Well, I've finally had a weekend free to install the SAW. Actually, it only took a day and almost half of that was mounting the gauge. The verdict -Amazing. I've only spend a little while driving it but it's great to be able to select the gear before the corner. As soon as I start coming out of the corner, I've got drive already - no lag while it's changing down. Even the engine braking spools up the turbos so there's less turbo lag as well. Feels very direct. I also love the control over the line pressure. I had previously had a HKS ALC (see For Sale) which bumped up the line pressure under heavy acceleration but this is great. I've got control over the throttle setting at which the 100% line pressure comes on line - and I can choose when it changes gear. Hard off the lights and grab second just after the turbos come on, third soon after and it's really quick without sounding like I'm under it. Just magic. Oh, and I can leave it in auto mode for the heavy traffic. Again, the line pressure in increased so it has sharp changes without snapping you neck. Anyway, here's a few pics:
Nice you sound really happy with it, I dont think I have read any thing else when it comes to this unit, seems like a real class bit of kit. How do you find the flappy paddles ? Can you chirp through gears ? Does it really give you the racier feel of a manual in and out of corners ?
SAW compared to OEM The SAW kit makes the gearbox feels significantly lighter, sportier and will race up to the 7000rpm limiter before up-shifting (though your gearbox map has to be configured accordingly to match your differential else you will bounce against the rev-limiter before changing from 1st to 2nd). In comparison the OEM-controlled gearbox, feels bulky but strong, moving methodically up through the rev range before changing gears at around 4500rpm. For a standing start to 100km/h, the SAW gearbox can be half a second to a full second faster than the OEM. I like how you can set lockup to act as a pseudo fifth gear, being able to change up and down between fourth and fifth. Though 3rd is really your power-torque gear. I think I use a 35 line pressure setting not to get a real painful-punch in the back on 1st to 2nd gear changes ... I feel that 25 is too jerky. Oh, SAW also works with the Q45 (VH45) gearbox as well, with the only changes being with the shift-map. Depending on how / where you mount the paddles they can fit perfectly for finger-tip access.
I guess when I ask can you chirp, I'm suggesting some sort of clutch control, obviously you dont, and with enough grunt and setup with hard enough changes it would, just trying to get my head around how it would feel. Dunno if I would like the paddles, I think it would be hard to keep in contact with your gears with out substantially less turns lock to lock, maybe a short shifter with up and down shift next to the auto stick arcade style. Either way its probably the most interesting products developed for the Z buy an individual. Has anyone done a video in car to give us some idea ?
I think Steven sums it up nicely. I'm still very new to the SAW so I'm looking forward to more driving. The paddles don't take much getting used to. They are attached to the steering so changing gears in a corner can be a challenge. I'm getting used to it though. I haven't been right under it yet so I don't know about chirping into second, but I doubt it. Racier - yes, but it certainly doesn't feel like a manual. It feels like a really racey AT. For those of us who like the advantages of an AT, this takes away almost all the negatives. But, I've only had one day of driving. More as I get to spend more time behind the wheel. Garry
Changing gears in a corner Changing gears in the middle of a corner, I was taught that this is a no-no ... get all your gear changes and braking done before the corner. I love a drive like Galston Gorge near Sydney where you come down into some 180 degree corners ... left-left-left paddle down into 1st, the roll-off sound of the V8, swing through the corner, get it straight, then plant the accelerator, the roar of the engine then right-paddle up into the next gear. But for a straight line drag, I would go for automatic mode, where every gear change can be configured to hit the 6500-7000 rpm before changing ... lets see you do that every time in a manual With my old steering wheel as show in the picture below I also configured the thumb horn button as a gearshift button ... this was brilliant for straight line changing a few tenths of a second faster per gear change then the paddles. But the paddles are more fun in the twisties. But I love automatic mode for the traffic.
