It is also me and Barbara’s 25th year anniversary! Twenty-five of the happiest 72 year of my life!
I sent Barbara a BIG bouquet of Fall flowers and plants mixed. I gave her a card, got her one of her favorite scented candles (with another card), had an engraved trophy made, just for her, to commemorate the occasion, I composed an original poem titled, “Only You Can Tell” and tonight we will have cake and punch at the house with family, just before we go out to a big dinner (I have another card to give her at dinner)!
I have a son, Glenn, that tries to outdo me every year by giving his wife elaborate gifts and treats for her birthday and anniversary. He will have to get on his game to beat me this year!
Car news! When I talked to Coan Racing last week, I asked about having them do the certification (every 5 years by NHRA/IHRA rule) and freshen-up on my transmission, for future reference. I was shocked when he told me the Dedenbear case can ONLY be re-certified by TCI, if it was purchased from TCI. ALL other Dedenbear cases, no matter where they were purchased, must be returned to the Dedenbear factory for re-certification.
So, if I send my transmission to Coan, they will remove the internals, send the case to TCI (because mine originally came from TCI), and when it is sent back with the new SFI Certification, they would install the new parts and ship it back to me. Those of you that know how, and have the right tools, could just send the case for re-certification and then put the internals back into the case yourself.
Is it worth it to own an aftermarket transmission case? Let’s look at the NHRA/IHRA legal alternative. With a OEM case you must have a SFI certified flexplate shield, explosion proof cover for the planetary section and straps under the oil pan. To get all of that to fit in the stock transmission tunnel is sometime impossible without major surgery on the transmission tunnel. With a SFI certified aftermarket bell housing or complete case, the task of fitting the assembly into the space provided is much easier. If you are building a car, or you don’t mind modifying the tunnel, then that is not a problem.
Many of us have cracked transmission cases and tail shafts. That is a thing of the past with an aftermarket case and tail shaft. I have had the same case for over 15 years. It had endured a wreck, broken drive shafts and internal transmission failure (three planetary’s). It still passed inspection for re-certification.
Another advantage of this case is, you can regulate the “Hit” on the slicks with and external adjustment screw. As you slicks get worn, you can soften the hit and prevent spinning. When you get new slicks, you can go back to the full “Hit”.