guys i have the suncoast level 3 . i hear alot about this ATS co-pilot and was wondering if it is something that can be added to my trans now and will it help .

Honestly i am not that happy with my suncoast , should have went with ATS !

You can add the co-pilot. You just need to replace the trim valves with the stock ones.

What kind of problems are you having? What has the tranny been through since you've owned it.

The ATS co-pilot is SAID to help--I really don't know so I'll leave it at that. However, I do know that if I spent $1100 on something I'm sure that I could convinence myself that it is better. You know in order to "save face"????

You're not happy with your Suncoast Level III--this is a KIT correct, not a Suncoast transmission right? What makes you think an ATS kit would have done you better? From what I've seen of some ATS clutches on this board about 3/4 weeks ago delaminated--I'd be leary of one of their clutch kits.

I've been told ATS bonds there own frictions in-house, whereas Suncoast relies on Alto Products Corp. a multi-million dollar operation (in the business a long time) to build there frictions/steels. This doesn't necessarily make them "better" but IMHO I'd say chances are, they are.

If you go with the co-pilot please tell us your ETs. If the install was to no avail tell us like it is--don't save face. Good luck.

However, I do know that if I spent $1100 on something I'm sure that I could convinence myself that it is better. You know in order to "save face"????



:exactly: I think that happens quite often around here and elsewhere............

The ATS co-pilot is SAID to help--I really don't know so I'll leave it at that. However, I do know that if I spent $1100 on something I'm sure that I could convinence myself that it is better. You know in order to "save face"????

You're not happy with your Suncoast Level III--this is a KIT correct, not a Suncoast transmission right? What makes you think an ATS kit would have done you better? From what I've seen of some ATS clutches on this board about 3/4 weeks ago delaminated--I'd be leary of one of their clutch kits.

I've been told ATS bonds there own frictions in-house, whereas Suncoast relies on Alto Products Corp. a multi-million dollar operation (in the business a long time) to build there frictions/steels. This doesn't necessarily make them "better" but IMHO I'd say chances are, they are.

If you go with the co-pilot please tell us your ETs. If the install was to no avail tell us like it is--don't save face. Good luck.

One incident and YOUR passing judgment?Can you provide anouther example as your implying something more?Guess that's the only set of ATS friction out there in the real world.Are you saying that Suncoast has NO returns and Alto NO failures?Where were my two sets of C1's bonded?Did you even see the first set?Nope NO one did
Lets be serious before you spread BS. :rolleyes: Trying to clarify here as you seem to know more than the rest of us

The Co-pilot makes a big difference in shift quickness with the Suncoast stage III kit.As a matter of fact I helped install one today and rode along on a road test!

No hype,no save face, OR wanna be, unlike some, relying on others to test.Anytime you want to go for a ride you let me know.Or are you afraid of real world experience?What more could you ask for but some one with a FULL ATS IN STATE in DRIVING DISTANCE?

Meet me in Wolcott at my business M/F on a dry day,I'll show you! Or better yet,keep dreaming ;)

Having driven a SC-III equipped truck for almost 25K miles and for almost a year.........including racing it.........the CO-PILOT made exactly the difference I was looking for...........yes it was well worth the money as was the MIKE L. cooler I installed..........

If you need to know if it improves ET's I'll let you know next Sunday when I get back to the track............

T:cool: NY
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MAC, Thanks for the help...........;).
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Wow guys...nice dash install....

Mackin - I'm not passing judgement, just like you in the past, telling what I saw--in this case delaminated ATS clutches. I'm sure you didn't miss the posting of these pictures --just as you knocked the Alto's, I believe in equal opportunity and treatment.:rolleyes:

As for "real world experience" I limit my fun to sanctioned drag strip--I've got a BBC powered 81 Cutlass, if you'd like a REAL "real world experience" make sure you bring your Depends! ):h

GMS-2002-Dmax - real neat install! :ro) Please let me know how she does at the track if the co-pilot really makes a difference.

Sometime hard firm shifts aren't all that, they just make you think your trans is working better. I've been told a hard shift in an Allison is because of a bind up, not a clean release into the next gear. :)

The shift is not hard under full throttle IMHO..........just real quick..........you can feel the shifts..........I would compare a BIG BLOCK Chevy powered car backed by a Turbo 400 that had a shift kit.........anyone who ever raced one would know that it is just a quick clean shift.

I knew what to expect having ridden in Trippin's Frankenstien and Driving MAC's ATS V......although Mac didn't drive mine from the test flogging we did it has made a big difference.

The Co-Pilot is fully adjustable to tailor driving shift feel and although I will probably only use it at the track.........both settings on it, BASE and SUB level are set to the MAX on mine.

