clutch cable kit
- Thread starter daddy oth
- Start date
CraigMBA
New Member
I have a modern one. If I had to do it again, I'd use Steve's because it uses a stock cable.
I'd skip Ron's. It doesn't have enough mechanical advantage IMO.
I'd skip Ron's. It doesn't have enough mechanical advantage IMO.
CraigMBA, is there a reason you prefer a stock cable other than it's stock?
I'm also going to be doing a t-5 conversion. Swaping from a C-4. I'm thinking about getting Moderdriveline's complete auto to t-5 package. Has anyone bought this package. I'd like some feedback.
Also, I'm having a hard time finding a shop that will do the conversion at a reasondalbe price. I called three shops and they told me a weeks job. They're all charging me roughly $2500 for labor. Is this too much? Or is this what I should expect to pay? I have a 67 mustang it that makes a difference.
I'm also going to be doing a t-5 conversion. Swaping from a C-4. I'm thinking about getting Moderdriveline's complete auto to t-5 package. Has anyone bought this package. I'd like some feedback.
Also, I'm having a hard time finding a shop that will do the conversion at a reasondalbe price. I called three shops and they told me a weeks job. They're all charging me roughly $2500 for labor. Is this too much? Or is this what I should expect to pay? I have a 67 mustang it that makes a difference.
A week ? Try 1 freaking day. It shouldn't cost much more then a clutch job labor wise since the only extra work is installing the new clutch cable setup as long as you supply the parts. The only reason it takes longer then 1 day is because after its all together you have to have a new drive shaft made or shorten your existing one.
If you want to save some cash, install the pedals yourself and prep the car as much as possible. This shouldn't cost more then 500 dollars in labor and even that is excessive IMO.
I've pulled a C4 and installed a T5 in 1 day flat on my back in my garage using jack stands so if you take it to a mechanic and they can't take care of it in 1 day (aside from the drive shaft) then they suck.
EDIT:
Why are the stock cables better ? Well, even Maximum Motorsport has said that they have been unable to find a higher quality cable then the stock Ford part so I would be willing to be that has something to do with it.
If you want to save some cash, install the pedals yourself and prep the car as much as possible. This shouldn't cost more then 500 dollars in labor and even that is excessive IMO.
I've pulled a C4 and installed a T5 in 1 day flat on my back in my garage using jack stands so if you take it to a mechanic and they can't take care of it in 1 day (aside from the drive shaft) then they suck.
EDIT:
Why are the stock cables better ? Well, even Maximum Motorsport has said that they have been unable to find a higher quality cable then the stock Ford part so I would be willing to be that has something to do with it.
I did the C4 to T5 conversion using the complete Modern Driveline kit. Great service from Modern Driveline, and a quality well thought out solution in the conversion components. I'm happy with their clutch cable, the way it installs and the clutch pedal feel. I renewed my pedal bearings at the same time using their kit, I guess the whole job would have taken 8-10 hours. Overall I'm very happy with the whole MD kit and would use it again.
CraigMBA
New Member
The Modern cable is way way way stouter than the stock one, but I get excited when I can use OE parts. I've had my car since '84.
If I frag a Modern cable and they aren't around, it's a pretty standard industrial cable I can get somebody to make up for me. It's not that big a deal.
You can expect to pay about $800 for somebody to R&R a trans. You can buy a trans jack from Harbor Freight for a couple of hundred and turn around and sell it on Craigslist for $50 bucks off when you get done with it.
When I did my swap, I put the pedals in as I had time. You could do the same thing with everything but the trans as time permitted and still drive the car. It probablly took me a month to do my swap working on and off on the car in my free time.
If I frag a Modern cable and they aren't around, it's a pretty standard industrial cable I can get somebody to make up for me. It's not that big a deal.
You can expect to pay about $800 for somebody to R&R a trans. You can buy a trans jack from Harbor Freight for a couple of hundred and turn around and sell it on Craigslist for $50 bucks off when you get done with it.
When I did my swap, I put the pedals in as I had time. You could do the same thing with everything but the trans as time permitted and still drive the car. It probablly took me a month to do my swap working on and off on the car in my free time.
mustbereel
Member
valley82
Member
Yup, 1 day, by myself, already had the c-4 out for paint but the t-5, pedals and JMC hydraulic clutch went in in about 10 hours. That doesn't include the driveshaft.
I don't have a lift so the car was on jackstands and I bought a trannyjack.
