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SouthSide Performance Transmission Cooler for Nissan GT-R
Another cool product from South Dakota based SSP is this R Spec Race Transmission Cooler for the R35’s GR6 transmission. The guys at SSP have tried a lot of various solutions on the circuit and finally decided on this three part solution. Originally released earlier in the year, it’s now been re-released at a lower price point with updated availability.
On the track they were able to gather enough data to say that this is the ideal solution for keeping your trans fluid temps in check. During 10 lap sessions in 85 degree heat they saw average fluid temps of 220 – 225 degrees.
The kit comes with everything you need for a quick easy install, is available now and sells for around the $2399 mark including a 1 year warranty on parts. Hit up the link below for contact details for SSP.
The price may be going back up in the new year so check it out soon if this is something you’re looking into…
Link: SouthSide Performance Website
Willall Racing Launch GT-R Rear LSD Upgrade Kits
Here’s another good idea from Aussie workshop Willall Racing. Instead of ditching the entire rear LSD assembly for a fancy aftermarket job they’ve decided to beef the stock one up to the task. With the goal of making the OEM LSD good enough for circuit abuse they reckon they’ve achieved it with as little as their new WR35DS Rear LSD Super Lock Kit.
Given that the stock diff is a high quality, well machined 1.5 way item with solid steel assemblies to begin with – it made sense to at least have a look in this direction.
This series of hardened and heat treated differential shims is installed to adjust the pre-load on the factory diff to the owners liking. You can go from “mild” to “wild” depending on how many shims you use.
The end result is significantly more grip and an end to the inside wheel spinning during cornering. A good result for the price of just $395. Click the link below for more info…
Link: Willall Racing Website
Albins / SSP Extreme Duty First Gear Upgrade for Nissan GT-R
Boasting more than a 50% improvement in strength over the OEM first gear in the Nissan GT-R’s GR6 transmission is the new Albins / SSP Extreme Duty First Gear Replacement. A bold claim but judging by the press release seems like it might be backed up by the numbers.
It features 40% more tooth width/contact area than the stock items, thicker shaft, “ground” tooth profile that offers profile protection and billet from proprietory high strength alloy. Albins specially treat each gearset after manufacturing to improve strength further so they say they’re good to 1000hp.
The first gear sets are designed as direct replacements and should not require any additional parts to get up and running. They’re priced at $2199.
Also from Albins / SSP is a new Final Drive package. Designed to allow big power GT-R’s to increase top speed to around ~214mph it’s great for those interested in standing mile comps and the like.
Other gearsets and ratios are planned soon so keep an eye out and check the following websites for the full details…
Link: Albins Website
Link: SSP Website
Willlall Racing Transmission Cooler Lite Edition – DIY Kit
While some may feel the need to opt for a full blown GR6 transmission cooler with fancy extended sump like the Willall Racing WR35TC there are others that may not need to go to that expense. Maybe you just track the car occasionally or just want to DIY and keep it simple at the same time. Willall Racing’s WR35TC-Lite will close that gap at a fair price which is a welcome addition to the aftermarket.
WR35TC-Lite is a mid-mount cooling solution mounting in front of the rear exhaust section so that its air ‘signal’ is not polluted by hot exhaust gasses. This is a proven cooling location that we use with our WR35DC rear differential cooler, and testing so far has shown that at within a second of Carerra Cup lap pace (a good worldwide reference line) and 75 degree ambients it is possible to consistently reduce transmission temperature by 15F-25F consistently and keep the GTR transmission temperature out of the red.
Technical aspects of WR35TC-Lite are as follows
- German gear style VDO 6 litre per minute transmission pump
- 13 row oil cooler core
- 500F lines with crimped fittings
- CNC mounting bracket (anodised) and cooler plate
- High durability hose clamps
- Tapered lock fitting for the stock transmission pan (comes with professional seals)
- Wiring loom integrated with relay and operation switch (with light)
- Anti abrasion wrap for the cooler lines
The kit is priced at the $1295 mark and is available now from Willall Racing dealers worldwide…
Link: Willall Racing Website
SSP To Build 6061 Billet GR6 Transmission Cases for Nissan GT-R
SSP brings some serious new hardware to the table with the finalization of plans to build a billet transmission rear casing for the Nissan GT-R’s GR6 DCT gearbox.
The premise behind building a strengthened casing is multifaceted, I can think of a few obvious reasons to do it. Firstly to prevent losing transmissions due to casing failures. This has occurred in the past when casings crack under high torque loads. Secondly to prevent internal accelerate wear caused by components moving slightly when the casing twists under high torque loads.
This baby has been a long time coming and I remember chatting to SSP about it in Tokyo in 2008! So good on the guys to sticking with it.
The first cases should start cutting this week, expect to see more info soon…
Link: SouthSide Performance Website
GReddy DCT Transmission Cooler for Nissan GT-R Debuts at SP Engineering
Just launch days ago, GReddy has shipped what is one of the first units to official US GReddy dealer SP Engineering who wasted no time in fitting it up on their workshop SPE900 project GT-R. The kit is typical of the quality of product coming out of GReddy / Trust these days and fitted up great with amazing attention to detail at every step.