Just hold the up arrow for 5 seconds and DRAG RACE MODE is activated.........

I'll report my results next week.

I have two more minor changes to make to the truck today.........:muahaha:
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One incident and YOUR passing judgment?Can you provide anouther example as your implying something more?Guess that's the only set of ATS friction out there in the real world.Are you saying that Suncoast has NO returns and Alto NO failures?Where were my two sets of C1's bonded?Did you even see the first set?Nope NO one did
Lets be serious before you spread BS. :rolleyes: Trying to clarify here as you seem to know more than the rest of us

The Co-pilot makes a big difference in shift quickness with the Suncoast stage III kit.As a matter of fact I helped install one today and rode along on a road test!

No hype,no save face, OR wanna be, unlike some, relying on others to test.Anytime you want to go for a ride you let me know.Or are you afraid of real world experience?What more could you ask for but some one with a FULL ATS IN STATE in DRIVING DISTANCE?

Meet me in Wolcott at my business M/F on a dry day,I'll show you! Or better yet,keep dreaming ;)




:blahblah:

:blahblah:


Great input.Aren't you suppose to be helping Jim protect his site from INTERNET terrorist? :shootself

I offered to take the guy for a ride and SHOW him the differance WITH and WITHOUT a Co-Pilot,my bad

Where's that **** me smiley would be a good place to drop it in! :rolleyes:

It reduces shifting "flair" and hesistation. You can tell when it's on, no doubt.

One of the bigger problems when you have a Suncoast III for racing is the "learning" aspect. If you drive your truck every day normally, and go to the track, it will take several passes before it shifts correctly.

Is it quicker? Dunno. But it does take a lot of the learning out of the equation.

Tony

How come you didn't center the box......................


http://dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5475&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1119148033 (http://dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5475&d=1119148033)

Must have been a twelve pack install:D

It reduces shifting "flair" and hesistation. You can tell when it's on, no doubt.

One of the bigger problems when you have a Suncoast III for racing is the "learning" aspect. If you drive your truck every day normally, and go to the track, it will take several passes before it shifts correctly.

Is it quicker? Dunno. But it does take a lot of the learning out of the equation.

McRat,

Have you dynoed with unit off vs on to see if any HP loss due to pressure increases?

McRat,

Have you dynoed with unit off vs on to see if any HP loss due to pressure increases?

I'll do that. Good idea.

Tony

How come you didn't center the box......................


http://dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5475&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1119148033 (http://dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5475&d=1119148033)

Must have been a twelve pack install:D

The clips that hold the plate to the dash are centered in the opening, once the dash trim is put on not only does it look off center but crooked when looking at the reveal above it.

The opening is 3/4" X 2-3/4" for the Co-Pilot to fit, the opening available behind the plate is fixed at 1" X 2-3/4"........it can only fit where it is.

Maybe I will remove it again and take some PICS so that if anyone else wants to try this they can have something to go by.

OH WELL............

Maybe Trippin will make some CO-PILOT plates out of BILLET........:eek: :eek: :eek:

T:cool: NY
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P.S...You would have to ask Mackin how many we had.........I know we probably killed a 12 pack by the time we were done.........):h
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I just figured you and Mackin were 12 beers in to the install, again ;)

McRat,

Have you dynoed with unit off vs on to see if any HP loss due to pressure increases?

I don't believe there will be any hp loss since mainline pressure was not increased.

sorry guys for getting you started . i know my shifts are not that quick at the track , and it does take a few passes for it to learn .

would i need to remove my trans to install the co-pilot? or is it just a electric plug in , sorry i did not research the install.

sorry guys for getting you started . i know my shifts are not that quick at the track , and it does take a few passes for it to learn .

would i need to remove my trans to install the co-pilot? or is it just a electric plug in , sorry i did not research the install.

The install requires dropping the pan going into the valve body area, you have to change the internal wiring harness, cut 1~3/8" out of the metal tube on the valve body and install a valve/solenoid assembly in that area you cut out and drill a 1/16" vent hole.

The external mods include running the wiring harness from the tranny up to and thru the firewall into the cab. A wire needs to be attathced to the boost sensor in the engine compartment, inside the truck a wire is soldered to the back of the instrument cluster for the TOW/HAUL button and a ground wire.

After that you need to refill the tranny with fluid and then LOCK it and ROCK IT........

As with anything the first time you attempt something you want to be careful and double check everything.

I started at about 10:00am and with some delays (KIDS......:eek: ) and a few extra's like adding the MIKE L cooler and doing a complete drain even the TC, adding a sump temp probe, then cutting the Co-Pilot into the dash trim plate I probably spent some 5-6 hours on it.......:cool:

I am very meticulous and cautious whenever I do any work on my truck........I like everything just right when I am done and do not usually overlook or forget anything.

just figure a whole Saturday and get a friend to help you.........

