Ford C4 in an S13

[9sec240]

OK.. here is the scoop so far... Chris1 and I worked on getting the C4 into his car tonight and ran into just one issue that prevented us from driving it... The driveshaft is too long... I guess I spaced off the fact that I had the driveshaft built for an S14... Reguardless, the trans bolts up just as nice as in the S14 and the custom xmember works perfectly in an S13... I need to rotate the bolt hole circle on the adaptor for the bellhousing about a degree and a half to get the trans to sit perfectly level and need to do a simular adjustment to the xmember for the production parts...



Its impossible to see in this picture but the trans is not perfectly level.. It needs to twist 1.5 degrees clockwise to be perfect according to a trusty angle finder... Its not much.. but it bugs the hell out of me.. Most of what you see in this picture is the xmember... you cant see the Energy Suspension trans mount between the Xmember and the trans...



In this picture you can see the super slick TCI deep aluminum pan and the electrical hook up for the trans brake... Up front is a stock KA automatic bellhousing...



In this picture you can see the ES mount and the Lokar dipstick tube... between the bellhousing and the trans you can just catch a peek at the edge of the adaptor that makes this all work.. Billet aluminum CNC machined to allow a KA bellhousing to bolt to the C4 transmission... A custom torque convertor resides in the bellhousing that bolts up to a stock KA flex plate...

I just have to get a new driveshaft made and we will be testing it out

[LEMHEAD16]

Very Sweet Ivan! The KA has been needing a kit like this for a while now.

Is that on a stock S13? Exhaust looks stock

[9sec240]

Chris1's coupe is not "stock" but has no signifigant power adding parts.... YET

[srdrps13]

sweet bro...

[WDRacing]

Who welded the cross member...it sucks....lol. Really though, good work Ivan. Get everything sorted out so I can start sourcing what parts I'll need to do this same thing.

Also, I was wondering if you could explain how this transmission is controlled, shift points, trans brake...etc. I know your not busy and have alot of free time where you sit around and do nothing...

[1WheelWonder]

Ivan for president!

[Jookmasta]

good stuff. care to breakdown the cost?

[Structure240sx]

just what i could be using for my s13

[9sec240]

This specific C4 is built to the hilt... Its rated to over 800 HP.. Its set up with a reverse manual valve body.. what this means is that it will need to be shifted (there are no automatic shifts) and that the pattern is P R N 1 2 3 (forward gears are reversed)... We are using a B&M quick silver shifter to change gears.... Its a ratchet shifter... You can see Brad Davies car in action HERE... He has the first setup we made and is using a simular shifter... Both mine and Brad's C4s have trans brakes... A trans brake allows you to go WOT and not have your car move.. It does this electronically at the push of a button... When stopped in first gear, you press a button that activates the trans brake which puts the car in reverse ALSO.. with the trans trying to go forward and backwards at the same time, it locks your car into place... when you release the button, it lets go of reverse and your off like a rocket.... pretty pimp shiznat....

[WDRacing]

What??? No snappy comment...I may just have to quit screwing with you.

Are you guys selling the transmission adapters? Or better yet, what will it cost me to have you build me that same setup you have there, but for my S14? Aside from the install...I'll take that portion of the credit...heh.

[9sec240]

We are working on a total bolt in package... We will also sell select components for those that are putting the trans in a body other than a 240sx... We will also have a package that includes everthing but the C4....

We will have pricing up on the web site soon..

[WDRacing]

Just send me the bill for two then...

[Nismo_Freak]

Bleh, automatic.

[onosqv]

I have few questions :

1) Would there be a upgrade package for a 4th gear (or even more) - mostly for highway usage.

2) How is the downshifting on this transmission? compared to a stock auto... a lot rougher, smoother, faster, slower?

3) Any group buys for the first group that hops on this?

One of my interests is to use this transmission as a sequential transmission (basically a daily driveable, cheaper, less gears version of 6speed sequentials).

