I am a fairly experienced, agressive duner and am looking for a good used V8 Funco. During my search I am coming across many varieties of motor/tranny combo's. With the sediment that there is never too much tranny, what would you consider the Safe Zone and cut off for an S4S from a weight and power perspective?
If a car, fully loaded weighs in at about 2500lbs with a roughly 500hp LS2, is an S4S enough tranny or should I be limiting my search to an S4D or potentially more, as in a Fortin Wide Gear? Obviously keeping in mind budget allowances. I have found several nice cars with all the right stuff but I've been warned about an S4S from a dependability standpoint.
Thoughts, advice?
Thank you!
Full Version: S4s Vs. S4d
We meet again.
The S4s is behind hundreds of 500+ HP cars. There are stronger tranny's out there but where do you stop. I'm sure you could spend $25k or more on a tranny and be confident it would make it through the season. But most have peeps have budgetary concerns. Sounds like you might as well. The S4s is plenty for 500hp. But if you have the dough I'd get the Fortin wide gear with the torque converter, and the optional Gold inlaid, Diamond encrusted name plate. Just my 2 cents.
The S4s is behind hundreds of 500+ HP cars. There are stronger tranny's out there but where do you stop. I'm sure you could spend $25k or more on a tranny and be confident it would make it through the season. But most have peeps have budgetary concerns. Sounds like you might as well. The S4s is plenty for 500hp. But if you have the dough I'd get the Fortin wide gear with the torque converter, and the optional Gold inlaid, Diamond encrusted name plate. Just my 2 cents.
QUOTE (Frog Island @ Apr 2 2009, 07:13 PM) 
We meet again.
The S4s is behind hundreds of 500+ HP cars. There are stronger tranny's out there but where do you stop. I'm sure you could spend $25k or more on a tranny and be confident it would make it through the season. But most have peeps have budgetary concerns. Sounds like you might as well. The S4s is plenty for 500hp. But if you have the dough I'd get the Fortin wide gear with the torque converter, and the optional Gold inlaid, Diamond encrusted name plate. Just my 2 cents.
The S4s is behind hundreds of 500+ HP cars. There are stronger tranny's out there but where do you stop. I'm sure you could spend $25k or more on a tranny and be confident it would make it through the season. But most have peeps have budgetary concerns. Sounds like you might as well. The S4s is plenty for 500hp. But if you have the dough I'd get the Fortin wide gear with the torque converter, and the optional Gold inlaid, Diamond encrusted name plate. Just my 2 cents.
Knew I could count on you Frog
Thanks for the input and I believe you're right. Just don't want to be tearing my tranny down every season. I also get the budget piece all too well. Maybe I could leave out the diamonds though. That, and there don't seem to be many S4D's, and certainly not Fortin's placed in Funco's, at least not in MY price range.
Did your sale go through yet?
Cheers bud!
S4's seem to last about 3 seasons for our group, and thats about 45 days in the dunes each season, ie every other weekend for 6 months plus a couple week long trips. Most everyone is in the 650 hp at the crank neighborhood as well.
My guess is that @ 80% of the funco's out there are 2d's and then about 10% S4's, an the remaining 10% would be Albins or Fortins, but a very large percentage of that 10% never saw the sand of this country.
My guess is that @ 80% of the funco's out there are 2d's and then about 10% S4's, an the remaining 10% would be Albins or Fortins, but a very large percentage of that 10% never saw the sand of this country.
QUOTE (TNTDUNER @ Apr 2 2009, 11:09 PM)
S4's seem to last about 3 seasons for our group, and thats about 45 days in the dunes each season, ie every other weekend for 6 months plus a couple week long trips. Most everyone is in the 650 hp at the crank neighborhood as well.
My guess is that @ 80% of the funco's out there are 2d's and then about 10% S4's, an the remaining 10% would be Albins or Fortins, but a very large percentage of that 10% never saw the sand of this country.
My guess is that @ 80% of the funco's out there are 2d's and then about 10% S4's, an the remaining 10% would be Albins or Fortins, but a very large percentage of that 10% never saw the sand of this country.
Ive only seen 1 Funco with a Albins it was on db .com for 85k that was a long time ago.....
QUOTE (Supreme Air @ Apr 2 2009, 11:29 PM)
QUOTE (TNTDUNER @ Apr 2 2009, 11:09 PM)
S4's seem to last about 3 seasons for our group, and thats about 45 days in the dunes each season, ie every other weekend for 6 months plus a couple week long trips. Most everyone is in the 650 hp at the crank neighborhood as well.
My guess is that @ 80% of the funco's out there are 2d's and then about 10% S4's, an the remaining 10% would be Albins or Fortins, but a very large percentage of that 10% never saw the sand of this country.
My guess is that @ 80% of the funco's out there are 2d's and then about 10% S4's, an the remaining 10% would be Albins or Fortins, but a very large percentage of that 10% never saw the sand of this country.
Ive only seen 1 Funco with a Albins it was on db .com for 85k that was a long time ago.....
Sorry, what is db.com?
Thanks for the info gents. Walt, appreciate your feedback as always.
DUNEBUGGY.COM
QUOTE (onebigjohn @ Apr 3 2009, 09:58 AM)
DUNEBUGGY.COM
Realized that right after I hit the send button. Thanks
I have a S4S in my 2500lbs car with a LS2, and 934's no problems at all. I drive the car pretty hard, cutting brakes, jumping and a few landing's on the gas. 
I even have a US ring and pinion, had the transmission disassembled last summer and everything looked great. I wouldn't worry about a S4S unless you were looking at 700hp or more. Just my .02
I even have a US ring and pinion, had the transmission disassembled last summer and everything looked great. I wouldn't worry about a S4S unless you were looking at 700hp or more. Just my .02
QUOTE (Caddyman @ Apr 3 2009, 10:22 AM)
I have a S4S in my 2500lbs car with a LS2, and 934's no problems at all. I drive the car pretty hard, cutting brakes, jumping and a few landing's on the gas.
I even have a US ring and pinion, had the transmission disassembled last summer and everything looked great. I wouldn't worry about a S4S unless you were looking at 700hp or more. Just my .02
I even have a US ring and pinion, had the transmission disassembled last summer and everything looked great. I wouldn't worry about a S4S unless you were looking at 700hp or more. Just my .02
Thanks Caddyman, very helpful to know!
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