Hey guys, I just got back from 5 days of rally racing, I use a TF 4 speed which is proving to be a stunning car on the dirt courses, while maybe not as fast or as good at handling as some of the cars im up against.. But the whole package works very very well...

The only big issue is that the slushbox is causing me huge issues trying to power out of corners because it refuses to downshift when I need it to.. Is there any way I can get the TCU to be somewhat more sensitive on its shift patterns?

If I can't get improved shifts from the TF, I'll be buying a TX3 turbo or something when I see something pop up.. But I'd really prefer to use the magna for another year or 2 while I'm still honing my racing skills before I get into competition racing.

Easy. Do a tippy conversion from a TF sports.

Same gearbox, change of ECU, and I think that is it as the TF doesnt have a BEM. I modifed my engine loom to suit a tiptronic (and get the dash lights working)
All up, with the parts, it took me around 3 hours to complete.

Mike

It's a $400 learning to rally car :P

... However coincidentally I happen to have a 4 speed tippy box from a TW with 36,000km on it sitting in my garage, so if I were able to acquire a TCU, loom and shifter fo lik $50 then it may actually be viable. However as the car lives at the race track is prefer not to spend what would likely end up being 5-6 hours swapping boxes over if I am able to alter the current shifting pattern in any way.

Also will the tippy box allow you to shift down to 1st while you are in motion? If I won't then it'll be useless to me to fit one.

You wont need to change the box. All you need is a new ECU, shifter and a bit of the wiring loom.

If you do not care how the instruments display the shift lights, half your work is done.

My car lets me shift into first on the move yes. Also, as an advantage to you, the tiptronic map will not allow upshifts until you do them. You can have the car bouncing off the rev limiter and the valves tapdancing on the bonnet and it will not shift until you move the lever.

Mike

Can not use the TW box in a TF as they run different output shaft sensors and the ECU will go immediately into Limp Mode, only way is to convert all of the ECU and wiring to a TW set up, can be done but again then you need an ECU, unlock and engine loom

The TW engine loom with an unlocked ECU will run in the TF no worries as you do not have cruise or dont want it if it does for the use the car gets and aside from that the main pinouts are the same

Hrm I didn't realise that a std box could be made tiptronic. I'll scout for some cheaply bits needed to make it tippy, it sounds like the dream setup for the car!

On another note.. It looks like this quality TW box will be going to the scrap yard if I can't offload it soon!

Just a suggestion - in light of it being a $400 learning to rally car - why don't you just reshape the teeth on the standard shifter? I've done this before... I can't say I'd recommend it on a road car, but for what you're doing, and with the budget/time/effort constraints it's an option at least. Right?

When I did mine I just shaped it so I could shift all the way back to 2nd without pushing the button in, and shaped it so I wouldn't jam it into neutral on the way back to 4th (had to use the button to get neutral).

I did a shit job of it, so if you go this way just take your time with it. I took off too much meat from the ratchet and it screwed with the button "pushrod" height.

Whichever way you go be sure to upload some incar video of this beast in action the next time you're out racing.

Hey that's a really good idea man, the inability to accidently hit neutral is great. Unfortunately it doesn't solve my main issue which is the ability to downshift to 1st quickly on hairpins.

I've got some video, not much in car unfortunately (I'll try to buy a go pro camera before the Easter trip).. A mate is compiling a video of the event ATM so as soon as its on YouTube I'll share it in the YouTube section :)

Also will the tippy box allow you to shift down to 1st while you are in motion? If I won't then it'll be useless to me to fit one.

It will, but you have to be under 40k's. You'll find that the 4sp auto's in "D" mode have a real flat spot between 40-60k's. If you're above 40k's the tcu will not shift the gear down to 1st - instead you end up sitting at 1800rpm in 2nd gear and have to wait until you reach around 70km - here the revs (still in 2nd gear) kick up to about 3500rpm and you start to get on the powerband again. With the 4sp tippy you'll have to plan ahead a bit. If your going to exit a corner at a speed apprx. 40-70kms then use the shifter to keep the car in first gear until you absolutely have to change. The computer will not shift upwards so you can actually push the car beyond the redline (stupid thing to do, but possible). If you keep the car in first gear you can reach about 75kms max then you shift to 2nd gear and you'll be on the powerband for that gear as well. The car will shift rough as hell and don't expect to last incredibly long doing this either but it is a $400 rally car - so absue away!


Hrm I didn't realise that a std box could be made tiptronic. I'll scout for some cheaply bits needed to make it tippy, it sounds like the dream setup for the car!

This I can help you with. I've got a TJS2 exec loom & a shifter + plate. I don't have the mechanism but these shouldn't be too hard to source. My loom has been modified slightly - but that was just to run a TL clock & warning lights. I'm planning to offshell these cheap before they go to scrap or anouther project.