How Are People's T5's Holding Up After Mods?

[chief]

Hi there,

The aftermarket tuners have been around for quite a while now and I was curious to know how people's cars were holding up if anyone has had any issues especially with the series 1 manual. I am looking at going to about 330fwkw and haven't heard of many issues - but I've been out of the country for a while - so could be very wrong? I would prefer to avoid an upgrade to MK2 $$.

Your experiences / comments would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Rusty

[LeighD]

Good Question!!

I know that people are generally saying that 250-270 rwkw is about as far as you would want to go with the T5 but would be interesting to hear if anyone is running any higher than this with no probs.

Anyone????

[gogo]

Rusty,

I am just about to convert my gearbox from a T5 to an OEM T56.

FYI failure will be more likely to be as a result of torque – not power, so the torque curve will be important…

I have been running at approx 265rwkw from near the beginning of the year, and for the last 3 months at about 300rwkw. The gearbox has held up since lifting power (over about 20,000 kms total) – the clutch is a completely different story. I have been told that the 700ish Nm (which is about what I would have with a conservative torque curve) is the absolute limit for the T5, and Mal Woods have indicated that even at this the gearbox would be most likely suffer damage within hours/days - just not as likely to go to catastrophic failure as with higher power.

So my T5 is still going ok but I recently went through the numbers of trading the Mk1 in on a new phoon – the conclusion – I will be keeping the T for a good number of years, and figure I am almost certainly going to have to pay for a new box at some point – may as well lift power a little further now (to about the 320 - 330rwkw which is about max for stock internals) and do the conversion – then drive and enjoy!! Plus hopefully given that it still appears to be in reasonable nick, the T5 might still be worth a few more dollars.

I know speaking with some of the tuners they have indicated a number of T5 failures, as have a number of members on this forum…

In short as I understand it, you are unlikely to achieve a reliable result with that much power with the T5…

Good luck!

Ben.

[Guest]

My T5's doing fine, but the clutch is dead, can't jet Nos in third any more the clutch just spins. stuffs me on the 1/4.

[Guest brutebogart]

hi, I had a standard 5 speed in my t with a phase 1 aps kit my clutch lasted 20k and my gearbox had 3rd gear noise I changed it before it died,I fitted a mal wood 6 speed with an eleven inch clutch. the only thing that I'm not happy with is the roll over noise , hope this helps.

jamie

[JB]

I ran up to 305rwkw with my T5, not really a place you want to go to with this box.

The box started at 260rwkw then I went up to 294rwkw then fianlly 305rwkw and it was still going this was over 12 month period. You could feel however that under full load it did not like this sort of power. However with this being said after alot of experience in this area, your clutch will be good for a short time with any extra power you put through so budgeting for a new clutch is a must.

In consultation with Ben from Mal woods, these guys indicate from memory about 240rwkw is your limit with the T5 after that you do ireperable damage to the box.

Many people will tell you different things but what you must also take into account is the way you drive, everyone drives their cars differently, some harder than others. I have seen members do the box with 260rwkw and others get six months out of 320rwkw.

The main point out of it though is the T5 is a weak box, and if you are going to get serious about modding you either need to contemplate a T56 upgrade or an auto.

If you decide to mod with the T5 it will be a gamble, you may be fine and have no issues, then again it may go bang within 1 week. Telltale signs will be a gearbox whine predominately in 3rd which will gradually get worse until the box gives up. As stated clutch will be a definate change.

If you want the more technical side of things Ben from mal Woods is the guy who knows his stuff and have done alot of research on the T5.

Cheers

JB

[Kimberley Scott]

What box is in the Mk11 Manual?

[JB]

T56

[bugster70]

Apologies for the slight change in topic, but would the 4 speed autos fare much better with that sort of power?

[JB]

  bugster70 said:

Apologies for the slight change in topic, but would the 4 speed autos fare much better with that sort of power? 

With 240rwkw? or 300rwkw?

The auto's (Most) are good for about 240rwkw then you can start by strengthing the bands and pressures etc.

Once you do a full auto upgrade $1800 odd then you are good for 300rwkw+ no dramas.

Auto are quicker, howevermanuals show more rwkw's.