PRI 2016: Pfitzner Performance Makes Tremec Six-Speeds Sequential

If you are racing with a manual transmission, quicker shifts will give you an edge over the competition. For those running Tremec six-speed manual transmissions, there is a way to add race-car durability and lightning-quick shifts to these familiar units—Pfitzner Performance Gearboxes’ Sequential Gear Systems.

These support quite a bit more horsepower than the factory transmission, Joseph Dederichs, Tremec

“We import the gears on the sequential side of things. That includes the barrel roller, all of the gear systems, the shifter and a potentiometer that tells you what gear you are in. It also comes with a monitor in our kit,” Joseph Dederichs US Distributor for Tremec Transmissions told us at The PRI Show. “We install it in a six-speed case. Now, it can be our case or a case that you already own if you have a six-speed Tremec in the car.”

A sequential gearbox offers really quick shifting without the chance of missing gears, which might happen with a traditional H-pattern shifter. This makes them an ideal setup for race cars where they are legal, as they will be in TransAm T4 next season.

“The sequential system is a great motorsports setup. We have five different ratios. All of them are close ratios. All of them are very close ratios geared toward specific track conditions,” Joseph said.

While they are most commonly used in road racing, the Pfitzner boxes have proven quite successful in standing-mile events like the Texas Mile, and would work quite well in drag applications because of their durability and quick shifting.

Pfitzner Sequential Gear Ratios

The Pfitzner sequential conversions for Tremec six-speed manuals feature a R-N-1-2-3-4-5-6 pattern and they are available in a variety of ratios to fit the mission of your car…

First / Second / Third / Fourth / Fifth / Sixth

2.148 / 1.561 / 1.228 / 1.000 / 0.875 / 0.777

2.440 / 1.610 / 1.230 / 1.000 / 0.880 /0.777

2.940 / 2.070 / 1.440 / 1.000 / 0.800 / 0.630

2.590 / 1.840 / 1.440 / 1.170 / 1.000 / 0.777

2.407 / 1.872 / 1.522 / 1.294 / 1.132 / 1.000

You can choose to shift these ratios with the included shift handle or an optional paddle-shift upgrade.“These support quite a bit more horsepower than the factory transmission. As you can imagine, we can make the gearing a lot stronger,” he explained. “What’s unique about this transmission when comparing it to a normal racing transmission, which has dog rings, that type of transmission it’s difficult to drive on the street. The technology in this transmission allows you to not drive it like you stole it all the time. You can drive it to the grocery story. You can use a clutch. It’s not just a race transmission.”

These gearboxes feature a R-N-1-2-3-4-5-6 pattern, which can be actuated with the standard shifter or an optional paddle shifter. Cool stuff, but even better for those who like brisk downshifts.

“The great part about it is that it does double as a race transmission, so without any electronics helping, you can upshift at wide-open throttle without using the clutch,” Joseph added. “It’s pretty nice, but the thing that makes it intoxicating is to leave your foot on the throttle and downshift at wide-open throttle. You almost have to relearn how to drive your car because your car will be a different animal.”

That sounds pretty awesome to us, so it’s a good thing the upgrades are available for all Tremec T-56 and TR-6060 six-speed manuals, including the later-model Mustang swap unit, the Magnum XL.

“In the Mustang from 2005 on up, we actually have one in the configuration of the Magnum XL, which goes for the S550 and the S197,” Joseph said. “Shifter position is absolutely perfect and there is no homework and no thinking (to the swap). It is a direct fit and bolt-in.”

To learn more about these innovative transmission upgrades, check out the Pfitzner Performance Gearboxes site here.