5-spd OR 6-spd Manual Tranny

[68COUGAR]

I know you guys consider it sacriilege, but I want a 6 spd MANUAL Marauder! Yeah, I know! The Marauder guys a Lapeer told me that the auto tranny can shift faster, yada, yada, yada. But the Truth is, that the auto tranny just insn't any FUN!!!!!!! Anybody can Stab & Run! No Skill involved in that! I want to Row-My-Own 6-spd.

I'll spend money on a 6-spd conversion, before I'll buy a Trilogy SC.

BTW: Did I tell ya that I REALLY REALLY want a Trilogy SC!

68COUGAR

[woaface]

Yeah, I coulda sworn that a 6-spd on a Marauder was really cool. I know automatics have caught up in the past decade or three...but aren't manuals still faster for the most part? I'd rather have a manual too.

[68COUGAR]

aren't manuals still faster for the most part? I'd rather have a manual too.
Slush Boxes are more consistant on race day, BUT, If I can make my 5 or 6 spd quicker than your auto, then I've accomplished something!!!!!!!!!! OH, Yeah, & it's a LOT more F-U-N driving a Manual!!!!!!!

Roush Racing put 5-spd manuals in the Crown Vic's for Bob Bondurant's School of Driving. So it's possible to have a Marauder 6-spd.

68COUGAR

[woaface]

Roush Racing put 5-spd manuals in the Crown Vic's for Bob Bondurant's School of Driving. So it's possible to have a Marauder 6-spd.

68COUGAR
Yeah, It doesn't look clean cut...it looks ugly:shake:

[68COUGAR]

Yeah, It doesn't look clean cut...it looks ugly:shake:
______________________________ ______________________________ _______

I'd rather have an UGLY Manual Shifter, than a "milk-toast" auto!. Oh, Did I forget to say that the rarest Marauders are the 6-spd manuals?

68COUGAR

[BlackHole]

The consoles out of the Contour. Thats why it looks out of place.

[gja]

I think it has already been covered that it would be VERY expensive to put a manual in the beasts. And with a S/C you beter not miss too many shifts lest you sent the belt to never-never land.

[Glenn]

Relax fellows, a 6 speed conversion kit for the MM will be announced by the end of February from a major performance vendor. Be patient.

Glenn

[Fourth Horseman]

If it would have been an option from the factory, I would have gone with either a 5 or 6 speed manual. I'm happy with my auto, but I'd prefer a stick. :)

[TripleTransAm]

If it would have been an option from the factory, I would have gone with either a 5 or 6 speed manual. I'm happy with my auto, but I'd prefer a stick. :)
I'm betting you'll be the first one out there to successfully graft a Honda 5 speed with a Marauder... forcefully, if necessary. :lol:

[studio460]

I'd be happy with an automatic transmission with just ONE MORE GEAR!!!

[jfclancy]

I'd be happy with an automatic transmission with just ONE MORE GEAR!!!

Not me I want a SIX speed auto!! manuals are "fun" until You S/c them as mentioned just "one" missed shift OOO Dayum!!!

Of course my BW Linda can not drive an Manual anymore sooo Maybe....


Joe Clancy

[Fourth Horseman]

I'm betting you'll be the first one out there to successfully graft a Honda 5 speed with a Marauder... forcefully, if necessary. :lol:

:lol:
It was very forcefull, trust me. :cry: I think I can feel the car shudder a little bit every time we pass a Honda these days. Hehe.

[jgc61sr2002]

I think it has already been covered that it would be VERY expensive to put a manual in the beasts. And with a S/C you beter not miss too many shifts lest you sent the belt to never-never land.
I agree with Gerry. IMO the cost would outway the gains.

[Ross]

I would love a manual, except for the times I'm stuck in big city traffic. That's when an automatic is a lifesaver (and left leg saver).

[mtnh]

try this:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5992&highlight=sema

[kurly]

No response to this before . . . :help:

How much would our Marauder's 1/4 mile et's be improved with a stick?

[SergntMac]

No response to this before . . . :help:

How much would our Marauder's 1/4 mile et's be improved with a stick?

Wouldn't it depends on who's driving?

[TripleTransAm]

Sarge is right... not to mention the secondary items like clutch characteristics and shifter quality (setup, angle of hardware, quality, etc.). Then there's the tranny itself... if it's a balky tranny that hesitates at quick shifting, there's little to be gained. Etc.etc.... impossible to quantify...

[kurly]

Sarge is right... not to mention the secondary items like clutch characteristics and shifter quality (setup, angle of hardware, quality, etc.). Then there's the tranny itself... if it's a balky tranny that hesitates at quick shifting, there's little to be gained. Etc.etc.... impossible to quantify...

I like my automatic . . . reflexes to slow for clutch and shifting.

But, in drag racing in the old days, didn't the automatics and sticks run in different classes?

[jgc61sr2002]

Wouldn't it depends on who's driving? Most definitely.

[jgc61sr2002]

I like my automatic . . . reflexes to slow for clutch and shifting.

But, in drag racing in the old days, didn't the automatics and sticks run in different classes?
Yes they did. The good old days. :up:

[68COUGAR]

I'm pretty good with a manual. Good enough to bark the tires on the 2-3 in my 5-spd '89 XR-7, & that's with 255/50/16 BFG Comp TA/s!. Course I also have the Old Ripper shifter in that car. The New Rippers aren't as well made as the older ones.

