I'm looking for some honest ive had this transmission answers here, not ive read the website or my cars builder has told me this etc.

I'm rebuilding my transmission during the winter and like most evo 8 owners ive been told that to go faster i need a evo 9 first gear and if i really wanna step it up a different final drive. Both Jon @ TRE & Shep say. If you talk with Dan Buschur about the bushwacker trannys he says both are completely unnecessary and unneeded expenses. So im looking for some before and after data from people that have gotten the respective trannys from these builders. Differences in times at the 1/4, drivability, etc.

Thanks in advance

 

Buschur isn't lying to you. The Evo 9 first gear is only 2% longer than the Evo 8 one and costs $300+. Also, the final drive just is not necessary.

 

^^^ ya exactly! buschur knows a thing or two about these cars and they arnt gonna lie to you!

 

The nice thing about altering gear ratios is it's straight forward math. Not something that's subject to opinion or bias. Changing the final drive to one of the shep or Tre options will give you more mph per gear. As for weather or not you need it, that's up to you. All three companies build strong transmissions that have been tested and there are plenty if first hand accounts to be read.

 

well if thats the case with the final drive what would be the difference if i switched it out MPH wise. right now i can get to about 137 on a good day. would there be a significant difference and would my rev limiter need to be changed higher?

 

I'm assuming You're in 5th as you cross the line? I was shifting at 8k and crossing the line in 5th. Continuing to shift at 8k, but changing the final drive would probably allow me to complete a pass in 4th. I'm not really into drag racing and my traps were a bit slower at 123. Also your 2.0 will rev out higher than my 2.3 so the final drive option is something that's quite appealing to me for road race application as well. I believe you can find actual numbers for mph @ Xrpm in Ygear on the TRE or Shep websit.

 

i cross the line wrapping out 4th, you should never cross the line in 5th, way to much load on the motor

 

I agree, which is why for drag applications a 2.0 or 2.1 is a better choice. For me it's either shift, bounce off the rev limiter or let off the throttle. Hence the need for different gearing. If you reach a point where the rev limiter can no longer be raised safely then you'll start looking for other options. Tire height, changing the final drive, ect.

 

thanks for posting this,i was gonna ask the same thing as im looking to rebuild mine as well. I wasnt sure if it was worth the extra 300 for the evo 9 1st.

 

listen to dan, he has rebuilt my trans twice now. i couldnt be happier at how this car shifts! like a hot knife through butter

 

why twice? what happened the first time