I'm considering getting a manual tranny . . .

I don't know why but it's been running through my head to get a manual transmission. I have a C4 now and I'm very happy with it but I've never owned a stick and would really like that experience I think. I commute with my car and so the better gas mileage is a plus. I need something that'll stand up to something in the 400+ hp range . . .

 

what about the ford racing t5?
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=1879

or you'll wait for this one to be availabe:
http://www.stangtv.com/forum/mcleod-hits-high-gear-their-new-6035.html

other than that, you could also use the regular 4-speed toploader - they are pretty strong and were used behind big blocks. but you won't have the advantage of an overdrive...

if i'm not mistaken, all other (stronger) transmissions would need heavy modifications of the transmission tunnel.

 

t-5 has 5 speeds right? that would be great, I think Bryant mentioned the same one. I really don't want to waste gas the way I am right now on my daily commutes, I'm getting in the 15mpg, I feel kinda bad for mother earth . . .

so I've done my reading on the things in involved in putting in a manual . . . I need the pedal assembly from another mav, driveshaft shortening, gear upgrade, and some sort of cable assembly, and a tranny mount.

 

well, there's a pedal assembly on ebay right now, instead of the cable you might use the old z-bar, seen some in the for sale section on here.

one of the users here makes a special crossmember for the t5.

3.80 would make good gears for a t5 with the common .63 overdrive.
i'm not sure of shortening the driveshaft, but only shorten is as needed once the tranny is in.

apart from that, you would have to swap your flexplate to a flywheel, get a manual bellhousing and a decent clutch. maybe you'll even have to replace the starter, due to different nose length.

all in all quite a project, but very well worth it. i have the same t5 behind my mustang 6 and love it. over here, we're commonly used to manual trannys and considering our highway speeds (75 mph is slow here...) and overdrive is sure nice to have!

 

maybe I can get a cheaper t5 and put it in the mav and later when I have a more powerful engine I can replace with a stronger T5.

is the clutch and z-bar assembly hard to install?

 

if you're looking for a cheaper t5, fox body mustangs would be a good source. but beware of getting a 4cyl version of the tranny - they are weaker and have a different input shaft.

swapping to a manual bell and clutch should be manageable, even with the engine still in place

 

...have your motor balanced with the new flywheel...

 

im also thinking of switching to a manual but have no clue how and which one to go to any tips for a 302 pushing about 370 hp?

 

yea I was thinking that too . . . I'm going through all that headache of having the engine rebalanced and now if I'm changing from a flex plate to a flywheel it's gonna be a whole new mess . . . if I make up my mind before Monday maybe I can still have the guy balance the engine for me with the flywheel instead . . .

 

so who do I go to for the manual tranny mount?

 

the machine shop can match the balance of the flex plate to a flywheel, so its not a major issue if it gets changed.

 

what transmission are you going with? 4/5/6 speed...
what clutch setup are you going to use? cable/hydro.
what flywheel are you going to use?
do a tech. writeup on the parts and installation...

......

 

Let me research it a bit and maybe I can put something together.

 

truthfully i have no clue this is my grandfathers project car that he was gonna biuld with me when i was 11 for when i turned 16 about 3 months after he got it he had a stroke and is now only using 35% of his brain... now im 17 and my grandmother finally let me take my baby home with me and im going to start working on it by myself and hopefully finish it by next summer to let him see but i first have to get all the parts and find my starting place and all ive got right now is a couple of maverick books to start off with and my sisters 74 that she blew up trying to drag race with.... so if anyone has any opinions about how i can make this a daily driver with some pep and a 5 speed plz let me know

 

there is a clutch assembly on ebay that someone mentioned, it's like $200, probably can get something aftermarket for that same price. The cable setup is what Bryant and I were talking about.