Project SicMonte

[SicMonte]

FYI...updates coming soon. Life has been getting in the way a lot this year.

[SicMonte]

Hello? Hello?....anyone still in here?


It's been a while since I have done anything to my car. That last thing I was doing was getting everything together for this trans swap...and that is still on going. More on that later.

The other day while I was under my car I noticed that my front lower control arms didn't look right on both sides. The coilover was bending the lower shock mount and it looked like the ball joint "plate" wasn't straight anymore, again on both sides. Hmmmmmm......

[BigMikeIndy]

Ouch!

[SicMonte]

This is the lower control arm ball joint "plate" that was straight when I originally installed it.

[BigMikeIndy]

Whose arms?

[SicMonte]

I found out (the hard way) that SPC makes a spacer for the lower control arms so that this will not happen with the use of coilovers. Wish I knew that when I installed them, oh well.

My big questions is why is that lower ball joint plate bending?? It is much worse on the driver side than the passenger side.

Either or...I will need some new lower arms soon.......................hint, hint..............

[SicMonte]

whose arms?

spc

[BigMikeIndy]

Join the ridetech Nation program you will get some special swag and a discount on the arms.

[SSLance]

Oh my!!

My guess is the coilover is bottoming out on hard bumps and the spindle is still pulling up on the ball joint therefore bending the lower ball joint plate...

Regardless, something ain't right in the world...

[SicMonte]

Oh my!!

My guess is the coilover is bottoming out on hard bumps and the spindle is still pulling up on the ball joint therefore bending the lower ball joint plate...

Regardless, something ain't right in the world...

Yeah I agree....something ain't right here.

[SicMonte]

On to my other issues.....my automatic trans.

Before you all start asking questions about the T56...the swap is still happening I just need to get the 200r-4 shifting correctly before I can sell it.

That being said...ever since this trans was put back into the car from the broken forward drum/input shaft disaster it does not shift down into first when coming to a complete stop. It will take off in second unless I manually put it into first. I spoke with the trans builder and he thinks there is some dirt or debris in the governor that is not allowing it to go into first at a complete stop.

So naturally I got a second and third opinion and was guided to see if the governor has the secondary spring in it. This spring is normally removed in any trans that has a higher line pressure set up. so I decided to take out the governor and what do you know.....the secondary spring is already gone.

**Tech Tip: In a 200r-4 the secondary governor spring is the one that is held in by the plastic retainer. See the pic below.**


Fluid drained and the pan is removed. I also took out the filter for a better picture.





This is where the governor is located. It is in the rear of the trans and is held in by four (4) 13mm bolts.





Here is the Governor....





The secondary governor spring is the one held in by the plastic retainer. The spring is removed from this governor.

[SicMonte]

so my next course of action is to light a match and set it on fire....no just kidding.

I need to do some more research and find out what's going on here. I need to get this all fixed so I can sell my entire set up to help finance the t56 swap.

[Norm Peterson]

This is the lower control arm ball joint "plate" that was straight when I originally installed it.

Are you sure that they're not being bent at the endlink pickups?


Norm

[SicMonte]

no they are supposed to be straight. Each side is bent but the driver side is bent more...something aint right.

[SSLance]

I'm wondering what the tops of the shock bodys look like. I can't imagine that the bump stop hitting the frame would cause enough of an impact to bend the ball joint plate and the bottom of the spring pocket. Now if the shock bottoms out first, hard and often...that might be enough to bend the parts like that.

[howehot]

And this is suppose to be enjoyable, but moments like this take all the fun out. I'm have no idea what ridetech makes for the G body but I would see if they have control arms and if so, run there entire package. They would be designed to work together with the coilover and this should work in harmony.

Hope you get the trans figured out so you can get on with the swap.

[Nothingface5384]

Yeah I agree....something ain't right here.

Make me want to sell mine with your issue and along with the balljoint fitment issue..
ridetech or umi lowers may be in my future

any issues or regrets with your spc upper arms?

[SicMonte]

Make me want to sell mine with your issue and along with the balljoint fitment issue..
ridetech or umi lowers may be in my future

any issues or regrets with your spc upper arms?

My only regrets with my SPC upper arms were having to buy another pair b/c my first pair seized up on me!! I had Mark at SC&C install my first set and two years later I went in for an alignment and they were so seized up that they wouldn't budge at all. I had to get a whole new pair and when I installed them myself I used about a whole can of antiseize on them.

[SicMonte]

Dan,

ridetech makes an amazing set up in their Tru-Turn kit and I have already talked to them about it. We have worked together in the past plenty of times so I am aware of what they have, the quality and the all around awesomeness of their products.

That being said....UMI Performance has approached me about using my car as a test bed for some products so we are currently in "talks" about a whole new suspension set up while I still keep my ridetech coilovers. This is the route I am taking and it is just a win win for everyone. More on all that later.....

And yes....This stupid trans is just dragging me down. I think I am just going to swallow my pride and send the whole car to the trans guy and be like....Fix it b/c it hasn't been right since I got it back from you.

[Nothingface5384]

Dan,

ridetech makes an amazing set up in their Tru-Turn kit and I have already talked to them about it. We have worked together in the past plenty of times so I am aware of what they have, the quality and the all around awesomeness of their products.

That being said....UMI Performance has approached me about using my car as a test bed for some products so we are currently in "talks" about a whole new suspension set up while I still keep my ridetech coilovers. This is the route I am taking and it is just a win win for everyone. More on all that later.....

And yes....This stupid trans is just dragging me down. I think I am just going to swallow my pride and send the whole car to the trans guy and be like....Fix it b/c it hasn't been right since I got it back from you.

wow seized!? thats crazy

I look forward to seeing their roto joint axle ear bushings in your axle and perhaps Ridetech posilink swaybar end links to see if your car still lifts a tire!