Clutch mods?

[thomas91169]

Long story short, im pretty sure a few know i just re-purchased my 03 cobra i had sold last December.

now i dont remember if it was always this way, but the clutch is REALLY heavy, and the shifter is a complete pita to shift, its a struggle sometimes to shift. i dont know if its because the clutch is not fully engaging (which is almost what it feels like) or what, i doubt the tranny is going out but it does have 58k on it). ive driven cars with 3500lb pressure plates and nothing felt like this. what also scares me is while youre engaging the clutch, you can almost feel the engines rpm's through it (possible TOB?).

what are some of the things i can do to try to get either a better feeling clutch or easier shifting tranny?

i was looking at the Fiore or whatever adjusters. what all does that entail to install? sounds like a pita. what else should i get?

it has a MGW with the Orange handle, and its a severely long reach, ive had to adjust how i drive (lean more towards the center) to be somewhat comfortable. i dont know how much more reach i can get out of the orange handle to bring it closer to me, is there a more adjustable option?

i definately dont remember the tranny being that notchy and hard to shift.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Start by adding an adjustable firewall adapter and a new quadrant. It's a cheap mod and it may alleviate some of the heavy pedal and clutch engagement issues you're experiencing. Yes, installing a clutch quadrant is a pain unless you're a very small person with small arms & hands. I had to remove my drivers seat so I could lay on my back and look up under the dash to install mine. Then again I'm a fat bastard with sausages for fingers.

I'm really surprised you're not happy with the reach on the MGW shifter? It's hands down the best one out there today and is leaps and bounds ahead of stock. Maybe if you search around you may be able to find one of the original blue or red MGW handles. Hell I'll trade you my Pro 5.0 with the MGW adjustable handle for your complete MGW unit.

U.M.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The T-56 does not shift smoothly, that's just the way it is.

Like UM said you need a firewall adjuster and quadrant, the stock setup is garbage. This will make the shifting better but in no way will it ever be perfect or smooth all the time. Remove the seat for easy installation. Go with Fiore.

You might consider filling the trans with Mobil1 Synth ATF also (no friction modifier, no synchromesh bs, just use Mobil1 ATF).

MGW > *

To test your clutch put the trans in 5th and slowly let the clutch out, the engine should die within 5 seconds.

 

[thomas91169]

I'm really surprised you're not happy with the reach on the MGW shifter? It's hands down the best one out there today and is leaps and bounds ahead of stock. Maybe if you search around you may be able to find one of the original blue or red MGW handles. Hell I'll trade you my Pro 5.0 with the MGW adjustable handle for your complete MGW unit.

U.M.

i had this issue before when i had it the first time, i thought i just needed a new shifter unit, but upon further inspection, it was a blue handle, and all i did was re-adjust it and it felt way better (reach was the same as my triax in my gt). but now i can tell its fully adjusted as far in as it will go, and its till way the hell over. i might see if i can get more adjustment out of it, even a half inch closer would be fine.

The T-56 does not shift smoothly, that's just the way it is.

werd, but like i said, i dont remember it being this notchy. i could be wrong though

You might consider filling the trans with Mobil1 Synth ATF also (no friction modifier, no synchromesh bs, just use Mobil1 ATF).

So no RoyalPurple?

To test your clutch put the trans in 5th and slowly let the clutch out, the engine should die within 5 seconds.

wont this just be testing the grabbing ability of the clutch? ive always known if a clutch was dying, it wont hold the power of the gear that has the closest to or 1:1 ratio (4th in a T56 iirc). i remember when my gst's was dying, it couldnt hold 3rd gear at wot without winding out and slipping, and once it got to the point it couldnt hold 2nd gear without winding out or grabbing, was when i finally replaced it.

 

[Uncle Meat]

I 2nd the suggestion of replacing the stock tranny fluid with Mobil 1 synthetic ATF. That's what I've been running in mine and it shifts pretty smooth... then again I baby the crap out of my car for the most part.

Is the blue handle shorter or longer than the orange?

U.M.

 

[thomas91169]

http://www.mgwltd.com/mustang_shift_handle.shtml

im pretty sure it had a blue handle on it before, however i dont think the blue handle and orange are interchangable, judging by how they look to attach to the shifter base. the orange slides onto a shaft and is tightened down, the blue looks like it uses the standard two-hole attachment (stock, triax, pro5.0).

i thought MGW had like three different handle choices that all had different abilities.

 

[Uncle Meat]

http://www.mgwltd.com/mustang_shift_handle.shtml

im pretty sure it had a blue handle on it before, however i dont think the blue handle and orange are interchangable, judging by how they look to attach to the shifter base. the orange slides onto a shaft and is tightened down, the blue looks like it uses the standard two-hole attachment (stock, triax, pro5.0).

i thought MGW had like three different handle choices that all had different abilities.

Sounds to me like you have the Blue MGW adjustable handle, not the full MGW shifter and handle. The MGW shifter was originally released with two different slip on handles, a red and blue (long & short throw). Eventually MGW did away with the two different types and went with a single orange handle.


Seems like you have a setup like my current one. I have a Pro 5.0 base with an MGW adjustable handle. This blue adjustable handle is made to replace the handle on other aftermarket shifters.

Check this pic:

You need to look at the base plate of the shifter and see if it's stock (no markings) or if it's a Pro-5.0, or Tri-ax, UPR, etc... The MGW base is anodized black and engraved with the MGW logo I believe.

U.M.

 

[thomas91169]

yeah when i first had it it was the blue handle with the stock shift assembly.

now he says its a mgw unit with the orange handle. i can feel the handle and shaft through the shifter boot, so im pretty sure its whatever he says it is.

if i get a chance ill look at it later tonight.

 

[thomas91169]

yup its a MGW with the orange handle.

i was able to get another inch of reach out of adjusting the handle towards me more, taking out the threaded shaft that knob screws onto, and heating it up and bending a slight curve at the base to give me another half inch. im much more satisfied with the reach of the shifts now.

now on to the clutch. i think i saw Lethal performance had the Fiore adjuster and Fiore Quadrant for 100$ shipped. prolly pick that up later this week.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Now that you've verified the shifter you might want to keep your eye out on the classifieds for someone selling their blue or red handle. You might find one of those more to your liking.

U.M.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Yes, installing a clutch quadrant is a pain unless you're a very small person with small arms & hands. I had to remove my drivers seat so I could lay on my back and look up under the dash to install mine. Then again I'm a fat bastard with sausages for fingers.
U.M.

Dont feel too bad UM, I'm 180lbs and I removed my seat to switch my notch to a 5speed....royal PITA for the clutch pedal box.