HEHEEHEE you sound quietly exstatic about it. Stevens description helps alot but I would love to see an in car video, probably of the TT as the VH wouldn't pull the skin of custard. heheh all jokes just stirring, desired result, RIGHT I'll SHOW HIM !!!! :biggrin:
Many thanks to Gary for organising the GB! I agree with Gary's and Stevens comments, it's a great product. While it's still not manual, it's now good enough that I don't care. The ability to control what gear you want without waiting for the auto to catch-up eliminates all the regrets of migrating from a manual to an auto. Plus at the flick of a switch I'm back in full auto for the occasional lazy commute. If anyone has a dead auto control unit I could cannibalize for the blue connector please PM me... Computer is in the usual spot held in place with foam padding Gauge is temporarily installed using holes someone previously mounted a mobile phone with
A $200 regular shift kit would have the same result, minus the flappy paddles of course. Gearing down like that in an Automatic is not healthy for the torque converter. Manual wins everytime!
give credit where credit is due ... this is not about manuals winning 300zxt, have you actually tried the SAW kit, I would guess not ... there is a BIG difference between a regular shift kit and a Shift-At-Will kit ... so at least have the decency to give create where credit is due, Majiec has done a brilliant job with engineering such a kit. I get fed-up with this kind of statement from certain manual drivers. So you prefer a manual, big deal, this thread is about the SAW kit, and not this usual crap about the manual gearbox. END OF TOPIC
Dont expect to make comments like that and have nobody bite at least a little bit! So settle down lady! Does it do anything to strengthen the actual internals of the gearbox? I'm guessing not... It's still not healthy for the torque converter to downshift like that into corners in a AT, it puts alot of strain on the internals and it's worthy to make comment on.
I actually wish I had an auto now so I can try this out lol. Looks and sounds like heaps of fun Is this only for zeds? I wanna install this on my mums falcon lol.
Had a shift kit already, but a shift kit doesn't help the auto predict when you want to change down it'll only do that after you have put your foot down. I haven't felt any indication of more stress on the torque converter, should be using brakes to slow down anyway... Regarding shifting in corners I agree completely Steven when going hard, last thing you want to do is unbalance the car mid-corner! However I'm just talking about cruising around town and sneeking past Hyundais at double lane roundabouts
Engine braking is a far more efficient way to slow down a vehicle. It uses less fuel, keeps the revs up for a quicker corner exit and it lessens the heat generated on your brakes. I'm sure this kit is sweet, and it does sound kind of cool but if you're dead set on sticking with an automatic imo you should look at strengthening the internals first which a shift kit (or this SAW thing) alone doesn't do.
Hate to nit pick, but I'm having a hard time working out how engine braking could help spool times? You've got a closed throttle and the injectors are switched off, stuff all air is being pumped into the exhaust.
That's probably a bad way to put it. It does't spool the turbos up but it keeps the revs up as you're in a lower gear so naturally you'll be able to build boost quicker vs just slowing down via the brakes alone in a higher gear.
basically yes this is correct. If left in D and driven like a conventionaly auto the revs would drop when you brake and the converter would release. When you get back on it the box has to think what gear is best and being the low rpm of std converter have to build revs up again hence with the SAW kit the feeling of on boost all the time is there. Id be keen to have a play with one of these one day, Ive always said auto turbos can be fun. 300zxt - Iv given plenty of autos and given them a hard time in my life, particularly engine braking as yes I do agree it is a requirement when you are having a play. Although I cant see this doing any major damage unless you accidentally pull down too many gears which is something you would need to be aware of at all times, I doubt 20yrs ago the autos were being built for this purpose. brisz - up the line pressures and you will get chirps and give the box a hard time.
Most of the time there is no need to change gears in a corner. I do find that sometimes at T intersections, I'm starting off in 1st and turning right but I want to shift to 2nd before I've straightened the wheel. Not a big issue but takes a little getting used to.
I agree, in my years of racing a priority is picking your gear for the corner, if it means keeping a higher cog to get the run out of the corner without having to change gear while the car is cornering even better. The paddle shifts have got the advantage dont get me wrong, you arent backing off and unsettling the cars balance.
