Street Racing the LS

[2005HotRodLincoln]

I've been told there are lots of aftermarket performance parts available for this tranny....
Though i have yet to research it.
New thread?

 

[BlackLS06]

At the end of the day, it's still a luxury sedan. The transmission wasn't built or designed for street racing, I'm sure. Although this drove me insane when I had my LS, It can be explained. Retiree's who were spending 40k on these cars off the lot weren't looking to have a sports car.

The Stype is also a luxury sedan and came with a performance transmission.

I've been told there are lots of aftermarket performance parts available for this tranny....
Though i have yet to research it.
New thread?

Its a common transmission used by ford in the explorer, ranger, mustang, etc.

 

[pektel]

I raced a Continental the other day. It was close, but I won. All the way up to 45 mph. Then we had to stop at the next light.

 

[2005HotRodLincoln]

http://www.cjponyparts.com/product....ign=shopping&gclid=CJOP4aHezrMCFexAMgod6AkAug

Maybe when somebody builds a 1200 hp 3.9 block LS. :headbang:

 

[05 LS8]

The Stype came with the better transmission, the ZF 6 speed.

Look at all the high end cars with the same transmission:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZF_6HP26_transmission

We got screwed by Ford.

+1
It's not even comparable how much better the ZF is in reference to the one in the LS.
ZF knows every time you are on the brakes and on the gas pedal. Extraordinary would be an understatement.

And, they are very reliable.

 

[2005HotRodLincoln]

+1
It's not even comparable how much better the ZF is in reference to the one in the LS.
ZF knows every time you are on the brakes and on the gas pedal. Extraordinary would be an understatement.

And, they are very reliable.

Realiability is key. Unfortunately reliability is not the LS's middle name.

 

[BlackLS06]

I think the major issue is with the older LS's transmission wise. The 06's seem to have very few problems compared to the rest. As long as the fluid is changed frequently. The solenoid seems to fix a lot of problems.

 

[2005HotRodLincoln]

My 05 had a rear main seal go bad. The dealer replaced it under warranty.
They took the car for 3 days which sucked though.
I coulvde replaced it myself, but having a rental while the transmissions out of your car really helps. They almost Lemon Lawed my car over it! I told them it was the rear main, they said they won't know for sure untill they look into it, and offered me to trade it in.
Other than the seal, I haven't had any problems (knock on wood).
I try to go easy on it, like racing from a roll instead of a dead stop.

 

[HDDave]

I think the major issue is with the older LS's transmission wise. The 06's seem to have very few problems compared to the rest. As long as the fluid is changed frequently. The solenoid seems to fix a lot of problems.

Just wondering what "frequently" is? I changed the fluid in my '02 at around 100k and never had any problems....

 

[BlackLS06]

Just wondering what "frequently" is? I changed the fluid in my '02 at around 100k and never had any problems....

Hmmm.

Looking around and it says to change it every 30K. I haven't done mine yet but plan to soon.

 

[04_Sport_LS]

The LS drives like a much smaller vehicle. A tuned LS with intake, exhaust, and a smooth shifting transmission can easily take on a heavy car making 350 horsepower.

A very true statement. On another note, I do believe the Hemi is optional on the 300s, but I didn't see any badging on my rival, So pobably the V6. But this again proves my point. Only 3.6L for 292HP. The LS isn't that far off.

Oh to have the ZF tranny...... Anyboody up to trying a swap???

 

[joegr]

Hmmm.

Looking around and it says to change it every 30K. I haven't done mine yet but plan to soon.

Ford says every 150K miles. I'm doing it every 75K miles. 30K was the interval for non-synthetic transmission fluid, so I think it's overkill with Mercon V.

 

[jony]

on a side note, i had no idea we had this many florida people around here, glad i joined

 

[Kumba]

You can truly appreciate what the LS is good at when you have to do an emergency dodge cause some prick cut you off in traffic. It just digs in and moves over. Biggest reason I have my LS still.

 

[Stopsign002]

Sigh, and let me guess, there is no way to just drop one in or I would have heard about it by now... (the s type tranny)

From what I've heard the torrie tune does eleviate some of the issues, is this correct?

 

[05 LS8]

You can truly appreciate what the LS is good at when you have to do an emergency dodge cause some prick cut you off in traffic. It just digs in and moves over. Biggest reason I have my LS still.

Couple months ago (when i still had the LS) i was driving up from South Carolina - no stops. Here i am doing close to tripple digits 2am at night, when a dead deer just appears in front of me all of the sudden. Went around it with no problems, so yea the platform in the car is amazing.

 

[dunndarryn]

You can truly appreciate what the LS is good at when you have to do an emergency dodge cause some prick cut you off in traffic. It just digs in and moves over. Biggest reason I have my LS still.

I agree with you. When I had my LS (and it was in good shape) that's one thing that always stuck out to me. I remember one time in specifically, I was being a stupid 16 year old and decided to punch it to make a light and turn left. Ended up doing 55MPH hitting a sharp turn and I didn't die. Lol!

 

[SoonerLS]

Ford says every 150K miles. I'm doing it every 75K miles. 30K was the interval for non-synthetic transmission fluid, so I think it's overkill with Mercon V.

The engineer who ran the calibration team on both the 5R55N and 5R55S for the LS recommends a 30K interval. When you consider that both slushboxen trace their roots to the 3-speed slushbox in the Pinto, it's amazing that his team was able to get them to shift as well as they do.

 

[SoonerLS]

I think the major issue is with the older LS's transmission wise.

My '06 has had the torque converter, valve body, and solenoid pack replaced, and all before the odometer rolled over 70K miles--and I think it's getting ready to need more work at 95K miles. It is not an awesome transmission, IMHO...

 

[SoonerLS]

I've been told there are lots of aftermarket performance parts available for this tranny....

That's possible, at least for the 5R55S (2nd Gen LS), which was also used in the Mustang from '05-'10. As for the 5R55N (1st Gen), I couldn't hazard a guess.

 

[BlackLS06]

My '06 has had the torque converter, valve body, and solenoid pack replaced, and all before the odometer rolled over 70K miles--and I think it's getting ready to need more work at 95K miles. It is not an awesome transmission, IMHO...

Thats not good to hear. I haven't had anything replaced at 77K unless the original owner did. And its not shifting as smooth as it used to.

 

[joegr]

Thats not good to hear. I haven't had anything replaced at 77K unless the original owner did. And its not shifting as smooth as it used to.

There are good stories to go with the bad ones.

My 06 is at 100K with no transmission issues. I had the fluid exchanged at about 75K miles.

My 04 is at 140K+ with no transmission issues. I did have to change out the solenoid assembly a good while back, as well as a fluid exchange.

Shifts on the 04 aren't quite as smooth as on the 06, but they never have been, even when it was new.

 

[LS4me]

There are good stories to go with the bad ones.

My 06 is at 100K with no transmission issues. I had the fluid exchanged at about 75K miles.

My 04 is at 140K+ with no transmission issues. I did have to change out the solenoid assembly a good while back, as well as a fluid exchange.

Shifts on the 04 aren't quite as smooth as on the 06, but they never have been, even when it was new.

Same here. My '06 is over 105K and my wife's just went over 61K. I did have to have the alternator replaced......... I guess all that city driving took it's toll.

 

[BlackLS06]

Hmmm. Guess i should just do a filter change and fluid flush and see what happens?

Only things ive replaced so far are coils, plugs, some cooling system parts and regular maintenance. I have all the gears still i can just feel the shifts more than before.

 

[Stopsign002]

Grr I wish the old owner had kept records. I have no idea if my transmission has been flushed. Another thing to add to the possible maintenance list...