[boilerrat]

I broke my fifth gear shift fork once while racing my buddies real Ford GT. Was at probably 120mph and about 1/2 mile behind when shifting into fifth. At the time it broke I had no idea and then getting back into Houston I needed to down shift for an exit. Shifter wouldn't move. I jerked and jerked and got it into fourth but that was all she wrote. 4th gear all the way home. Pulled it out and disassembled tranny. Found the fork broken and luckily it rested in pocket and didn't go round and round with the other bits. If you go this far into it you'll notice there is a stamped steel plate that holds the counter shaft centered somewhat. Under very hard acceleration the shaft will bend and push this plate out, fortunately these hotrods are light because these trannys are only good to about 330 lb. ft. of torque but thats with a heavy Mustang. I reckon what I'm getting at here is "they" make a billet plate that goes in place of the stamp steel plate that really strengthens these things up. I used Rosehill Performance near Houston.