Differences between: S4s, S4D, S4, HD4, are some of the names redundant?

Looking for opinions and circumstances on the Mende S4 (S4 series), What doesn't it like? What are you carefull not to do?

I haven't driven a car with one in the dunes so I am looking for some feedback please. I have my car up for sale and want to go with a V8, nothing crazy but thinking about a "bullet proof" (I know theres no such thing) package. I have also thought of a wide gear Fortin and if I tripped across a money tree maybe an Albins.

I am thinking about a motor in the 500+ hp range and want to have something in front of it that is dependable and can take a little bit of a whooping. I'm not looking to abuse the car but it will be driven.

I know some will say the 2D, but I have seen and heard of tooo many failing too soon. Weather it's driver error, set up, or what I just would like a little trans in the car.

Com'on people, I need the info.

I drive my S4 with complete disrespect for it with no issues.

I asked the same question a few months ago.... The answer I got was "save a few extra pennies for the Albins"...

When I had my S4S with a blown 383 I abused the poo out of it and no issues.

I had my S-4 with my whipple blown LS motor and never had any issue...

Brandon

Beat the snot out of my S4 all last season. The car has 500+ hp and not one problem.

i have had my s4 in the car for 2 full seasons, not one issue, services every year and that is prolly 12 trips per season.

I have a 2800lb car with a stroker LS motor and I abuse my S4D with no problems. I don't lift for anything; we go for hard fast dune rides and hammer it through the biggest whoops.

Drive it like I stole it.

Well Matt,
You know my answer, but it involves a race built Turbo 400....... Sorry, couldn't resist!!!

Click to view attachment
I have a S4D with a PBS bellhousing on it so I can run a full sized dual disc clutch. 2 years with no problems. 700 hp 610tq LS2 2800 pnds. And these Mosebillt cars are stought as I fliped it a week before memorial weekend and had it back togather for memorial, No frame or suspention damage, just body and roof and the worst was the rear wing that had the oil cooler and all the FAST electrinics in it for the engine.

Where was all of this positive response when I asked? The only one to chime in was justfuelin....

Three season's on my S4S, no problems at all.

for all the responses,,,even you Scotty

I don't plan to, but I wanted to ask,,,Does anyone dare side step the clutch to get the front end up?

Read thru the Mende section, got some info there about shifiting, using the clutch or not,,, went to their site and read thru the models,,,,Have your responses and looking for more.

Plan is to buy a used car, some for sale have the S4's and found a car minus motor and trans but it is tabbed for an Albins, don't have 18-20 to spend on one so my thought was to go to an S4 (after talking with Aaron - SA) or a Fortin - was told I can get a used one from Fortin for around $9000+-

I believe in "you can never have too much trans,,," so there are a lot of cars out there to look at and a new build just doesn't make sense right now - for me at least.

Keep 'em coming!

whats the difference between a s4 and a s4s?

I may have mis-stated,,,there is the S4 which I understand is the S4s- please correct me if I'm wrong -

there is the S5 - 5 speed and the S4D which is the heavy duty.

http://mendeolatransaxles.com/mendeola_transaxles.php

<---No problems with my S4. Whipple-Stroked LS

A year ago when I was building my car I was gonna use a S4. No sooner than it was tabbed, there was a thread that had page after page of horror stories involving S4's going boom at an alarming rate. Even the ones that didn't go boom needed to be torn apart after each season which wasn't cheap. I was lucky enough to get the last Albins before the price increase. If I had about 10k for a box I would get a rebuilt Fortin. If I had 13k I'd get the S4D.

3 seasons with my s4 and not a problem!

[quote name='matt86m' date='Jun 22 2009, 09:00 AM' post='3341988']
Differences between: S4s, S4D, S4, HD4, are some of the names redundant?
S4S= S4 = sequential 4 speed price $10,500.00
S4D= S4 with larger Ring & Pinion- gear stack of the HD4 and ring & pinion of an ALBINS price $12,950.00
HD4= BIG monster of a trans 13" R&P 1 1/4" gears sequentially operated. price $23,500.00

Here you go.

http://www.glamisdunes.com/invision/index....howtopic=172627

I don't side step the trans and I DO use the clutch for shifting. I don't abuse the trans but I also don't drive easy either.

i have an s4 with a lot of power behind it ( tt 402 ).i had issues once and mendeola/victor where awsome and backed it all the way.since then no issues and i pound that trans hard.

My S4s worked perfect the hole time I owned my last SCU. I only had for 2 months but still a great gear box!

No probs here. Use the clutch and don't be stupid you will be fine. I don't lift on the whoops. I don't side step and I clutching on jump landings.

Go albins,thats what i have,i still cant kick its @ss yet,you girls know how i drive,balls out,i only have 400 ponies but still im under the mullets wing ,what i do need is a better clutch!

Are you using the Chevy bellhousing? I've got alot of miles on mine this season with no clutch issues. I do have the dogchange H pattern so I only need my clutch in 1st.

im running a kennedy double puck? Im sure its the biggest one you can run? Smoke the pads twice in one season,i never double clutch,just run real hard.

What size bellhousing / clutch?

Go Albins! Mike says,,,if I had your $$ I'd burn mine!

I do anything and everthing to my tranny, 770HP, side step this and that, land with the gas on (my personal favorite), My S5 lasted one whole season, no issues, it's in for a freshening right now. with the new price of the S4D, i'd go that way for sure!!!!

s4s ive had it since 2005 ive never blown it up. ive refreshed it once ( cause ricky wright was nervous about the us ring and pinion) so we put weddle in it. ive ran 3 different big motors through it no issues. 1 case of driver error i broke the shift collar jamming it in a race ( my fault) awsom tranny

But did you win???

<(~~~~~~ needs a s4

1 of the few he lost.... and he got it temp fix and was able to dune 2 days more limping lol

Capt

actually that was the second race i beat him the first race but i was sitting still. and he rolled up nodded to me (while still rolling) tapped his break and took off. i still beat him but it made me mad for some stupid reason. so i raced him again . i trashed him off the line through second. i jammed third and it jumped back out. so being the angry mental midget i was i jammed it back in. this of course made the car very mad and it jumped out again which further infuriated me so i jammed it in again. at that point my car decided ok you want it there now ill just stay there and it did. couldnt get out of that gear. got towed back to camp pouted for a few hours told my car i was sorry and it fianlly let go. i still had 1st and second. i thought well ill ride my quad. omg it beat me up. think it was talking to my sand rail. so i turned around went back to camp. pouted a lil more and said screw it ill dune with firsr and second. and i did. when i took back to ricky he said go stand in the corner with your long pointy hat that saise "DUNCE" so i got the new mendi upgrades put in it repaired it and replaced that long legged 4th and its fine and dandy.


btw: i sold the quad when i got home for beating me up.