It may take a week if they send the driveline out to be shortened but if they can't do the swap in 2 days or LESS worth of labor I would definitely look for another shop. JMO
I don't have a lift so the car was on jackstands and I bought a trannyjack.
It may take a week if they send the driveline out to be shortened but if they can't do the swap in 2 days or LESS worth of labor I would definitely look for another shop. JMO
68stang351
Founding Member
I can't recommend one over the other two, because I've never used two of them, but I have the Ron Morris cable kit, and it's been problem free for about 5 years now. It's a great kit, no drilling or cutting of anything. I would recommend it. Actually for that matter, I plan on buying another Ron Morris cable kit when we build my wife's 68.
That's what I thought. Some of the shops I was calling charged $90/hour. If this is at most a 2 day job that comes out to roughly $1500 and not $2500.
Moderndriveline mentioned that Mustangs and Fords was going to install their kit on a 67 Mustang on their June issue. This is around the time I plan to do the conversion. I should probably take this issue to the shops when asking for an estimate. I'd like to just find other shops, but their aren't that many around that work on vintage cars in my area.
Does anyone know any good shops in the Los Angeles area? Specifically in the San Gabriel area if your famialr with that area?
Also thanks for all the responses. They'll end up saving me alot of $.
Moderndriveline mentioned that Mustangs and Fords was going to install their kit on a 67 Mustang on their June issue. This is around the time I plan to do the conversion. I should probably take this issue to the shops when asking for an estimate. I'd like to just find other shops, but their aren't that many around that work on vintage cars in my area.
Does anyone know any good shops in the Los Angeles area? Specifically in the San Gabriel area if your famialr with that area?
Also thanks for all the responses. They'll end up saving me alot of $.
There are shops in Orange County, Superior Automotive has been recommended to me for work on my 1970. I believe Danny Bahn of DB Performance Engineering in Rosemead does work on classics, he's in Rosemead CA. His Phone # is (626) 571-7126 or email at [email protected]. IIRC, Danny was a pioneer in getting EFI into Classic Stangs. He makes a clutch cable kit as well... http://www.mustangmonthly.com/techarticles/mump_0608_ford_transmission_swap/photo_11.html
Personally I would do the job myself, it really is not that big of a deal. All you need is some time and a few tools. Whatever tools you don't have you can borrow/rent. If you don't have a garage, borrow a friends for a weekend.
I believe the money spent on having somebody else do the job would be better spent on tools for you, or beer.
Normally I'd agree with you and this is a very DIY heavy forum. The thing is, it sounds like the OP doesn't really have any mechanical skills yet. I don't think a trans swap is a good place to start learning.
Heck you don't even need a trans jack to do this swap. I put my car up on jack stands and muscled it in place. I was sore for a few days where the tranny would slip out and land on my chest. By the end there was no way I was going to use a jack, it became personal and the car wasn't coing to win. 
Heck you don't even need a trans jack to do this swap. I put my car up on jack stands and muscled it in place. I was sore for a few days where the tranny would slip out and land on my chest. By the end there was no way I was going to use a jack, it became personal and the car wasn't coing to win.
That's exactly what I did with the T-5 in my '95!
I must have misread where the OP mentioned his "newbie-ness" , my bad. Although, we were all newbies at some point.
Got to get in there and start trying to do things, I think its a big part of the fun in this hobby. Good luck with those shops! I hope it works out for you.
My first improvement, and first real experience modding a car was to remove the 6 cyl 3 spd engine and drop in a fuel injected 5 speed drivetrain. With time and research it is amazing what you can do. What is really interesting is I did those mods before I learned about forums.
after installing mustangsteve cable kit on '66 coupe 5.0 i ran into some problem, the cable rest on the first tube (left side) on the header and the other one is the won't fit into bell housing due to header tube in it's way. does anyone uses this kit and run into simular problem? how do you fix them?
oh, header is hedman
thank you,
daddy oth
oh, header is hedman
thank you,
daddy oth
Decurion
Member
I have the same problem. The only real solution is new headers. I used shorty headers for a Maverick made by Thorley. They werent cheap at nearly $600, but theyre bomb proof. Ive never seen a better quality set of headers. Since you have a Mustang and not a falcon like me, you have many more options, but if you toast your cable like me with the MD kit, its gonna cost you $140 for a new cable. Which is why I think maybe next time Ill go with a different conversion kit for my other car. Either that or just not burn the cable to begin with!
