VenomTE50

I always believed Ford fell short of producing a brilliant performance car in the T3 TE50. The drivetrain (I chose a manual) was so dissappointing. I came close to selling with only 8000 kms on the clock. Instead Mal & Ben of Mal Wood Automotive sold me on the idea of fitting a tremec 6 speed and reshimming the diff. I believe I am now driving the ultimate Ford performance car, thanks largely to this superb 6 speed conversion. It has transformed the car. Anyone out there with an XR8 manual or T series manual, all I can say is JUST DO IT. This is an unsolicitored recommendation. These are the sort of guys Ford needs to seriously listen to and learn from. You can find Mal & Ben at Mal Wood Automotive in Warwick Qld. (07) 4661 3548

TopGhia

Good story.

Pity more people that know what they are doing don't work for Ford. :)

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"I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always."

tcf-v8-focus

You can now get your tremec transmisions at Tillman's also McLeod Bell-Housings, Clutch paks, Cables, Etc./// Ring & Pinion Sets for street & race. Call Tony @ Tillman's Toll Free Phone 1-877-823-8836

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www.tcf-v8-focus-conversions.com

TS50

what sort of $$$$'s was the conversion?

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2002 Narooma Blue Manual TS50
Sunroof

Soxx

Didn't the T3 TE50 have the Tremec 5 spd anyway?
If so what advantage is the 6 spd besides the obvious, next to useless, way to tall 6th gear?

Rick.

TS50

I think i must be one of the lucky ones with my box
it dosnt clunk, it dosnt vibrate, it has smooth changes. I find it quite easy to drive with. I have heard many people say their boxes do all sorts of noises etc tho

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2002 Narooma Blue Manual TS50
Sunroof

elxr8393

Only useless if you ignore fuel economy and strength, I have a T56 in an EL and using 4.11 diff gears, you get the best of both worlds. Accelerate well through the gears and still only pull 1740rpm in 6th at 100km/hr. 6 speeds are becoming more common for a reason.
In a T3 with the extra torque, probably don't need 4.11, but mines only a little 5.0

Soxx

elxr8393:
That's a different matter, your EL would have had a T5, not the Tremec 5spd.
My question was, why would you bother if you had the Tremec.
A big torquey V8 doesn't actually need 6 gears, and you generally find there is too much cog swapping going on.
Yours would be a little different because the 5L has much less torque, by comparison.
I still feel you'd be swapping gears more than would be needed however.

Rick.

VenomTE50

Yes it did have the Tremec 5 spd. The gear ratios were rediculous. First far too low, Fifth was really a 6 spd ratio, so there was an enormous gap between fourth & fifth. Also with the conversion, the guys reshimmed the diff and put proper diff oil in it. That's right, Ford used a synthetic that rendered the LSD inoperative. The 6 speed fits better, no disastrous extension shaft like was used by Tickford. The vehicle drivetrain is devoid of the clunks and rattles, the gear ratios suit the torque curve of the 5.6 ltr better then I could have imagined. The car is now as it should have been when released by Tickford.

Soxx

VenomTE50:
First being to low can be a pain, unless you tow regularly.
Though I don't see a problem with a big gap between 4th and 5th. 5th after all is just an overdrive for highway economy, it's not like 4th will run out of revs as in a high speed race track situation.

I don't doubt you about the wrong oil in the diff though, the twits still use that bloody horrid ATF in there T5 too.

BTW, what was the problem with the extension shaft?

Rick.