CAS Reflection #3: Learning Outcome 1 S

This same summer, my cousin had been increasing the horsepower in one of his cars, a 1998 Camaro SS. When you increase the hp(horsepower) in a car, the amount of torque will offset the transmission, causing it to break and requiring one that would be able to handle that much power. At the time he has a 4l60e which comes in the base model for those cars. He then upgraded to a 4l70 which was converted to a 4l80. This transmission would be able to handle all the hp and much more. The size of the transmission in comparison to the car was unbelievable. The car is considered a 2 door coupe sports car, so it was very tiny only weighing around 3000 pounds. The transmission relative to the size of the car, putting it in was a difficult challenge. My cousin and I are two relatively big men, fitting under that car were hard, and having to maneuver under it became an issue. Taking out the old transmission was easy, we took off the necessary bolts, lines, and cables and it was able to come right out with no problem. Putting the new one in however was an issue. This whole process took us around 3 days from 8am to around 7pm every day. The first day we were able to take off the old one, the next two required us to put the new one in. A regular transmission can weigh from 100-400 pounds. The 4l60 we took outweighs around 130, but the 4l80 we put in comes in at around 200 pounds. Having to carry that while on our back and having to screw in bolts was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my very short career as a mechanic. We also mistakingly put in on with fluid already in it which then spilled because we both lost a grip. Anyway, the two days go by, we are finally able to put in the transmission and take it for a test drive, and the car ran perfectly. In a safe environment, we were able to push the car to the limits to see how it would be able to handle, and it took everything we threw at it. As compensation for both of us, we went to the track that night and had some fun. All and all, this experience was one that I needed to have. With what we do, and how we push our cars to the limits, we are bound to have something break along the lines and the transmission is usually first to go. This experience definitely taught me endurance, being able to go day after day for 3 days for 11 hours was a challenge, but now I know I can accomplish it. I have also learned quick thinking, there were times things didn't go as planned.  

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