U7135 firmer shift mode.

[Wicked09]

Over the winter I did a cam in my 09 Challenger R/T. Then I added a 3200 stall Precision converter. Problem is I seem to be slowing down at the strip.I've been told I may need a Mopar Performance TCM. My shifts are extremely slow. I was wondering if I used the firmer shift mode in my Predator to test this therory if it will hurt the trans if I put it into firmer shifts?? I had to have a custom tune done when the cam was installed. Tim at Mr Norms did all that work. I just don't understand why I'm losing ET time and top end MPH.

[Mike_Levy]

Do it. Firmer, quicker shifts will never hurt your tranny. Slow shifts hurt it by making heat.

That intake, TB and shorties aren't doing you any favors either, and the Corsa is too big for a naturally aspirated 5.7.

An aFe intake would be better.
An 85mm TB is worthless since the manifold opening isn't that big. Now the air goes in and hits a wall. Get a ported 83.
Shorties suck all together, and don't scavenge right. Unless you're in CA, long tubes are the way to go.
And get a smaller exhaust. The 6.1 can't handle a dual 3" without losing torque, so theres no way a 5.7 can.

[Wicked09]

Ok...I have the original throttle body, can't do much about the headers since I need to fix the problem that started when I had the converter put in. That why I want to try the firmer shift mode to see if maybe I need a new TCM. If I gain back some of my time and MPH, that will give me the answer I'm looking for, I hope. As for the Corsa, It's a 2.5 inch system made for the R/T. All this stuff was on here before when I was running 12.7 @ 107. Now since the converter, I'm running 12.9 @ 103. That's my problem. Everyone said a cam/converter combo was a good way to go. So far, that's not working out to well. $3000.00 to run slower is not my idea of a good time. So when I firm up the shifts, does that just boost the line pressure??

[JonDiablosport]

The mopar TCM already has things like converter lockup and firmershifts programed.
What converter did you go with. seems like it is too loose for your power band. at what RPM is the converter flashing.

as well as did you follow the MTCM install procedures etc, You or someone else might have damaged the MTCM or something which would still shift etc but not like it should.

[Wicked09]

I have not purchased the MTCM as of yet. I went with the Precision 3200 stall I'm trying to see if firming up the shifts through the Predator makes any difference before I go to a MTCM. After the cam install the car dyno'd at 353.7rwhp and 364tq. I'm trying to figure this out and I'm working with Tony at FLP Performance in Naperville IL. He did the converter.

[JonDiablosport]

you can give it a shot but shift firmness may or may not increase torque convertor lockup.

[Wicked09]

In your opinion, should I have gone with less stall?? What would you suggest? Between FLP and people on the Mopar boards, a 3200 stall was what everyone said I should go with. I don't want to keep throwing money into the car if it's a converter problem. Does firming up the shifts with the Predator just boost line pressure and if so will that hurt the trans???

[JonDiablosport]

in my opinion you should of gone with a converter with a billet stator but they are also almost double the price. with your gears and the converter Im sure daily driving is sucking right now. where as with a billet stator for the power will handle a lot better.

the trans can take a lot more pressure than our settings will allow. the trans is build very good and will handle in the 500 range no problem above that even then it will slip but usually not fail.

if the shifts are not firm enough look into blue tops or a Builder bill valve body.

[Wicked09]

OK...I'll firm up the shifts and see how it goes. The car is not a daily driver. Just a cruise and once a month drag queen. Thanks for your help.

[dcweber56]

Do it. Firmer, quicker shifts will never hurt your tranny. Slow shifts hurt it by making heat.

That intake, TB and shorties aren't doing you any favors either, and the Corsa is too big for a naturally aspirated 5.7.

An aFe intake would be better.
An 85mm TB is worthless since the manifold opening isn't that big. Now the air goes in and hits a wall. Get a ported 83.
Shorties suck all together, and don't scavenge right. Unless you're in CA, long tubes are the way to go.
And get a smaller exhaust. The 6.1 can't handle a dual 3" without losing torque, so theres no way a 5.7 can.

His Throttle Body is tapered at the rear to match the opening on the intake

[Wicked09]

Well that's good to know. I reset the TCM adaptives through the Predator and fimed up the shifts. I'll take the car out to the strip in July and see how it goes. I also talked to Jack at Precision about the stall. He said he would have suggested a 2800. So if what I've done doesn't cure the problem, I'll have to lower the stall and hope that's the cure. Mo Money!!

[HEMI08]

Hey wicked09, did Tim at Mr Norms just do the install or did he help you pick the parts? I dont see where you posted what cam you have. general idea is to match the TQ curve of the cam profile to the stall of the TC. MAybe its in your launch, with a high stall TC you may be spinnig, or may need to leave harder. practice some and see if you cant improve your 60 foot, take notes etc. find a safeplace to practice launches, as you wontge to the track till june. when you do go to the track you will be able to launch HARDR, and leave QUICKER. I'd rather have a TC thats to loose then not lose enough. Also it shard to get traction with a high stal Tc with street tires, even if yoiu lower the PSI. You can always improve airflow with long tubes etc, btu I think you can get more out of what you have. Your TB is helping you keep it on the car. Goingot a 90 mm would be to big, but i have the same as you and It does exacly what its advetised to do, quicker resonse. Good luck

[Wicked09]

Tim just did the install and tuning. I have the VVT cam from Arrington Hemi. I've been launching at just enough to take the slack out of the drive train which was suggested by another guy on here. My 60ft dropped from a 1.8 or 1.9 to a 1.7 so the launch seems to be working ok. Had three straight runs at the 1.7 60ft. The trans just seems to be lazy in the shifts after coming out of 1st. In may when I went out I ran a 12.7 @ 107mph. After the converter install I couldn't get better than a 12.9 at 103. I'm running the Nitto 555R drag radials.

[HEMI08]

Do I understand that you installed the cam and the verter at the same time? Or did you run 12.7 with the cam, then added the converter, and now the car is slower. You 60 foot seems decent. When you launch do you go right to WOT? When you an 12.7 was the air differnent? cooler? Id suggest you datalog some WOT runs for your tuner, unless he did a dyno tune. Look at your WOT runs and see if you can see any kock, or loss of acceloration.
Id try all this and more before I replced a TC.

[Wicked09]

No. Cam first then lost time after the converter. Car was dyno tuned after the cam install. Feed back I'm getting both from Precision Converters and Arrington Hemi who I got the cam from think I may have gone to big on the stall. Both are saying a 2800 would have been better. But, I've reset the TCM adaptives so it can re-learn with the new converter. I don't race again until July 14th. If things remain the same, I'll probably have the converter yanked and tightened up to a 2800. Another guy I talked to said this, if I was running faster before the converter, then the converter is probably the problem. Makes sense to me. So I'll run it again and see what happens.