6 Speed Trans Upgrade

[DallasQLD]

Do Hollinger,Modena Racing or Albins have an option?

[aps]

  CnC said:

I would love to know what alternative transmissions you are looking at

CnC There are a number of alternatives that we have been investigating in both 5 & 6 speed trans models, that have the torque capacity that we are looking for. My point to starting this thread was to find out what forum members thought was a reasonable price to pay for a 6 speed trans upgrade.I cant say to the forum at this time what we are considering for a trans upgrade, though will let you know when and if the project gets the green light for production. So guys post away your input is greatly appreciated.

PETER

APS

[bcl]

Peter,

The T56 proposed sixth gear ratio of .62 should work well, and even a bit better with a diff ratio change. It is a very strong box and should handle the high torque levels required.

By comparison the C'dore runs 0.5, which is too tall.

As for shift quality, I’ve been told it’s a lot better than the C’dore, but I’ll just have to find out.

There may well be other options around to the T56, but no-one has come up with one yet, and I couldn't find one. I spoke to my friends at CAS, and they were converting their Ute to a manual, and did not propose a manual upgrade option. The main focus to date seems to be on upgrading autos, not manuals, as there are a lot more autos out there, plus the focus on drag racing.

So when APS shortly releases the Stage 3, what will it tell its manual customers? You may well tell them that your test car has been OK, but what if one of your customers whose gearbox then breaks?

I say this because I've been caught out, and others may be as well.

I have the luxury of other cars that I can drive, others may not.

So, at this stage people considering a Stage 3 upgrade should budget around $8k as a transmission upgrade provision. It is the only real alternative now.

Also, we are now at very high power levels, and the old adage of "how fast can you afford to go" applies. As power levels go up the cost per kw also goes up, and things are more likely to go wrong, and all components must be far stronger. I am prepared to pay more to get something that works, others may not.

When components are produced in low volumes, and they suit our special needs, then quite often we have to pay more than we like or would expect to pay. That’s life, and at the end of the day you are running a business.

I’d prefer a 5-speed to a 6-speed any day, as long as it is not a chore to drive, and the ratios are OK.

Brian

[bcl]

Sorry, error in previous post; CAS are converting their manual to an auto.

[aps]

  bcl said:

Peter,

The T56 proposed sixth gear ratio of .62 should work well, and even a bit better with a diff ratio change. It is a very strong box and should handle the high torque levels required.

By comparison the C'dore runs 0.5, which is too tall.

As for shift quality, I’ve been told it’s a lot better than the C’dore, but I’ll just have to find out.

There may well be other options around to the T56, but no-one has come up with one yet, and I couldn't find one. I spoke to my friends at CAS, and they were converting their Ute to a manual, and did not propose a manual upgrade option. The main focus to date seems to be on upgrading autos, not manuals, as there are a lot more autos out there, plus the focus on drag racing.

So when APS shortly releases the Stage 3, what will it tell its manual customers? You may well tell them that your test car has been OK, but what if one of your customers whose gearbox then breaks?

I say this because I've been caught out, and others may be as well.

I have the luxury of other cars that I can drive, others may not.

So, at this stage people considering a Stage 3 upgrade should budget around $8k as a transmission upgrade provision. It is the only real alternative now.

Also, we are now at very high power levels, and the old adage of "how fast can you afford to go" applies. As power levels go up the cost per kw also goes up, and things are more likely to go wrong, and all components must be far stronger. I am prepared to pay more to get something that works, others may not.

When components are produced in low volumes, and they suit our special needs, then quite often we have to pay more than we like or would expect to pay. That’s life, and at the end of the day you are running a business.

I’d prefer a 5-speed to a 6-speed any day, as long as it is not a chore to drive, and the ratios are OK.

Brian

Brian thanks for your post. I am well aware of all of the ratios to suit the T56 and we have a number of these boxes at work for evaluation purposes and the shift quality is ordinary in all T56 boxes its just the nature of the beast.

We have been testing a number of potential trans upgrades so in due course we can recommend to APS customers trans options for those who intend to go this way.

