It's been suggested by a few people that I post up some impressions, etc. of this final drive gear to be archived.. so here goes..

I purchased the kit from Yasu at http://www.racingcraft.com about two weeks ago. Reason I went with him was 1) word of mouth and 2) he was the only person with an ATS that was IN STOCK and ON THE SHELF ready to ship. I did not feel like waiting, and I had it Fed Ex Next Day delivery.

Install was a pain in the ***. Sorry, I don't ENJOY pulling transmissions in my spare time, but hey, you gotta do it in order to put the final drive in.

Once the tranny is apart, you better know what you're doing otherwise you'll be in trouble. Personally, I had my friend Josh do the internal tranny work for me. He's an excellent mechanic and has lots of experience with transmission work.
This was my first time inside of a tranny, and coming from me, it is a LOT more complicated than building a shortblock.

Only real pain was changing the counterhshaft out. Gotta take every gear, synchro, spacer, etc off. The actual FD gear was easy.. Just remember (ask D) the bolts are reverse thread! DO NOT loosen them counterclockwise. Tighten them in order to loosen them.

I decided to install a GS-R 5th gear at the same time. This was easy considering everything else was apart. You can purchase the GS-R 5th gear from me (shameless plug )

At the same time, I also installed my Comptech 6.7lb. aluminum flywheel and Clutchmaster Stage 1 clutch.

Bolted the tranny back up and I was ready to roll.

IMPRESSIONS: Holy ****. That's all I can say to describe it.

Between this final drive and the flywheel, the car revs up fast. Almost motorcycle fast. It's sick.

My motor is currenty at 182.0/131/5 at the wheels, and first gear is almost pointless. Even with my Toyo Proxes T1S tires. As soon as VTEC kicks in, the tires spin hard to redline. Shift into second and they are still spinning a good amount. This is the only thing I don't like about it. Traction is and my 60ft is a perfect example. Best I could get was a 2.33 on radials, where I could easily put low 2.2's down with the stock R tranny.

Cruising around town is awesome. I'm still waiting for someone to pull along side me in 45-50mph traffic and try me. At 45mph, drop third, and you're in the meat of the powerband. Shift 4th and that **** still pulls like crazy.

Fifth gear was a good choice. Granted, the drop in rpm from 4th to 5th is almost 1000rpm.. but it's fine.

According to my calculations, the GSR 5th w/ 4.929 and my 195/50R15 tires, I am 200rpm higher than a stock ITR. Not bad on the highway at all. I just raise my VTEC from 5100 to 5700 when I am on the interstate.

Gas mileage has suffered, but who cares. I never give a **** about gas mileage. If I did, I would be driving a stock CX or Insight.


Bottom line is.. GET THIS. Phenomenal.

Oh, and for those interested in feedback on my clutch/fly combo.. I love it. Stage 1 clutch only chatters in reverse. Grabs super hard on upshifts, and it hasn't slipped yet.
The flywheel is great. RPM's rise and fall easily. Makes it much easier to match revs when downshifting.

Any further questions, email me or post 'em up.

 

Mike: The tranny looks complicated, but it's really simple. Also, for anyone thinking about doing this, just make sure you have the helms and you'll be able to put the tranny back together fine. You will beed a bearing puller and a friend and two mallets (or use a press) to make it easy though.

Mike: Take me for a ride at the dynoday in your car, I wanna see what a 4.929 feels like

 

errrrrrrrr "need" not "beed"

 

Yea, I'll take you for a ride. It's sick.

Is there a definite date for the dyno? I have a wedding to go to on the 12th of January.

 

yeah.. it's jan 12th.... doh.. what time is da wedding?

 

What the hell do you think the is for?

Post *****.

sackdz-pot calling the kettle


[Modified by sackdz, 10:41 AM 12/17/2001]

 

hey sackdz, i'll have two NEW pics of the cage for you tomm! lol.

 

I thought I was finished modifying my car, why did you have to say you liked it, here I go spending more money... blah...

great post.

