Tremec gearstick too far back

[minivan]

Good Afternoon all,

this is my first post here as i only just found this place.. finally! i found a cobra forum.

anyway back onto the task at hand

my dad and I are building a G-Force Corba with an 302 Windsor with tremec 5 speed straight out of an AUII XR8

the problem we have is that the gearstick is sitting about 6 inches too far back from where it should be.. (sticks up where your elbow would rest)..

is there a different extension housing or bellhousing and input shaft we could use? anyone else have this problem.. i'm guessing i have a very common combination so it can be that muh of a drama to sort out

cheers
Andrew

[Bryan Wilson]

See Aussie Mike on this forum he does the mod.
Also welcome to Club Cobra
Cheers,
Bryan

[boxhead]

I dont think Mike will be able to help to much with the conversion on the 5 speed box, he has only been doing 6 speeds.
If you check out the website for B&M shifters there are quiet afew available that will probably suit.

[minivan]

is this a common problem?

or are people just using old toploaders?

[Aussie Mike]

I believe there are a couple of different T5 extension housings and there may be some variation in the shifter position. I know there are certainly a couple of different shifter designs for them.

I think you will find what most people do with the T5 is to make a lean forward style shifter much like the original cars ran. It's not the best feel for changing gears but you will get used to it.

Have a look at some of the pics in the gallery and you are sure to find an example of the lean forward shifter.

The other way around it is to make an external remote shifter to move the position forward. The only problem with this set up is there may not be enough room in the top of your tunnel.

Cheers

[Rebel1]

Mike is Correct.

Which Tremec is it in the XR8?.. I suspect the T45 as used in the 96-99 mustang. Could be wrong though, could be a TR3650 as in the BA. You'll find the model on a tag on the right hand side of the transmission.

A T5 in the cobra requires a bent forward shifter. Not unlike the reverse top loader shifter look.

Snake bite at the Gold Coast sells a shifter for them for the cobra.

Phone: 07 5529 0877 Don Pilling.

[minivan]

i'll check tonight as to the model number

how far forward does the snakebite gearstick shift the knob (how long is the kink) we found an XR6 of the same year has a bent back gearstick that we can put on backwards. it shifts the knob forward about 2 inches

anyone have any pics?.. i couldnt seem to find one in the gallery.. it doesnt search very well

cheers

Andrew

[Rebel1]

Here's some pics of 427 style of shifters.

http://www.cobraaccessories.com/cata...feed53942b3c95

This is an american site but Don has the same things.

Cheers

[minivan]

damn.. wouldnt those make the gear changes feel weird?

we're gunna fit the box up and see how she feels with the 2 inch bent xr6.. might just heat her up and tilt it a little more forward

once again.. i am so happy i finally found this place.. haha

ive been on a mini forum for ages and a ford escort forum.. but couldnt find one for cobras

[Rebel1]

If you're building a cobra.....this is the place to be.

As to the gearshift levers....they feel a little strange at first then they grow on ya.

Cheers

[minivan]

i think ours is different..

its 790mm from boltup to gearstick (not inc bellhousing)..
also all photos ive seen of them have 2 bars of vertical webbing on the extension housing before the gearstick.. ours has 4.. the extension housing is 370mm on its own..

the 2002 AUII must just be longer for better placement in car.

its definately a t5 though by looking at the model lineup..


is a toploader a better box than a tremec? ive come across a 5speed toploader off a cleveland that i might be able to do some deal with

will a cleveland bellhousing bolt up to a windsor?

[Rebel1]

That's an awful longggggg tranny.

The T5 from bolt up (excluding bellhousing is just short of 500mm)

The tremec 3550 series including the new TK500/600 is exactly the same.ie 19.75"approx.

The toploader is an excellent tranny but come in several flavours. You might want to go to the transmission forum in here and have a read.

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/foru...?s=&forumid=92

Also go have a look at David Kees site to identify which top loader you are looking at.

http://www.4speedtoploaders.com/

The tremecs are assentially a 5 speed top loader. The newer version TR500/600 have much better ratios than the earlier 3550 and TKS versions, and are capable of handling greater torque. (500 & 600 Ft/Lbs)

The WC T5 is good for about 300F/Lbs torque with the heavy duty z versions much more capable of handling higher torque.
If you want to stick with the T5 you have(if it is a T5) then you can get heavy duty internals from G-force in the states.

http://www.g-forcetransmissions.com/tran_gt-5.asp

However, If you were to go to that expense you may as well consider the new Tremec 500/600 for the better ratios.

But....I'm not sure what you have is a T5.

Cheers

[minivan]

well i think a picture is in order

its definately a T5.. looks like the extension housing is way longer than standard though.. this is a 2002 AUII XR8 falcon where talking about



the whole lot is alot cleaner now.. engine has been painted too

and if you compare that to a standard t5 (older one)



you can clearly see that the extension housing is waayyyyyy longer

[Aussie Mike]

I'd be selling that trans and picking up an older one. You'll save yourself a headache with the shifter setup on the new one.

Cheers

[Rebel1]

Looks just like a T5 i've got in the shed except for the long extension housing.

My extension housing is 375mm from bolt face to the very end.

The T5 is a glorious box...but a little weak and several Cobra owners have destroyed them even behind relatively mild 5.0 Ltr's engines.

Three choices far as I can see

1. Buy a ford motor sport 7003Z HD WC T5 box
2. Get the G-force bits and rebuild that one using the shorter extension. ( these make a nice box )
3. buy a tremec if you have ambitions for much more horse power. ( and will WILL want more at some time)

Cheers

[minivan]

the T5 is a Tremec, which one are you talking about?

[Aussie Mike]

Les in his dotage is probably refering to the TR3550 which is sometimes called the 5speed toploader.

A significantly tougher transmission than the T5. The standard units are rated at 350ft/lb of torque where your T5 is rated to about 230ft/lb.

there are some beefier versions of the 3550 as well with the TKO II is rated to 475ft/lb.

You could also look at the T56 6 speed which is rated at 450ft/lb with beefier versions rated up around 650ft/lb.

Check out the Tremec web page for details on the different transmissions they make : Tremec T5

Cheers

[Rebel1]

Xactly right Mike.....

Although the T5 is made by Tremec it is usually referred to as a T5 because it was originally made by BW. I cant see the front face of yours to see what the cluster bearing retainer is so I cant say if it's a WC version or not. see here to identify:

http://www.5speeds.com/t5/

And Mike is once again right with his assessment of the 3550/TKO's etc. Good solid transmissions which will stand up to a lot of abuse.

Later versions of the Tremec are known as the TK500 and TK600 as mentioned earlier.

http://www.fortesparts.com/tremec.cfm

Higher torque again and much better ratios.

[pneall]

Have a chat to Mal Wood in SA. He knows all about Tremecs. Don Pilling can also source Tremecs.

Mal does a lot of conversions. check his site at malwoodauto.com.au

Make sure you get one of his HD clutches


Phil

[minivan]

yeah ive been talking to malwood,

he says the mainhaft in the AU t5 is 2" longer and the gearstick is 4" further back than a mustang t5

so would need to change extension housing and mainshaft.. just checking on prices.. i have a low k box (<30grand) so dont want to swap if i dont have to for now.. depending on prices i might just swap a few bits instead