It is torque which is hard on the trans and it is possible to map the engine to have a softer torque delivery whilst still generating high power, this will obviously assist the drive train to live for those who do not want to go the T56 $8000 path.

I do not at this point agree that the T5 cant be made to survive in the xr6t for the normal consumer, maybe we know something that your not aware of yet and I am not yet prepared to discuss on a public forum. In any event the guys with the T5's need not panic the box is much better than some say. I have no doubt that the T56 option is viable for those who dont mind the truck like shift quality, theres always a compromise to be made somewhere.

PETER

APS

[Guest Gilto]

I personally wouldn't be interested in upgrading the gearbox.

I would love to but the sheer cost rules it out for me.

I would also love a six-speed but again cost rules it out.

I am just going to fill her up with Redline transmission oil, put a Herrod short shifter on and cross my fingers.

If the clutch calls it a day then I will just upgrade that!

[Guest LOK@ChipTorque]

  Gilto said:

I personally wouldn't be interested in upgrading the gearbox.

I would love to but the sheer cost rules it out for me.

I would also love a six-speed but again cost rules it out.

I am just going to fill her up with Redline transmission oil, put a Herrod short shifter on and cross my fingers.

If the clutch calls it a day then I will just upgrade that!

Don't want to add too much fuel to the fire here but, be carefull. As with the WRX's since 1994, once the "Better" clutch transmits that torque to the gearbox, that's when the fun starts! With the limited torque that the standard clutch will transmit, the life of the standard T5 will be much longer.

Gilto, you gets what ya pays for Like BCL said, the more power, the higher the cost.

25,000ks (of moderate to high torque) on a T56 so far Mal Wood's

Just my 2c worth.

Lachlan

[OwnaXR6T]

Ok, im starting to worry about my auto box! I am seriously thinking about a transplant. What will be needed apart from the box in order to do this how much extra moolar will I be up for? am I being a bit over the top with wanting to change to a manual box due to the lack of reliability offered by the auto trans? I just dont want to mod my auto to find it will have to be upgraded again if I want more power than 450fwkw!

[aps]

  OwnaXR6T said:

Ok, im starting to worry about my auto box! I am seriously thinking about a transplant. What will be needed apart from the box in order to do this how much extra moolar will I be up for? am I being a bit over the top with wanting to change to a manual box due to the lack of reliability offered by the auto trans? I just dont want to mod my auto to find it will have to be upgraded again if I want more power than 450fwkw!

Theres no reason that the auto cant be developed to handle high torque, it just takes time and effort to achieve a reliable solution.

If you want a really quick car over the 1/4 mile then persist with the auto trans, some prefer a manual trans and that's fine though only problem is that the T56 6 speed has the shift quality of a truck gearbox, if you dont mind that then go for the T56 option.

I think the shift quality of the 5 speed xr8 or gt trans is much superior to that of the T56 6 speed trans, ultimately it really depends on what type of driving you prefer.

Current cost to upgrade to a T56 trans is in the 8K range though it may be more to go from auto to man trans, as you will need a flywheel,clutch, and pedal cluster, etc. etc.

PETER

APS

[WBT56]

  aps said:

Why so sensitive on this issue ? I have driven many a car with the T56 trans and the shift quality is at best ordinary, that's not to say that the trans is not strong...

PETER

APS

Not sensitive, just wanting some details. You keep bagging the shift quality, yet you don't give details. I will freely admit that the shift quality in ANY LSI T56 equipped car is nowhere near as good as it should be, regardless of aftermarket shifters, etc. This is due to the fact that it has an extension shifter on it which is manufactured by a third party. This leads to vagueness and sometimes difficulty in getting gears. Many people may be happy with it, but the quality is nowhere near as good as a factory Tremec direct coupled stick assy. Therefore, if your experience of the T56 is mainly based on these vehicles, then what you have seen is clearly a poor example of the product, and your opinion could be stated as being fair comment for these particular vehicles only.

My "sensitivity" as you call it would be mirrored by yourself if I were to drive a poorly performing "brand X" upgraded car, and then proceed to bag ALL upgrade packages based on this experience.