T;) NY
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It reduces shifting "flair" and hesistation. You can tell when it's on, no doubt.

One of the bigger problems when you have a Suncoast III for racing is the "learning" aspect. If you drive your truck every day normally, and go to the track, it will take several passes before it shifts correctly.

Is it quicker? Dunno. But it does take a lot of the learning out of the equation.

What he said.

I didnt notice much difference at the track on just fuel. Maybe a tenth if that. But a slightly different truck set up but it was hotter, ect??? Cant say exactly what I picked up but I think there is ET to be had. Although for a grand you could pick up alot more ET other places. I got one becasue of the whole traning issue ect when I put spray on it. It helps the N2O passes quite a bit since the training gets pulled farthur outa the equation. Install was pretty simple.

Tony, you got a chance to try the big VA with the co pilot???

Edit: I will say that you can really scare the bejesus outa people, part throttle with it set to kill will chirp tires. With it turned down a bit its pretty driveable. Set to kill is a bit to quirky for me daily driving.

BIG VA........nope not yest,

Maybe I'll try it in a few days..........

I have a few more mods to add and then hopefull, weather permitting be at the track Sunday.

I'll report my experiences as always.

So far I feel that the transmission truly benefitted from the Co-Pilot

T:cool: NY
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BIG VA........nope not yest,

Maybe I'll try it in a few days..........

I have a few more mods to add and then hopefull, weather permitting be at the track Sunday.

I'll report my experiences as always.

So far I feel that the transmission truly benefitted from the Co-Pilot

T:cool: NY
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:blahblah: Says the resident know it all! With a huff and a puff and blow his house right off his slab! :D

Know it all..............:eek:

I wish.............:D
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HUFF....PUFF...............PUFF................):h

Where does one get this ats co-pilot?

I'm from wisconsin and nobody around here does installs.

I'm close to minneapolis, and still nobody!

There's no way I'm driving to michigan.

Anybody have any idea's?

Try Huckstorf's. His shop is in Wisc. You could pm him, his handle is WI Huck.

On Edit: His website is www.hdiesel.com (http://www.hdiesel.com)
Huckstorf is a Suncoast dealer. But I bet if you purchased the Co-Pilot on your own and brought it to them, they would install it.

There's no way I'm driving to michigan.


~~Ring...Ring~~
Changed your mind already huh?):h

Heck I live North of Milwaukee and I drove to MI to have Eric install my Sun-3. Well worth the ride. I spent the night at his place because we finished late. However, there was about a 4 or 5 hour break for drag racing. :) He really takes care of his customers, I had a whole travel trailer to myself, what more could you ask for!

I tried to get on the milwaukee ferry but you need reservations, that would have saved a ton of driving. He isn't too far from muskegon so it would be a short ride.

Sorry to derail the Co-Pilot post. :(

Where does one get this ats co-pilot?

I'm from wisconsin and nobody around here does installs.

I'm close to minneapolis, and still nobody!

There's no way I'm driving to michigan.

Anybody have any idea's?

You might try WI Huck here on the board. His shop is in Milwakee area, Huckstorff Diesel.

Where does one get this ats co-pilot?

I'm from wisconsin and nobody around here does installs.

I'm close to minneapolis, and still nobody!

There's no way I'm driving to michigan.

Anybody have any idea's?

Come on now. Minneapolis to Holland, MI is only 550 miles, about 10.5 hours straight through (you have to plan to avoid Chicago rush hour traffic). Holiday Inn, Fairfield Inn and more minutes away from Eric's shop. $3500, two tanks of gas, a hotel room, dinner at the Brewery, 2 days of vacation time - small price to pay (at least for a SCIII). You'll be lucky if you get out of there without spending more than that on additional upgrades though. Been there, done that.

i still have yet to find someone in or near maryland that can do a sc 3 install and maybe a co-pilot at the same time i am goin to florida in july takin my truck but i doubt i'll have the cash by then evan if there is someone down there that can do the install. Any comments i'm open.

You can try these guys while your in Florida

I think they might know how to install a SC3

http://www.suncoastconverters.com/

i look at it this way, you got three places to go. mike L in CA./ eric in MI/ joe in FL. those would be the people that could do it blind folded. from what i read on the forums they are the kings. paid my buddies to make a power run to eric 7-7.5 hours each way. left around 4am sat got back 5am sunday. i think its as good as adding another box the way it performs after i got it back. thanks again eric, steve

Enough already!

I called and talked to Eric yesterday.:)

Headed to michigan sometime after the 4th.:ro) SC IV w/ mike. L cooler and some sort of mounting bracket.


Sorry if I hit a nerve.

Thanks for all the response.