Why Power Shifting is a bad idea - Engineering Explained
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Patman
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I went through 7 (yes, 7!) transmissions in my 87 Mustang GT because of powershifting. But I also had a Paxton Supercharger on it and was launching it at the dragstrip at 6000 rpm on slicks. So it lived a pretty hard life. The stupid part was that after the first transmission went I should have just forked over the $2500 to buy a Tremec 5 speed, which was much stronger than the stock T5 trans. I did not spend a lot of money each time the trans would break though, I would pick them up used for about $300 or $400 and I had a friend who would install it for me for next to nothing (it's like a one hour job, tops)
But I kept powershifting because it would result in about a 2 tenths difference in the quarter mile. Plus it was fun
But I kept powershifting because it would result in about a 2 tenths difference in the quarter mile. Plus it was fun
Pat, I have power shifted and knew that it could be hard on the transmission but I posted the video more for the science behind it. This guy does a really good job explaining things.
As for your 7 replacements, ouch!
As for your 7 replacements, ouch!
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Originally Posted by Patman
I went through 7 (yes, 7!) transmissions in my 87 Mustang GT because of powershifting. But I also had a Paxton Supercharger on it and was launching it at the dragstrip at 6000 rpm on slicks. So it lived a pretty hard life. The stupid part was that after the first transmission went I should have just forked over the $2500 to buy a Tremec 5 speed, which was much stronger than the stock T5 trans. I did not spend a lot of money each time the trans would break though, I would pick them up used for about $300 or $400 and I had a friend who would install it for me for next to nothing (it's like a one hour job, tops)
But I kept powershifting because it would result in about a 2 tenths difference in the quarter mile. Plus it was fun
The non-WC T5 was really weak, they could be broken by a stock 305 TBI. How did your rear end take those 6k launches?
I went through 7 (yes, 7!) transmissions in my 87 Mustang GT because of powershifting. But I also had a Paxton Supercharger on it and was launching it at the dragstrip at 6000 rpm on slicks. So it lived a pretty hard life. The stupid part was that after the first transmission went I should have just forked over the $2500 to buy a Tremec 5 speed, which was much stronger than the stock T5 trans. I did not spend a lot of money each time the trans would break though, I would pick them up used for about $300 or $400 and I had a friend who would install it for me for next to nothing (it's like a one hour job, tops)
But I kept powershifting because it would result in about a 2 tenths difference in the quarter mile. Plus it was fun
The non-WC T5 was really weak, they could be broken by a stock 305 TBI. How did your rear end take those 6k launches?
Patman
Staff member
The rear end never gave me a problem because before I started launching with slicks I swapped it out for a Ford Motorsport 8.8 rear end with 31 spline axles. I think I made well over 500 passes on the car with slicks too. (best ET was 12.16 at 112mph, the engine was 100% stock behind the blower)
OVERKILL
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Originally Posted by maxdustington
Originally Posted by Patman
I went through 7 (yes, 7!) transmissions in my 87 Mustang GT because of powershifting. But I also had a Paxton Supercharger on it and was launching it at the dragstrip at 6000 rpm on slicks. So it lived a pretty hard life. The stupid part was that after the first transmission went I should have just forked over the $2500 to buy a Tremec 5 speed, which was much stronger than the stock T5 trans. I did not spend a lot of money each time the trans would break though, I would pick them up used for about $300 or $400 and I had a friend who would install it for me for next to nothing (it's like a one hour job, tops)
But I kept powershifting because it would result in about a 2 tenths difference in the quarter mile. Plus it was fun
The non-WC T5 was really weak, they could be broken by a stock 305 TBI. How did your rear end take those 6k launches?
Aye, that's the difference. You could break a T-5 (even a WC) in a Fox, but the stock 8.8, unlike the GM offering, was a solid performer. With 31-spline axles they are incredibly robust. My buddy's dad has an S10 with a pretty warmed-over 350 in it. Broke one diff, bent the axle tubes on another dragging it at Shannonville and so we swapped in an 8.8 from an Explorer (31-spline axles), which has been fine since.
I broke my T-5 at Shannonville, blew the rear off another one in town. I had a buddy with a 525RWHP Fox with a Spec Stage 3 in the bell and his stock T-5. It stayed together, even dragging it, by granny shifting. Eventually it was swapped out for a Lentec AOD because the Spec was an on/off switch and horrible to drive.
