EA II 4SP Auto to Manual conversion. - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Damo · 08-17-2004, 19:54

A few questions, first though, hi to everyone!

I have a Series 2 EA with the electronic 4sp, and I am getting it converted to auto after going through 3gb's

1. The mechanic I have been quoted by said he priced the EA manual GB, would that be a T5 like I have heard people refer to?

2. Is it a good gearbox?

3. Should be aiming for an XR6 GB?

4. Is there anything I should be looking out for?

Thanks guys!

stockstandard · 08-19-2004, 02:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damo

A few questions, first though, hi to everyone!

I have a Series 2 EA with the electronic 4sp, and I am getting it converted to auto after going through 3gb's

1. The mechanic I have been quoted by said he priced the EA manual GB, would that be a T5 like I have heard people refer to?

2. Is it a good gearbox?

3. Should be aiming for an XR6 GB?

4. Is there anything I should be looking out for?

Thanks guys!

answers:
1. Yes, EA is a T5. Aside from exceptions with the new falcons, all falcon 5 speeds are some generation of T5.

2. They have good and bad points. If you drive it hard you can kill it (flat changing, burnouts etc). Make sure it always has good fluid (of the correct type, dextron + lubrisol additive) and it will last a long time. They are not the nicest feeling box, but this can be fixed with short shift kits.

3. Apparently there is something different with the xr boxes, but I dont know what it is. Maybe different 1st gear or better bearings. I know mal wood charge more for a xr box than a standard box.

4. Newer the box the better. AFAIK on EF/EL models they refined the box to stop them crunching into reverse. Also make sure you fit a nice new clutch cable and keep it in good condition. As they wear, the clutch gets heavier and heavier and the pressure will break your pedal box and tear your firewall (very common in manual falcons). Find out if you get a manual computer with the conversion, although you can get by without it, it is better to have it.

Also bear in mind that after it is done, you will have to spend a lot more money on tyres :)

Damo · 08-19-2004, 03:27

How hard is hard? :)
I dont plan to do crazy burn outs, sure a little, on corners taking off, not show off car park stuff.
I do plan to drag off anyone who cars to draw along side me :)
I dont expect to win, but I want the practice. :D
Any specific do and don't? Or tips? ie launching?
Thanks for the response.

stockstandard · 08-19-2004, 09:01

Well these same boxes were origionally put in V8 mustangs back in the US so they can take a little currie. To my understanding the weakness of the box is the difference in ratio between 1st and 2nd gear. Because of the difference, if you drive hard the change to second puts stress on the box.

As far as launches go, I have a habbit of taking the revs up to 2500 to 3000 and let the clutch out as fast as I can without wheelspin and without letting the revs fall off. This cooks the clutch a little but it seems to work well for me and pushes me back into the seat damm hard. I get to around 60 in first but that is really pushing it. I have to learn to take the shift to second a bit slower as I find it really easy to get wheelspin and spin the wheels right up to 100. Hitting 3rd in a hurry is a pain, but it is heaps better since I got a shortened shifter.

If you got a bit of time I have some videos of some of my driving. They are at http://www.users.on.net/~jasiunas/videos/

Damo · 08-19-2004, 16:03

Was the shortened shifter mod cheap and/or easy?

Damo · 08-19-2004, 16:31

Stockstandard, despite your name, the car was very quick to accellerate, what have you done to your car? Anything?
Mine has CAI, 2.5" exhaust, lowered and sounds system (7x10's, and 2x10" comp subs and 2x amps). Its an EAII 50th Anniversary S-Pack, with nice 16" rims, and a spoiler.

DansEdgli · 08-19-2004, 16:40

Thats what I was thinking.
What sort of car do you have stockstandard and what have you done to it?
Am i right in saying you got massive wheelspin into 2nd gear and you get to 100 in aound 7 seconds?

Damo · 08-19-2004, 17:37

OMG.
Its turbo'd
I just checked out his website.
VERY NICE!

DansEdgli · 08-19-2004, 17:47

Got a link for me? I can only find one pic with a supercharger

stockstandard · 08-19-2004, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damo

Was the shortened shifter mod cheap and/or easy?

The shifter was from Battens Performance Tuning (http://norcom.net.au/~bpt/). Costs $75 COD. Easy to do, just 2 x 10mm bolts at the bottom of the old shifter, pull of all the rubber padding and push it on to thee new one, and bolt it all back in. the box feels heaps better with the new shifter. Another mod that would be a lot better is an SVO lightening shifter (http://www.svomotorsport.com/ - page is down at the moment). Here is a pic of my shifter(s), old on left, new on right.