S4 Tranny swap.
 

Finally got to take my SE out for a ride since I installed the S4 tranny last week--I've been busy. I was pleased with the tranny and can really appreciate the tall 5th gear. I had no problems picking up speed in 5th gear at all. For those that said the only thing you have to do is swap tailshafts, they are right. I used everything else on the SE tranny----sensors, speedo, slave cylinder, drive shaft, starter, etc. It was a fairly easy swap. What I am disappointed in, however, is the results from installing the light flywheel. The flywheel weighs about 8lbs, and with the counterweight around 11-12lbs. I did not notice a difference in acceleration. If there is, it was unnoticeable to me. It does rev a lot quicker in neutral, just sitting in the car. I'm sure there is a difference, but I expected to feel it in the seat of my pants.

Mike

You won't feel an improvement of a lighter flywheel that easily. It is more noticeable in upper rpm on a ported motor. Since you have a stock port se (heavy rotors) the difference would be negligible. Hell, the gslse is better suited to a heavy flywheel to maintain the mid-range torque it is known for.

I took her for another cruise this evening. It was getting dark when I was on my way home. I go to turn my lights on and lo and behold, no dash lights, marker lights, tail lights. I have headlights, and they will turn on and off, but they won't go down. The headlight fusible links are all good.

When I did the tranny swap, I disconnected 6 wires all together from the trans harness. Two are bullet connectors, two are plug in play connectors, and the other two I just cut and then reattached after the install. I had all of the wires marked with a piece of tape and #'s, which my helper managed to work off the wires during the install. I pretty much guessed on reconnecting them. I'm sure this has something to do with it.

Congrats on the tranny swap. I haven't gotten to drive mine yet, but it's nearly done now. Can't wait to experience the taller 5th and the quick reving!

If you're curious how those Greddy flywheels are supposed to behave, here is a friend's R5 13B. It has the same weight rotors as a GSL-SE. Here it is free reving. Mind you this is when it still had the clutch fan and the stock restrictive exhaust manifold holding it back. Even with those handicaps 8k was only about a second away!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQheBFzopKc

Thanks Jeff,

I would say that in neutral, mine revs just like that. The biggest noticeable acceleration difference is in 1st gear, which is to be expected. Let me know what you think after you take yours out for a ride. I think in 5th gear, I was about 400 rpm's lower than normal. I also like the slightly different gear ratios in 1st, 2nd, and third gears on this S4 tranny. I put Mobil 1 synthetic 75--140W in the tranny. It seems to be smooth. Advance auto had it on sale for $10+ a quart----I couldn't pass it up :-)