Bryan

 

Mike K - how's the pull on 4th gear? did you get a chance to WOT in 4th? I ask this Q:, 'cuz I hate stock 4th with stock FD. It take damn long to rev... almost impossilbe to use that gear to pass at 80 mph (3rd would run out too quickly @ 80mph). Thank for your great review, once again.

p.s. does anyone make a shorter 4th gear (numerically taller 4th) than stock?

 

As an example, my friend was riding with me, and I was getting on it pretty hard.
He has a 00 hatch w/ B18C5 and and 12:1 compression.

He was like "wow, your 3rd gear pulls hard. Feels like my car."

I was like "that was fourth gear, not third"

He **** a brick. He was like "I'm getting that ************ tomorrow! I want one!"

 

Damn, I wonder what 3rd would do now.

 

Mike, inquiries:

Could you elaborate on your current setup as far as clutch and flywheel, motor internals and bolt-ons, wheel/ tire combo, current weight of the car?

I know you answered some of this earlier...

And did you drag test the fd? It seems your 60 ft times are now worse? I take it the fd didn't improve your 1/4 times...


[Modified by Black R, 12:19 PM 12/17/2001]

 

What in the hell is an ATS final drive?

 

All you need is the ATS first and second gear, that are tall as hell, and youllbe set.

Race car style.

Jeff

 

B18C5-EH2:

What the **** is that in your avatar?

 

if i had to choose between the jdm fd or the ats fd (damn thats a lot of letters!) i'd prolly end up with the jdm for two reasons:
1) its a lot less expensive
2) i don't like the fact that u can't hook up in 1st.....sure its cool....but kinda counter-productive

but....**** it must be fun!!!

jason

 

The ATS 2nd gear is the same ratio as stock. But they might only be sold in a set 1-2. If you can find just the first, get that instead.

 

Comptech 6.75 lb flywheel, Clutchmaster Stage 1
AEM intake, DC JDM 4-1, RS*R exhaust, test pipe, OBD1 Skunk2 P28, V-AFC, Topspeed ported head(11:1 compression), stock R cams
15x6.5 Regamaster Evo w/ 195-50-15 Toyo Proxes T1-S
2320 lbs. without driver, 2540 lbs. with driver, weighed with 1/4 tank of gas.
Indeed, the FD affected by 60ft. times because 1st gear winds up so quick.
Not sure what my 1/4 mile is now, but my TOTAL 1/8 mile time is slightly better.. so I bet my 1/4 is better.

I used to run a 9.2 in the 1/8 consistently w/ low 2.2 60fts.
Now I have a 2.33 60ft. and I run 9.1's.. so do the math, and if I get my 60ft back down, it'll be a huge improvement.

 

Doesn't the stock 2nd gear take a beating/ would it be better to get the ATS 2nd anyway? Aren't they specially treated to resist breaking?

this is my dream tranny set-up:
1st ATS
2nd ATS or ITR
3rd ITR
4th GSR
5th GSR
Final ATS

 

I wouldn't count on the gear's coating to be worth a **** anyway.

Kinda like the moly on a ITR/CTR piston.

Ever see those pistons after like 10 or 15k hard miles?

As long as you don't shift like an animal and grind the **** outta the gears, your tranny will be fine.

 

Slicks!

Thanks Mike! I can't wait to get mine in!


[Modified by Black R, 2:31 PM 12/17/2001]

 

I don't think u need ATS 1/2gear on the ITR since it will be the same ratios anyway. It's better to change the 3/4/5 gears instead or change the final drive.

 

Nobody answered my question! What is this ATS thingy you guys are talking about?

Oh, and my avatar is a pic of someone supposedly sticking their own head up their own ***. I got it from Rotten.com's f**k of the month club archives.

ATS? What is it?

 

Here is my question Mike K. If someone like myself had the JDM final drive already, would you still recommend getting the ats.

 

I think it would even more fun if you get the ATS 1st, 3rd to 5th and keep the FD stock.