Gearbox and clutch upgrade, what's involved?

[phazed]

Sooner or later I'm sure I'll be looking at an upgrade.

I'm looking for some serious advice, rough costs and work involved?

At the moment I've a T5 and Mcloed 10.5" clutch.

So what's best, TKO, 5 speed, 6 speed, twin plate, triple plate clutch?

I want to future proof the car, say 500 horses.

I'm not an aggressive driver but like the odd drag day which does test the drivetrain to the limit.

[macdeb]

Peter, I went for a TKO 600 [5-speed] and a twin plate McLeod clutch.
The reasons for the TKO 600 5 speed were;
Exhaust can run same route.
The ratios are near as dammit same as T5 [providing you don't have the 'overdrive 5th]
Same chassis mounts can be used with a modified gearbox mount.
A second hand box came up [though I may have to have it looked at over winter]
They are rated at 600 lb/ft torque standard.
The gear change is nothing like what is written about and pretty good [though into 2nd when cold isn't great on mine]
There are 8 different mounting positions for the gear stick. You will need the 'mid-shift' kit. None were available here within my timescale so I had to get sent from the States [£350 landed]. They may be in stock here now.
The Twin plate McLeod is a delight to use and is rated at 800 hp.
The external slave can be retained with a modified bearing carrier.
You will need the belhousing modified, Ford input shaft, release bearing carrier modified, suitable output yoke on modded propshaft.

I did a thread on 'major mods' about it, and if you'd like any further detail on the conversion if you go this route, let me know.
Mine cost around 3k to do, but add another £800 + vat for a new box, though you may source other stuff more cheaply. You could have existing flywheel drilled to take new clutch, but I opted for a new steel flywheel being stronger and came ready to fit with clutch at £960. [I did have it lightened/balananced]
I think you are already at the uppermost limit with the T5 at present TBH. I thought about having mine with quaiffe internals but after speaking with a company about it and hearing others experiences I decided against and when you see the two side by side, it's an easy decision and you can sell a T5 easy enough.

so, thinking Turbo?

Edited by macdeb on Wednesday 22 April 18:07

Edited by macdeb on Wednesday 22 April 18:08

Edited by macdeb on Wednesday 22 April 18:14

Edited by macdeb on Wednesday 22 April 18:16

[phazed]

Thanks for that enlightening reply Mac, I'll check up your thread later over a decision making Merlot.

Turbo,..........maybe,........most probably,.........almost defo over the winter................

[SILICONEKID345HP]

phazed said:

Thanks for that enlightening reply Mac, I'll check up your thread later over a decision making Merlot.

Turbo,..........maybe,........most probably,.........almost defo over the winter................

Will this mean the engine in bits again ,different cam ,pistons etc ..

Will the Turbo be the right choice for track days ? i would of thought the supercharger may of been the better option .

[Hoofa]

My few pence worth

Qualife the T5 box
Yes McLeod twin plate is spot on
Upgrade drive shafts
Oh and quaife the diff too

Just look up the gearbox man

Of course there are other options and for the track supercharger as it's just a wave of building torques


Job done

Edited by Hoofa on Wednesday 22 April 22:06

[phazed]

SILICONEKID345HP said:

phazed said:

Thanks for that enlightening reply Mac, I'll check up your thread later over a decision making Merlot.

Turbo,..........maybe,........most probably,.........almost defo over the winter................

Will this mean the engine in bits again ,different cam ,pistons etc ..

Will the Turbo be the right choice for track days ? i would of thought the supercharger may of been the better option .

Im thinking leave engine as is and low boost.

[SILICONEKID345HP]

phazed said:

Im thinking leave engine as is and low boost.

Its not going to be that bad ,you have plenty of experience when it comes to building engines .

If you do it right you will be pushing 550hp and more . Jammy dodgers 5l supercharged is around that figure .

[phazed]

Hoofa said:

My few pence worth

Qualife the T5 box
Yes McLeod twin plate is spot on
Upgrade drive shafts
Oh and quaife the diff too

Just look up the gearbox man

Of course there are other options and for the track supercharger as it's just a wave of building torques


Job done

Edited by Hoofa on Wednesday 22 April 22:06

So, Nigel, is the Quaife proven in any way?

[Hoofa]

Well if you want to keep the T5 yes as it makes far more robust without the faff of changing

The diff gets a big yes from me and its a no brainier of going into bigger power, again available from the gearbox man.

And of course don't forget the driveshafts

[77racing]

good luck with quaife after sales customer service

[phazed]

Is that sarcasm Perry?

[Sardonicus]

There is still life in the T5 yet look at the 5.4 Stangs spec then the launch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m-7efuVjJg

[carsy]

Thats a proper launch !!!

If thats on a T5 i`d leave it in Peter.

Isnt Derek pushing high 400`s with his nitrous and his box is holding out.

[db484bhpv8]

carsy said:

Thats a proper launch !!!

If thats on a T5 i`d leave it in Peter.

Isnt Derek pushing high 400`s with his nitrous and his box is holding out.

and some more.
My T5 was rebuilt 2 years ago by John Reid. He did something to the 5th and replaced my gearset with one from an 8k Sag box that was in for a close ratio set. Its had a lot of abuse from the nitrous, the sticky Mickey Thompsons and my rather enthusiastic gearchanges when racing. This year i have Dave Mac driveshafts and aim to launch harder from the line. Watch out for a post about my gearbox exploding

[Chuffmeister]

Sardonicus said:

There is still life in the T5 yet look at the 5.4 Stangs spec then the launch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m-7efuVjJg

Looking at those fellas, something tells me he's going to be paying the 5k bet!

[Hoofa]

77racing said:

good luck with quaife after sales customer service

I havnt needed it !!!! Loads of t5 conversions been done

[Sardonicus]

3rd gear is the weakest apparently but I have read about guys sticking 400+ and 450+ torque through them even at the strip one guy said he had power shifted his 150k T5 for 40k before it give out these are all street/strip drivers and car upwards of 3000+ pounds weight wise (no trick internals) it really depends how aggressive you are IMO

[phazed]

Exactly Simon. Third fails because it is the gear that one is usually in when max torque is laid down.

Thrash the car through the gears, especially a light car where the tyre grip is the fuse and all should be good, up to point of course.

Just to put different slants on the subject of power, last weekend at Shakey, even though my car did good you can't help but want for more, hence this thread.

Conversely, earlier this evening I was out for a quick B road and minor country lane blast for about an hour and came to the conclusion that for the road my car is mega fast, very controllable power wise with equally matched handling which is superb and if I were to have 100 more horses I would eventually bin it in a hedge.

Make of that what you will but this "super power" requires more thought then I first envisaged.

[db484bhpv8]

phazed said:

.
Make of that what you will but this "super power" requires more thought then I first envisaged.

Tell me about it

[OleVix]

Steve Heath was talking about uprated T5s he used in LS conversions...