The core is 13 rows in size and 299×185.4x50mm in dimensions, it’s supplied with a FRP air duct to supply air from the front bumper and all hoses, hard lines and fittings needed to install it. It’s thermostat controlled to bypass the factory transmission oil cooler when it’s operating to maintain transmission fluid pressure. This also helps maintain the fluid temps independently of the engine coolant temperature.
It’s priced around the $2,495 mark minus the optional windshield reservoir tank. More photos at the SP Engineer blog and a link to the SP Engineering store is below…
Link: SP Engineering Store – GReddy Transmission Cooler
Link: SP Engineering Blog – GReddy DCT Transmission Cooler Photos
Link: Trust Website – New Product DCT Transmission Cooler
SouthSide Performance’s Biggest Clutch Pack Upgrade Yet
Being the first to offer clutch upgrades 12 months back in March 2009, SouthSide Performance have continued to develop and innovate in the GT-R aftermarket and are now ready to release their biggest upgrade to the GT-R’s GR6 transmission so far.
This upgrade features a 14 disc upgrade which is claimed capable of supporting up to 1000lbft of torque. This enhanced torque capacity comes in part from the increase in discs over the standard 12 disc OEM clutches.
The upgrade clutch set also comes with Viton brand seals for the OEM clutch basket. The guys at SSP say with the Viton seals replacing the OEM type, the stock clutch basket setup should be good for up to the 1000 lbft mark. So unless you plan to launch the space shuttle into orbit with your car, I think you’ll be fine there.
Hit up the SSP website linked below to get in touch with the guys if you have any more questions, or post them up over on NAGTROC where they check in daily…
Link: SouthSide Performance Website
Willall Racing Transmission Cooler Pump Upgrade for WR35TCF
For maximum efficiency when using Willall’s front mounted transmission cooler, they’ve designed this pump upgrade that will replace the supplied VDO item. This Propump, as they’ve called it, manages to circulate the entire volume of transmission fluid through the front mount cooler every 40 seconds. In testing, the guys have found this unit can assist lowering temps by as much as 35 – 55 degrees F.
The kit will ship with all components necessary to fit it including the high performance pump assembly, control electronics and CNC machined mounting hardware.
To spec out a new WR35TC-F with the Propump will run you an additional $395. Existing WR35TC-F owners should stay tuned and expect an announcement on what they can do for an upgrade some time in April.
Link: Willall Racing Website
Switzer and Dodson Join to Offer Strengthened Nissan Transmissions
Nissan GT-R gearbox upgrades are popping up more and more these days. Dodson Motorsports out of New Zealand are the pioneers in the field of upgrading the known weak spots in the Nissan’s GR6 DCT.
Switzer are joining forces with Dodson to offer the latest upgrades and strengthening parts for the GT-R transmission. They’ll also be using them in their own upcoming builds so have the advantage of having the real world test data to back them up. One of the very next upgrades that should feature in the Switzer builds are the above upgraded heavy duty GR6 clutch assemblies.
Should be some more info soon on packages and pricing, either way its great to see more options on the market outside of doing the hard work of finding a transmission shop you can trust.
Link: Switzer: New Development Partner: Dodson Motorsport
Link: Dodson Motorsport
HKS Dual Clutch Transmission Cooler for Nissan GT-R Released
HKS have announced their own transmission cooler for the Nissan GT-R this week just prior to Tokyo AutoSalon. The front mounted oil cooler design goes up against some already strong entries in the market, one from regional affiliate HKS Kansai. The difference here is that HKS have seemingly chosen to directly cool the transmission fluid by way of pumping it through a front mounted, 15 row, oil cooler. The core dimensions of the cooler are 220mm x 220mm x 48.5mm.
In contrast, the HKS Kansai item cools the engine coolant that the GT-R pumps through the transmission to cool it before it reaches the transmission by way of a water cooler in the same location. Which is best?
Anyways, the core is fed cold air from the front bumper by way of ducting that mirrors the ducting to the factory oil cooler, a slight modification to the standard front bar to open the airflow to this duct will be required.
In testing at Fuji Speedway, over a 15minute full on session, HKS saw the transmission temp level out at 127 degrees with the HKS DCT Cooler fitted. In comparison, with the standard setup they had to abort the run at the 11 minute mark as the transmission fluid temp hit 135 degrees celsius and showed signs that it would continue to climb.
Cooler transmission fluid temps increase fluid lifespan, offer smoother shifts on the track and decrease the chances that you’ll hit the inbuilt safety limp mode of the TCM. One other side effect of cooler transmission temps that HKS noticed while testing is that the engine coolant sees a subsequent drop in temperatures as well. I guess it’s job is made a little easier by not having to cool a 135 degree gearbox down.
Theres a few other details to note, and we should be able to clear up all the how’s and why’s on Friday at TAS.
Price is set at 262,500 yen in Japan.
Link: HKS Website
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