Auto to 5 Speed conversion.

[BuckTooth]

Hey guys,

I got offered a V8 T5 box for a real good price but i wanted to know is it worth it to put in my au xr8. The car is an 02 AU3 XR8, I keep the car mainly for long distance driving and some round town, but just weighing up if its worth putting the 5 speed in as per what it would require and what gains it would have.

Any info from anyone whos done this cnversion or from manual owners would be great.

Cheers Doug

[T3man]

The gains are better driving experience and slightly improved fuel economy.

It's really up to you whether you need to justify it on a cost/benefit basis. Quite frankly if you are not unhappy with the car as it is now then don't change it.

[Whoosha]

Have a look through some of these post, if its what you want do it, But if your doing it just because the box was cheap it still wont be that cheap when the job is completed
http://www.fordforums.com.au/search....4&pp=25&page=1

[CRAIGAU3220]

Looking at your Sig I would recommend changing that single 2.5 exhaust. Man that thing must be blocked up, Does it actually rev past 4500rpm ?

[BuckTooth]

It does actually, i can red line it. But yes the first thing i'm changing when funds allow it is the exhaust. I've setled for a 2.5 twin after reaing through some posts.

[GK]

I've done it, but if I had my time again I would have just got the auto reconditioned and only changed the diff ratio.

It is more fun to drive, especially when wet, a little better on petrol, but annoying in peak traffic. In Warrack though, that wouldn't be an issue. I grew up near you by the way, in Dimboola!

Anyway back on topic. I'd leave it as is.

GK

[CRAIGAU3220]

Originally Posted by BuckTooth

It does actually, i can red line it. But yes the first thing i'm changing when funds allow it is the exhaust. I've setled for a 2.5 twin after reaing through some posts.

That's good, Once you get a twin exhaust it will be a different beast.

Back on Topic, I would listen to GK.

[T3man]

Originally Posted by CRAIGAU3220

Looking at your Sig I would recommend changing that single 2.5 exhaust. Man that thing must be blocked up, Does it actually rev past 4500rpm ?

In 1969 I had a ZC with a 351 Windsor with factory single 2" pipe including standard two mufflers and it had no trouble producing 340HP and revving to 6000. Totally stock, not even headers.

[JC]

Originally Posted by T3man

In 1969 I had a ZC with a 351 Windsor with factory single 2" pipe including standard two mufflers and it had no trouble producing 340HP and revving to 6000. Totally stock, not even headers.

In 1969, most on here weren't even born; I was - but only just! :

On topic - if you don't mind the auto, spend the gearbox money on a set of wheels, brakes or other mods. If you really must have a manual, then go for it.

[5L]

if you do change to manual send me a pm i might be keen buying the auto conversion off you for when i break this t5z

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by JC

In 1969, most on here weren't even born; I was - but only just! :

...and others of us were out working for a living...

I probably paid for your childhood

[JC]

Originally Posted by ronwest

...and others of us were out working for a living...

I probably paid for your childhood

Is that you, dad???? :

[GK]

Ah the banter! God bless this forum! LOL!

GK

[CRAIGAU3220]

Originally Posted by T3man

In 1969 I had a ZC with a 351 Windsor with factory single 2" pipe including standard two mufflers and it had no trouble producing 340HP and revving to 6000. Totally stock, not even headers.

Did they have dyno's back in the stone age????
Did you have your car on a chassis dyno or was this 340hp motor ran on a engine dyno with your full exhaust fitted ?

IM talking from past experience because i have a AU220 and when it had stock exhaust you could hear it start to back up at 4500rpm and by 5000rpm it lost all its V8 noise and sounded more like a turbo car, phhffffff

[BuckTooth]

I took the AU to a local performance shed here in horsham yesterday. Before i got the car it has a twin system but the previous owner "apparently" damaged it the week before i collected the car so it was removed and a single put in its place. Any way the guy from Boss informed after a quick look under the hood that it was obvious someone spent some dollars on it at some stage, and that it also has a set of after market headers. Now all i gotta do is get an intake system, an ehxaust and a flash tune to match it all up.

[T3man]

Originally Posted by CRAIGAU3220

Did they have dyno's back in the stone age????
Did you have your car on a chassis dyno or was this 340hp motor ran on a engine dyno with your full exhaust fitted ?

IM talking from past experience because i have a AU220 and when it had stock exhaust you could hear it start to back up at 4500rpm and by 5000rpm it lost all its V8 noise and sounded more like a turbo car, phhffffff

It was on a chassis dyno at Wright Ford (City Ford Crown St now) back in the days when Ford Dealers were sponsors of Bathurst - several of the Bathurst cars were tuned on this dyno. The figures were calculated back to flywheel from the rears going on the knowledge they had of the race cars. The Bathurst cars were putting out about 360 to 380HP at the time (flywheel) so my motor was a very healthy one by all accounts. And yes, it sounded whoosh - not deep and throaty.

PS Sorry 'bout the thread hijack Bucky.

[RG]

Originally Posted by CRAIGAU3220

Did they have dyno's back in the stone age????
Did you have your car on a chassis dyno or was this 340hp motor ran on a engine dyno with your full exhaust fitted ?

IM talking from past experience because i have a AU220 and when it had stock exhaust you could hear it start to back up at 4500rpm and by 5000rpm it lost all its V8 noise and sounded more like a turbo car, phhffffff

I had a Herrod single 2.5" system on mine when I bought it, what it lost up top it made up for quite nicely down low with torque.

It was still there in the early days of my 347 too...

[CRAIGAU3220]

Sorry for thread hijack.

Im out of here. too many rocket surgeon's

[T3man]

Originally Posted by CRAIGAU3220

Sorry for thread hijack.

Im out of here. too many rocket surgeon's

Easy to see you don't have that worry ... LOL.

[sd1800]

Originally Posted by RG

I had a Herrod single 2.5" system on mine when I bought it, what it lost up top it made up for quite nicely down low with torque.

It was still there in the early days of my 347 too...

This is what Chris from Best Mufflers in Sydney advised me aswell(best street setup). He's pretty highly regarded so I took his word for it. I haven't driven one with a dual so I can't compare with performance.

Is abit high pitched for me up top and 'whooshy' but has a nice growl in the low>mid range. Just need to remove one of the mufflers me thinks....