Driving a Pro Shifted T5 on the Street

**Is1BadFord** · 09-02-2009, 09:32 PM

Here's a small video I put together today showing what it's like to drive a pro shifted (no synchros) car around on the street. This was during 5pm traffic in Phoenix, AZ...so lots of stop and go. I never got over 40mph.

Yes, it's much like driving a 500ish horsepower dump truck, with 7000+ rpm on tap! Just kidding...sort of. The principles are the same...but in the car it's much, MUCH smoother than in a dumptruck lol.

Cris

**SLCK64** · 09-03-2009, 03:12 PM

My legs hurt after watching this.

**Is1BadFord** · 09-03-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLCK64

My legs hurt after watching this.

LOL!! Maybe with an old style high base pressure clutch like we used to run years ago =D. The clutch in this car is a simple Centerforce unit with counterweights, and an organic disc. You can EASILY push the clutch down with your hand, using only one finger as the connection point. It's almost TOO soft lol, feel wise anyhow. It seems to hold what power we're throwing at it for the meantime. Honestly though...here really isn't much more resistance to this thing than there is to the throttle.

Cris

**FEandGoingBroke** · 09-03-2009, 09:41 PM

Why is it necessary to double shift when going up the gears?

Is this thing designed to be slam bamed into each gear when racing?

**Spali32** · 09-03-2009, 10:42 PM

I'm still looking at the $2370 one from Liberty(non face-plated). From what I hear it should allow me to still shift to 7Krpms without any problems. I don't like the idea of clunking on the downshifting as my car will most likely be 90% street/10% track car.

LIBERTYS TTC TRANSMISSIONS

**Is1BadFord** · 09-03-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

Why is it necessary to double shift when going up the gears?

Is this thing designed to be slam bamed into each gear when racing?

Yes, it's designed for high rpm shifting...rpm's where the synchro system fails. At 6500+ there is no grind, no noise, no resistance to shifting at all. Just flat out engagement...and the faster you turn the motor, the faster it seems to shift. The drawback is that without synchro's, you have to match speed between the input shaft and the lugs on the gear you're engaging in order for the sliders to lock at lower rpms. That's accomplished by either natural engine rpm (meaning shifting with no clutch as the motor hits the 'sweet spot'...easier with a synchroed trans btw), or manipulated engine rpm via the throttle, in neutral with the clutch disc engaged in order to spool up the input shaft. Clutching twice isn't really necessary on all cars, but it makes shifting this one much smoother than just pulling the shift lever out of gear while the clutch is engaged and only clutching in once when you pull i into the next gear, due to how quickly this motor decelerates. Letting off the throttle is very much like hitting the brakes.

For me...the tradeoff seems to be WELL worth it.

Hope that helps!

Cris

**Is1BadFord** · 09-03-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spali32

I'm still looking at the $2370 one from Liberty(non face-plated). From what I hear it should allow me to still shift to 7Krpms without any problems. I don't like the idea of clunking on the downshifting as my car will most likely be 90% street/10% track car.

LIBERTYS TTC TRANSMISSIONS

I can understand that. Realize though that the face plated units are MUCH more durable, and will last far, far longer than the pro shifted units like mine. The clunking isn't wearing the lugs on a face plated unit, wheras it IS wearing the lugs on a pro shifted one. The face plated units also shift MUCH more smoothly, as they have a MUCH wider window of engagement. They're substantially stronger to boot. I've got a friend who has been running one in his mid 10 second, N/A cleveland powered 3300lb spring/summer/fall daily driver for over six years without issue. Minimum of 7000 miles a year.

Anyhow though, my car is easily 90% street lol, and daily driven to boot (year round). It'll eventually get a face plated trans. I do however fully intend to shift it well over 7500 though, once the suspension is shook out, so the sacrifice (if you could call it that...I don't) is a bit more necessary on mine than yours.

Cris

**FEandGoingBroke** · 09-04-2009, 09:28 AM

Cool thanks for that! I can shift any tranny all day any day without the clutch without any issues...

I drove military vehicles for 13 years and then damn things never even knew what a synchro was...

If I had a crapton of money I'd buy a tranny like that for when I wanna race my Falcon all of it's 75 MPH down the track...

**hepcat69** · 09-04-2009, 01:50 PM

Could someone give me a better understanding of what a "face plated" transmission is and what the benefits are?

**Is1BadFord** · 09-04-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

Cool thanks for that! I can shift any tranny all day any day without the clutch without any issues...

I drove military vehicles for 13 years and then damn things never even knew what a synchro was...

If I had a crapton of money I'd buy a tranny like that for when I wanna race my Falcon all of it's 75 MPH down the track...

LOL, they're not that expensive =D. Mine only cost me $400...used of course. Normal pricing is usually about $700 up used, I did get a deal.

And hey, when you've only got 75mph to work with...you've got to do SOMETHING to get the ET down!

Cris