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Do you have to fab anything to effect this swap? Engine mounts in the same places, etc?

 

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I confess that I've never understood the mechanism by which Honda limits the power transfer to 70% to the rear wheels. (or transfers up to 70%, as has been advertised).

Is clutch slip the mechanism by which only 10% (as directed by the ECU) is sent to the rear wheels? Or what limits the power going to the rear at 70% max?

 

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The way I understand it, the VTM-4 diff is controlled through pulse-width modulation to the coils inside the unit. The coils squeeze clutch packs to create friction. This friction is what drives the rear tires up to 70% of the engines available torque. The 1G RL's VTM-4 design has similar clutches to an automatic transmission except it's electronic vs hydraulic. Due to a limitation of the coils capability to shed heat they cannot increase the holding power any further. This is why the new VTM-4 system is hydraulic

Now in my situation it will max out sooner, being able to transfer less of the engine's output. This means I could potentially get front wheel spin and damage the rear differential. I figure as long as I'm not an idiot I won't have any problems... At least that's what I hope for. Worst case if I do grenade the rear differential, it's much easier to replace than the transmission and they're a dime a dozen.

So basically the amount of power that goes to the rear wheels is a function of how much or how little clutch slip occurs as determined by the ECU?

I.E., a lot of slip means a small amount of power is directed to the rear wheels and a little bit of slip means the max amount of power is going to the rear wheels?

If that is the case, I wonder why there is so little debris on the rear diff mag plug when I change the VTM-4 fluid? I see much more debris on the tranny mag plug and I change tranny fluid much more frequently than rear diff fluid... About 2x more often (every 13-14k miles for tranny vs 30k miles for the rear diff).

 

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This certainly sounds like the preferred performance boost for the 2009 and newer RLs. But it still ain't cheap!

Kinda makes me envious that I don't have a 2009+ and sad that you aren't my neighbor.

 

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Uh oh. If OhSix sees this thread, I bet he'll come knocking on your door! Maybe Carsmak too.

(I know I would!)

 

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Yep. I smell a road trip in the works. Hey, it's not that far from Sandy Eggo, is it?

Now your task, should you choose to accept it, is to figger out how to make this swap work in a 2006-2008 RL. But I fear the CANbus issue may be a tough nut to crack on this one.

 

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If all you 06-08 guys post in the Ridgeline section on the kTuner help forum maybe we can get support across all model years ;-)

Searching for some such help forum, I stumbled across this 2 year old thread that was deleted. I re-opened it. But I cannot unban Ktuner. I'm not sure why he was banned before. I don't see any reason based on reading the thread, but perhaps there was some PM traffic that resulted in the ban. I have no idea as I was not involved in that action.

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/...-reflash-possibilities-09-14-model-years.html

 

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Speed,

I'm pretty sure Dopes was referring to the Ktuner Forums.
KTuner.com ? View forum - Ridgeline Platform

I'm going to join them later and I'll post a link to this thread, unless Dopes posts a link to his own thread there to here.

Interesting stuff they are doing at Ktuner.

...

Thanks mak. Just registered.

 

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My dyno tuning appt is next Tuesday the 14th. I'm really excited to have some actual numbers!!

Post up a video of that when you can!

 

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If I'm gonna go that far maybe ill setup a leaf blower supercharger for the dyno session. :grin:

Oh no. If you're considering this option, you simply have to go with the Sassoon Type R mod:

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/...ge-one-supercharger-prototype.html#post370849

 

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On the G2, you can run an extension cord over the windshield to the AC plug in the back! YEAH BABY!

Hit the pedal & see if that doesn't blow your hair back! >

No need for that. Simply get one of these self-powered strips and plug multiple Sassoon superchargers into it. No power loss from those ugly belt driven supercharger setups either. In addition, you won't have to cut any holes in the hood for the supercharger either.

 

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Outstanding! Nice job.

 

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I like it. I want one too. >

 

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I'm wondering if the VTM-4 is where you're going to run into reliability issues. It's been CW around here that the drivetrain is the weak link in the system... and iirc, the VTM-4 unit is the weakest part of that link.

I guess if the VTM-4 unit can't handle the power, you will have a lot of torque steer and front wheel burnouts!

 

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If the RL was BOF, you could do a body lift and clear that SC.

 

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Sounds like the RTL-GTO trim. I like it!

 

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It would be great if you took pics of the project and then posted a time-lapse video!

 

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I'm wondering what happens when you're driving around and run the water-meth tank dry. You can't just fill it up anywhere, can ya?

Here are a few shots of the bed without the panels that I stole from somewhere.

Heh! Your thread reminds me of that ad on TV about Geico and wanting more! "I switched to a J37 and got more!... Everybody likes more!"
https://youtu.be/JldaN6Zv9uM

 

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Yeah. That's where at least one member has the LPG tank:

 

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allmotormike, very interesting. One of the difficulties in bringing the J37 over to the 2006-2008 RL was the ECU, IIRC. How did you deal with that? (or maybe I'm mis-remembering).