Fortin FRS5 R spec Vs. Albins AGB

EmpirE231

EmpirE231

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what are the main differences and pro's / cons? I am not familiar w/ Fortins at all, but a car I am interested in has one, so I'd like to learn.

1. Is there a difference between the FRS5 and FRS5 R spec? what does "R SPEC" get you?

2. Are they similar in overall strength? Currently have an albins AGB and most people in my group do as well, so I am sort of familiar w/ what they can handle

3. Are repair prices similar w/ fortin & Albins?
 
Probably worth calling Kevin McMullen on this one. I don't know if he has been in those R-Spec Fortins or not, but he does a fair number of Fortin cars.

I don't have any direct experience with them, so I can't offer an opinion.
 
We have the Fortin FRS5 in a few of our cars. One difference between the fortin and Mendeola/Albins is the fortin has straight cut gears. Makes shifting super smooth. The fortin has a 10" ring and pinion like the Mendeola S4/S5. The albins and Mendeola S4D/S5D have a 11.5" ring and pinion. Our cars running the FRS5 are between 850-1100 HP to the wheels. We run hard but don't drive like idiots (no slamming wheelies or coming down on the throttle) and we've had pretty good luck with the fortins. We do all our repairs through fortin as I don't know if anyone else works on them. They are more pricey than Mendeola S4/S5 to repair, I don't have any knowledge on what albins repairs look like
 
SeanRitchie said:
Probably worth calling Kevin McMullen on this one. I don't know if he has been in those R-Spec Fortins or not, but he does a fair number of Fortin cars.

I don't have any direct experience with them, so I can't offer an opinion.
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c'mon you are the transaxle guru around here...gotta have some input :cool:
Horsepower Lifestyles said:
We have the Fortin FRS5 in a few of our cars. One difference between the fortin and Mendeola/Albins is the fortin has straight cut gears. Makes shifting super smooth. The fortin has a 10" ring and pinion like the Mendeola S4/S5. The albins and Mendeola S4D/S5D have a 11.5" ring and pinion. Our cars running the FRS5 are between 850-1100 HP to the wheels. We run hard but don't drive like idiots (no slamming wheelies or coming down on the throttle) and we've had pretty good luck with the fortins. We do all our repairs through fortin as I don't know if anyone else works on them. They are more pricey than Mendeola S4/S5 to repair, I don't have any knowledge on what albins repairs look like
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thanks for the feedback...when you say FRS5, is that the same as the R-spec or is there some differences between those 2?

have you had any ring and pinion issues with those cars, or is mostly gears being replaced during a freshen up?
 
Justin Farmber at SCU has had both in his car, he can tell you the Pros and the Cons
 
I've seen Fortins at Dave Folts shop. They might be able to give you some opinions if you give them a call.
 
I've had 2 Albins in my car over 16 years. 5 Speed synchromesh for 7 years. Rebuilt once at about 6 years old for making a clunking sound. Nothing broke just some bearings and synchros.

Then put a blower on my 425 stroker (825hp, 650 to the wheels) and also put in a brand new 5 speed sequential. Lasted 7 years. Duned great for a few days. Got up the next morning to go duning and wouldn't go into any gear? Stuck in neutral. Put it in the trailer. Had it rebuilt and it was 2500 bucks. Nothing wrong with it. I just didn't change the oil and I guess it got to thick and greasy. Delicate shifting springs I guess got stuck.

2 years later, new paddles and lots of HP and destroyed the clutch along with the trans being extremely hard to shift as it warmed up. Off to rebuild. Again nothing really wrong with the trans. New 3rd gears (not really needed to be replaced but did), input shaft and some more delicate parts replaced.
Actually the hard shifting saved my clutch and trans area from exploding apart. Put it in the trailer. Clutch was broke/cracked all over it.

Don't have any info for the Fortin. Good luck deciding.

We'll see how it lasts this time! :oops: I think I should slow down a little thru the whoops. 😁
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I had a Fortin, but the 4 speed wide gear.
It was great when I had a stock LS1, but once I started adding power, it just didn't hold up.
I had it out 3 times in 1 season.
I was over that stuff.

Kevin is a Fortin guru, in fact Fortin will send him boxes to rebuild when they are too busy.

Give him a call, he will be straight with you. You may not like what he has to say. :)

I can tell you, the R&P for the 4 speed wide gear is $8000 just for that.

Not sure about the R spec, I was done with Fortin and didn't entertain it when I switched gear boxes.

For what it is worth, we dune 1100-1300 miles a season.
 
lincster said:
I had a Fortin, but the 4 speed wide gear.
It was great when I had a stock LS1, but once I started adding power, it just didn't hold up.
I had it out 3 times in 1 season.
I was over that stuff.

Kevin is a Fortin guru, in fact Fortin will send him boxes to rebuild when they are too busy.

Give him a call, he will be straight with you. You may not like what he has to say. :)

I can tell you, the R&P for the 4 speed wide gear is $8000 just for that.

Not sure about the R spec, I was done with Fortin and didn't entertain it when I switched gear boxes.

For what it is worth, we dune 1100-1300 miles a season.
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8K for a R&P? That seems way higher than an albins R&P

seems like the general consensus is to stay away from Fortin if possible?
 
EmpirE231 said:
c'mon you are the transaxle guru around here...gotta have some input :cool:

thanks for the feedback...when you say FRS5, is that the same as the R-spec or is there some differences between those 2?

have you had any ring and pinion issues with those cars, or is mostly gears being replaced during a freshen up?
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I'm not too sure but I think they are FRS5 not R Spec. My car just got a ring and pinion and 2nd gear but that was from the previous owner, 2nd gear always had whine from the first time I took it out. My rebuild bill was probably close to double what my old S4 car rebuild was that needed a ring and pinion also
 
Horsepower Lifestyles said:
I'm not too sure but I think they are FRS5 not R Spec. My car just got a ring and pinion and 2nd gear but that was from the previous owner, 2nd gear always had whine from the first time I took it out. My rebuild bill was probably close to double what my old S4 car rebuild was that needed a ring and pinion also
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do you remember the ballpark dollar amount?
 
EmpirE231 said:
8K for a R&P? That seems way higher than an albins R&P

seems like the general consensus is to stay away from Fortin if possible?
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Yes sir. It was $8k just for that.
I personally won't ever own a car with a Fortin again.
 
EmpirE231 said:
Okay which is a stronger trans... the Fortin FRS5 r spec or the newer S4D/S5D?
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I've seen a few cars with big power going through a Fortin. But since I don't really work on them, I can't tell you how well they hold up compared to the S4D. Again, I've only heard things through other owners, I've not seen them myself to give a first hand opinion.

For what it's worth, I think any car pushing more than 1200 HP/TQ at the tire, should have the trans pulled and rebuilt every season or 2 if using it 3-4 weekends a year. This is more to replace parts before they break, which will cost a lot more to fix than doing the preventative rebuild.
 
SeanRitchie said:
I've seen a few cars with big power going through a Fortin. But since I don't really work on them, I can't tell you how well they hold up compared to the S4D. Again, I've only heard things through other owners, I've not seen them myself to give a first hand opinion.

For what it's worth, I think any car pushing more than 1200 HP/TQ at the tire, should have the trans pulled and rebuilt every season or 2 if using it 3-4 weekends a year. This is more to replace parts before they break, which will cost a lot more to fix than doing the preventative rebuild.
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Can't agree more with this. We pull our trannies every other season no matter what. preventative maintenance is so much cheaper than a broken bill. For reference we probably dune 7-10 weekends per season
 
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