Advice Needed, Any And All Welcome.

[MX Dave]

Okay everyone, Bit of a long dribble so bare with me.

Allright to start with I have a BA mk1 XR6T with 270rwkw and a t5z manual gearbox. and a short term (next two years) goal of 320RWKW and a long term goal (after I finish a mechanics apprenticeship) of a forged motor with around 400RWKW.

The previous owner assured me it had a heavy duty clutch. I trusted her word and it does feel extremely heavy. So I got the car tuned without worrying about the driveline (exception of the heap of junk t5z) A nice 270.8RWKW rolled of Simons dyno, and I LOVE it. puts a smile on my face every time I press the pedal. However recently I cam accross a problem. The dreaded clutch slip.. 4th gear 3500rpm onwards.. free rev!! My heart absolutely sunk as I knew what it was straight away I just didnt really want to admit it to myself. holding my breath I had a peep under the car through the holes in the bellhousing..

The clutch looks stock as a rock. my suspicious confirmed. still not admitting to myself I posted on here asking what it could be.. sure enough multiple answeres returning with a slipping clutch.

After doing a whole heap of research ive pretty much come to the conclusion that a new clutch, flywheel and slave cylender that will go into the t5z box roughly 1200$ correct?

that's not so bad.. then more research. That clutch wont hold the long term goal.. or even the short term goal.

Then more research still being slightly optimistic.. A heavy duty clutch being installed= no more t5z gearbox. so I then need to fork out for a gearbox conversion kit and a option 3+ clutch kit and postage. The cost. 6000$.. Im gonna write down the numbers going through my head and the different paths I can take.

#1Save up for 8 months barely driving the car as is spend 6000$ on a bulletproof conversion sell the working t5z for almost 1000$ =

$5000 spent over 8 months without much car use.

#2Replace the clutch/ slave cylender in the t5z ($1200) save for a year HOPING TO GOD it doesnt break then do the bulletproof conversion ($6000) and then sell the t5z box for $1000=

$6200 spent over spent over a year and a bit with car use.

#2.5 Same as above but the gearbox breaks, sell the t5z for 100$ and have no car to drive for a year=

$7100 spent over a year and half with no car use.

#3. Spend $900 on a stock clutch and flywheel drive the car as per normal then save for a year and a half and do the conversion

$6900 spent over a year and half with car use.

#3.5 as above but the clutch slips again so end up doing conversion=

$6900 spent over a year and half with unknown amount of car use.

Before you say... Sell the car.. I cant. I will still be in debt. and I will be even more distraught over loosing the thing I love. I plan on keeping the car for a while. Through my mechanics apprenticeship and one day turn it into the perfect streeter for a final project. I need 3rd party opinions on this matter and if anyone has been through a similar situation id appreciate it if you shared.and the final questions:

#1 What are the chances of the situation 2.5 happening and more importantly why?

#2 What are the chances of situation 3.5 happening and why?

#3 Personally. what would you do?

All comments are welcome, however I will not be very impressed with extremely negative or rude ones. constructive criticism is one thing, flat out rudeness is another.

Thanks everyone, Im looking forward to reading what you think.

Dave

[ratter]

There is every chance that if you put a decent 5 speed clutch in it that the box will break as it will be the next weakest link, have seen it happen several times.

These boxes do not break from just dumping the clutch or flat changing etc like a lot of people think, they break while in gear when accelerating hard from the torque the tuned engine can produce.

It would be wise to sell the box while it's worth something to somebody, once it's broken it is worth nothing. With a 6 speed box, you can get an even stronger clutch than any 5 speed clutch

[sexual harrassment panda]

I would get it de-tuned. Bring the boost and torque on as slow as possible. keep an eye and ear open for cheap parts and acquire them as you can.

[johno]

I would just replace the clutch as per #3. Just be easy on the go pedal. Yeah, yeah, I know that's not easy :sungum:

And, at the same time, save for the engine as well. You will need it eventually.

[arronm]

I would throw in a new clutch plate only with an alloy CSC. Then drive it while you save up for six speed. BUT the best option is to sell it and buy a 6 speed BF Mk11.

Do you realize how much 400rwkw is going to cost.

Edited 10/12/11 04:13 AM by arronm

[MX Dave]

Detuning would be difficult as I live 450kms from my tuner and then that all adds to the cost of the final goal. Yeah I understand my long term goal is far fetched but it would a final project for me as a mechanic to build a reliable engine. Anyway that's a little off topic. My family has offering to help me pay for it which is very generous but we will see. I would really like to do the conversion and clutch first go for complete piece of mind and reliability. Otherwise I will never enjoy driving it again because I'm so concerned the gearbox will blow to pieces

[MX Dave]

  On 10/12/2011 at 4:06 AM, ratter said:

There is every chance that if you put a decent 5 speed clutch in it that the box will break as it will be the next weakest link, have seen it happen several times.

These boxes do not break from just dumping the clutch or flat changing etc like a lot of people think, they break while in gear when accelerating hard from the torque the tuned engine can produce.

It would be wise to sell the box while it's worth something to somebody, once it's broken it is worth nothing. With a 6 speed box, you can get an even stronger clutch than any 5 speed clutch

Ratter I very much agree,This is the option im very much leaning towards.Owning your own ford performance shop I know I can trust your word. Anyone else think this is the better option?

[ratter]

was the car tuned with a flash box, if so return the car back to stock and reflash the factory tune into it and with less power you may be able to stretch the life of the clutch out if it only slips under hard load, this may give you a little more time to save and spend your money once

[MX Dave]

  On 10/12/2011 at 4:10 AM, johno said:

I would just replace the clutch as per #3. Just be easy on the go pedal. Yeah, yeah, I know that's not easy :sungum:

And, at the same time, save for the engine as well. You will need it eventually.

Yeah this is also a very doable option.. But I wouldnt enjoy driving the car anymore.

as we all know.. Males + Horsepower + Easy on Pedal = Act of god

[MX Dave]

Yes was tuned with an Xcal 3. but has bolt ons and injectors. so reflashing back to stock would be a very time consuming and very saddening process. I feel my labour would be better spent on doing the conversion regardless the cost.