutch and flywheel. I am itching to get the car back so that I can put more miles on it before the snow comes.
FYI, if anyone is interested in buying my SVT after it is 100% complete, PM me or email me. I will probably be putting it back on sale.
For those who don't know of my car or wasn't aware of the repair work, the transmission in my SVT decided to throw the third gear synchros after 6 years of car storage and almost no miles driven. I won't drag this out, but basically I bought a used transmission off the forums, of no one's fault, turned out the transmission (with Torsen diff) was a dud, over $1100 in the garbage. CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK. Torsen was checked out is for sale as it is still good.Get my tranny pullled, send it to a notable local tranny shop, they pull it apart, determine that third gear components are failed, they can't source replacement parts, nothing available, practically everything discontinued years ago. Ford has nothing, tranny shop says I am SOL. CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK. In the end, I contacted Terry Haines, and after much correspondence, my transmission was pulled and sent to Terry for a trusted rebuild from the master himself. All said and done, all of tranny related work took around 6 months.
While at the shop, I asked that shop tune my car, inclusive of updating the fuel system, new injectors, no more FMU (Supercharged), dump the piggyback fuel pump and put in a high volume Walbro in tank fuel pump, smaller supercharger pulley. That part actually went without a hitch, except for having to try 3 different supercharger pulleys. Third one worked.
So, I have a Vortech version 2 Generation 1 splined Supercharger and jackshaft. I want it to be upgraded to the pin style Generation 2 Vortech Supercharger kit with jackshaft coupler. After months and months of correspondence, no go, machine shop can't do it, tried to build the coupler , can't balance, always some excuse. CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK. I asked the shop to contact Vortech, they don't have the parts any more, they don't do the upgrades to coupler and pin style jackshaft any more. I contacted Vortech, hoping they could help out their dealer with specs or something so that the shop can build a coupler for me. Maybe I CAN CATCH A BREAK. This is still TBA as the shop hasn't closed the chapter on this upgrade becoming reality.
The shop was now ready to run the car. A problem was discovered. The aftercooler was leaking fluid into the intake. Since the original one was custom made from years ago, there was no way to just buy another one. For this, a new core had to be sourced, some pieces from the original one had to be chopped off and rewelded, some made from scratch, all and all, this process took over 6 weeks.
This brings us to today. I was looking forward to picking up the SVT, driving it and breaking in the new parts. After major surgery, tranny rebuild, and updating power mods for the supercharger, I didn't expect the car to be perfect first time out. Of no one's fault, the speedo wasn't working, turns out the VSS and harness are MIA, somewhere between Canada and USA. Shop didn't notice this during the dyno tune. I noticed it the moment I drove the car. Related to this, Traction Control light was on. FYI, I have one of only a couple of known SVTs with factory Traction Control. No biggie, can still drive the car, just have to pace my speed with other vehicles on the road. Half hour into my first run with the SVT, alternator bites the dust. Guess that this happened because the engine sat for almost a year without running and the alternator being original, 16 years old, just decided it was time for it to quit. CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK. Called road side assistance, and after 3 hours from the initial call, the SVT is back at the shop.All day I was angry and yet disappointed. I waited nearly a year to drive the SVT. Needless to say, for the short time I drove it before the alternator problem and having the RPMS limited to 4000rpm for break in of the new clutch and aluminum flywheel, I had forgotten how nice the SVT drives. I asked the shop to bump the rev limiter a little higher for the break in period. They told me that they didn't want the engine to build boost during the break in to not put strain on the clutch and flywheel. I am itching to get the car back so that I can put more miles on it before the snow comes.
FYI, if anyone is interested in buying my SVT after it is 100% complete, PM me or email me. I will probably be putting it back on sale.