Originally Posted by Patman
I went through 7 (yes, 7!) transmissions in my 87 Mustang GT because of powershifting. But I also had a Paxton Supercharger on it and was launching it at the dragstrip at 6000 rpm on slicks. So it lived a pretty hard life. The stupid part was that after the first transmission went I should have just forked over the $2500 to buy a Tremec 5 speed, which was much stronger than the stock T5 trans. I did not spend a lot of money each time the trans would break though, I would pick them up used for about $300 or $400 and I had a friend who would install it for me for next to nothing (it's like a one hour job, tops)
But I kept powershifting because it would result in about a 2 tenths difference in the quarter mile. Plus it was fun
The non-WC T5 was really weak, they could be broken by a stock 305 TBI. How did your rear end take those 6k launches?
Aye, that's the difference. You could break a T-5 (even a WC) in a Fox, but the stock 8.8, unlike the GM offering, was a solid performer. With 31-spline axles they are incredibly robust. My buddy's dad has an S10 with a pretty warmed-over 350 in it. Broke one diff, bent the axle tubes on another dragging it at Shannonville and so we swapped in an 8.8 from an Explorer (31-spline axles), which has been fine since.
I broke my T-5 at Shannonville, blew the rear off another one in town. I had a buddy with a 525RWHP Fox with a Spec Stage 3 in the bell and his stock T-5. It stayed together, even dragging it, by granny shifting. Eventually it was swapped out for a Lentec AOD because the Spec was an on/off switch and horrible to drive.
Patman
Staff member
I have a friend who had an 84 Capri RS Turbo and he eventually swapped a mild 302 in it (carburated and with a B303 cam, so probably making 275-300hp) but he kept the stock T5 that came in the car, which I think was an even weaker version since the original 2.3 Turbo in that car only made around 150hp I believe. Believe it or not that T5 lasted at least 5 years of hard driving on the street, he never powershifted it, that's the key to keeping those trannies alive.
I feel like you don't have to watch the videos he creates about the obvious. He dwells into details I guess.
A guy I knew here years back had a Chevette and would power shift the thing, and then broke off the gear shift. Nice.
When I was a kid in the early '70s my older brother would power shift his Honda 350 motorcycle.
Sounded cool.
Sounded cool.
Originally Posted by Garak
A guy I knew here years back had a Chevette and would power shift the thing, and then broke off the gear shift. Nice.
I guess he needed a Hurst.
A guy I knew here years back had a Chevette and would power shift the thing, and then broke off the gear shift. Nice.
I guess he needed a Hurst.
The thought of power shifting has never even crossed my mind, did not even know what it was till this.
Originally Posted by blupupher
The thought of power shifting has never even crossed my mind, did not even know what it was till this.
Isn't BITOG a great place.
The thought of power shifting has never even crossed my mind, did not even know what it was till this.
Isn't BITOG a great place.
Originally Posted by Rhymingmechanic
I guess he needed a Hurst.
Yes, but he replaced it with a Vice Grip, of all things.
I guess he needed a Hurst.
Yes, but he replaced it with a Vice Grip, of all things.
ls1mike
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Originally Posted by Rhymingmechanic
Originally Posted by Garak
A guy I knew here years back had a Chevette and would power shift the thing, and then broke off the gear shift. Nice.
I guess he needed a Hurst.
Got one in the WS6, well the shifter anyway, came from the factory like that. big H on the handle. Hurst equipped. LOL
As to this guys video, PSHAW. Let me run out to the garage and tell my Mcleod twin clutch, T56 6 speed and WS6 so they can yuck it up.
He is just scared.
Originally Posted by Garak
A guy I knew here years back had a Chevette and would power shift the thing, and then broke off the gear shift. Nice.
I guess he needed a Hurst.
Got one in the WS6, well the shifter anyway, came from the factory like that. big H on the handle. Hurst equipped. LOL
As to this guys video, PSHAW. Let me run out to the garage and tell my Mcleod twin clutch, T56 6 speed and WS6 so they can yuck it up.
He is just scared.
Did it a lot in a 95 s10 with the 2.2. The only thing that happend to it were the springs fell out of the clutch disc when I changed it. Didn't have much power to tear anything else up.
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