[WDRacing]

The transmission pictured above is a ratchet shifted unit. There is no automatic in the hands free sense of the word, there is just no clutch.

WD

[9sec240]

I have few questions :

1) Would there be a upgrade package for a 4th gear (or even more) - mostly for highway usage.

2) How is the downshifting on this transmission? compared to a stock auto... a lot rougher, smoother, faster, slower?

3) Any group buys for the first group that hops on this?

One of my interests is to use this transmission as a sequential transmission (basically a daily driveable, cheaper, less gears version of 6speed sequentials).

With a gear vendors over drive unit (about 2500 bux) you can have 6 speeds.. basically 1st, 1st OD, 2nd, 2nd OD, 3rd, 3rd OD....

With a reverse manual valve body, there is no engine braking except for 3rd gear... down shifting would be not noticed... flooring it and down shifting is instant.....

Not sure what we are going to do about sales yet....

[epokh]

Holy crossmember batman!...I am only disappointed by the fact that such things are far outta my price range. Very good stuff as usual Ivan. What's needed in building a C4 to handle 800hp?

[dsylvia]

so a, will this adapter thingy work on a manual? cuz a, i'd like one, lol.

[klattr1]

the adapter goes between the C4 auto transmission and an auto 240sx bell housing so that it will bolt right up to a KA24DE motor...

maybe im confused what you are asking....

[dsylvia]

i was wondering if theres a way to use a manual transmission instead of an auto.

for us 5 speed folk that dont want the stock transmission anymore

[nismofly]

if this was a manual itd be equivalent to a dog box, if im not mistaken

for that, write HKS a check for $10,000

[klattr1]

i was wondering if theres a way to use a manual transmission instead of an auto.

for us 5 speed folk that dont want the stock transmission anymore

adapt to what manual transmission though?

cuz the C4 is an automatic...but still would be fun to drive since you manually shift it...

[TurboChargedSE-R]

This is a great development for guys who love drag racing and S13s. Even a mildly built C4 can hold a ton of power, enough for most 'streetable' cars. A 3,500rpm stall torque converter and just the right turbo would be a wicked -and quick- street combo.

Nice work.

[takaramotors]

good info can we see pics of the motor

[9sec240]

Which motor?

[takaramotors]

the one the transmission is bolted to it is a KA-t ?

[dsylvia]

adapt to what manual transmission though?

cuz the C4 is an automatic...but still would be fun to drive since you manually shift it...

I dont know much about which domestic trannies are which. but i would assume there has to be a manual transmission with the same bolt pattern as the c4. or did all the vehicles equiped with a c4 only come in automatic?

[TheOne]

I dont know much about which domestic trannies are which. but i would assume there has to be a manual transmission with the same bolt pattern as the c4. or did all the vehicles equiped with a c4 only come in automatic?

the C4 is auto only.

you probably mean something like a tremec, like a T-56 or so, which are usually quite durable for high up cars, this 1 does not however bolt up to a C4 bellhousing.

[onosqv]

I dont know much about which domestic trannies are which. but i would assume there has to be a manual transmission with the same bolt pattern as the c4. or did all the vehicles equiped with a c4 only come in automatic?

A C4 will only help you compared to manual if you are drag racing and cannot shift consistently fast... or have a bad transmission. If you want a shifter kit for a manual, I believe Greddy sells a unit & there may be others.

The C4 is traditionally only used as a drag racing transmission. That's why I asked about the downshifting - I'm planning on using it for other purposes and was hoping that downshifting doesn't make a HUGE weight change/disruption like an auto transmission going from OD->3 or 3->2.

The C4 is not really an automatic transmission, you have to shift the gears yourself. It's like a sequential... but not the dog ear kind you see for rally racing.

****EDIT: I guess the C4 is classified as an auto transmission... So I guess the internals are built w/ reference to auto's we see in modern cars, and not some weird clutchless mechanical thingamabobber?

[nismofly]

like i mentioned above, hks makes a dog box if you want a manual