The T-56 is a nice, smooth shifting tranny, & was designed to take abuse, even with a Tri-Ax shifter. The Tri-Ax has the shortest throw of any aftermarket shifter. The T-56 is actually a 4 + 2, because it has 2 overdrives. A properly built auto will shift quicker than a similiarly built manual. But a Hot Shoe can outsift a lazy auto. So it all depends on what hardware you have.

68COUGAR

[kurly]

A properly built auto will shift quicker than a similiarly built manual. 68COUGAR

Sounds good to me! :up:

[TripleTransAm]

The T-56 is actually a 4 + 2, because it has 2 overdrives.

Well said about shifting abilities and performance, 68Cougar! :up:

Just a comment on the above: I'm not sure I understand why you mention the T-56 as being a 4+2... by the same token, every 5 speed out there (including the Mustang) would be a 4+1, since 99.99999% of the time a factory 5 speed's highest gear is an overdrive ratio.

I recall the term "4+3" being used on the 80s Corvettes' Doug Nash manual tranny, but that was because it was actually a 4 speed tranny (4 distinct forward gears and ratios) with an electronically-controlled overdrive unit grafted onto the rear. This single overdrive gear combo (ie. only 1 ratio) would engage in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th under cruising circumstances, resulting in 7 total tranny ratios. In other words, as you accelerated, you could see 1st, then 2nd, then 2nd + elec. overdrive, then 3rd, then 3rd + elec. overdrive, then 4th, and finally 4th + elec. overdrive... all of them if you were really unlucky in your traffic pattern.

In the case of the Borg Warner / Tremec T-56, I understand there are 6 individual gear ratios, all mechanically selectable.


About the 4+3, I'm not totally sure but I think I recall the gear ratios of a certain gear + overdrive versus the ratio in the next higher gear were either too close together OR the lower+overdrive was actually a higher ratio than the next higher gear sans overdrive! This means that the RPM might actually go UP if you upshifted and the OD unit kicked off! No wonder Chevy had to implement an OD kill button soon after its introduction! At WOT or spirited driving, I'm sure the OD never kicked in, but in slower traffic it must have been a nightmare!!!


And for anyone who wonders: no, our 4R70W's OD is not a separately selectable set of gears that can be applied along with any other ratio... it's a separate (ie. 4th) speed, period. OD OFF means no 4th gear, plain and simple.

[swc69]

I for one would seriously consider spending $5k on a manual tranny install.

Being able to keep the engine in the power band would make the car much more fun to drive.

I came close to doing this on my previous Impala SS, but I had already put too many miles on it to justify the expense.

So what would the cost be?
Tranny - $2.5k (the 6 speed used in the Mach 1 with the same engine?)
Kit: - $1.5k? (basically pedals, linkages, maybe a driveshaft)
Install Labor: $1k?

Any guesses?

Steve C.
2003 300A

[LightningVic]

ok so its the end of february, and I want to know where my stickshift is. Have money, will pay.

[FordNut]

ok so its the end of february, and I want to know where my stickshift is. Have money, will pay.

Best bet would be to find somebody that was involved in the Roush project to build the Bondurant Crown Vics. From what I've read it wasn't really pretty, but it worked. I believe all those cars were sent to the crusher. You'll probably have to get a good customizer to do the work after you get a material list. It would probably cost $5k by the time it's done. And probably wouldn't be any faster, just more fun!

[68COUGAR]

Best bet would be to find somebody that was involved in the Roush project to build the Bondurant Crown Vics. From what I've read it wasn't really pretty

HAVE YOU DONE ANY RESEARCH?

, but it worked. I believe all those cars were sent to the crusher.

WRONG, THEY'RE FOR SALE NOW!!!!!!!!!

You'll probably have to get a good customizer to do the work after you get a material list. It would probably cost $5k by the time it's done. And probably wouldn't be any faster, just more fun!

Yeah, I guess $5k is just to much for you to have fun!

68COUGAR

[Glenn]

See your PM.

[FordNut]

HAVE YOU DONE ANY RESEARCH?

WRONG, THEY'RE FOR SALE NOW!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I guess $5k is just to much for you to have fun!

68COUGAR

Yes, I have. I've talked to some folks that actually drove the Bondurant cars.

Show me where they are! We're all about that around here, just go ahead and prove it.

I've probably put more than $5k in mine to mod it so far, so no it's not too much to spend to have fun.

[SergntMac]

HAVE YOU DONE ANY RESEARCH? WRONG, THEY'RE FOR SALE NOW!!!!!!!!! Yeah, I guess $5k is just to much for you to have fun! 68COUGAR
Easy now, '68...You must know something none of us know? If so, share it?

The solid 411 about the Bondurant training vics has been that the cars were crushed. No VINs, no emission/safety complianance, lots of product liability, yada, yada, yada...If you know different, say so.

For those here who love the control of a manual tranny, 5K isn't unreasonable. However, before I shell out 5K for a conversion, I'd like to hear more about the design, install, and the company making the offer. I know enough about the details to know it's possible, it can be done. But, I don't buy junk from fly-by-night wrenches.

What do you know about this conversion?