Stick-shift conversion?

[1987cp]

For me, only worth doing if the ECU can blip the throttle to match revs on downshifts...

I would think that would be pretty much mandatory on any flappy-paddle application? Or are there systems that don't do that and just unceremoniously chunk it down a gear like an AOD placed in "1"?

[P72Ford]

I may take you up on that offer if my other friend ends up being too busy to give me a hand. Either way, we gotta hang out some time... doesn't make sense to live so close to eachother and never meeting.

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=23218

BTW, I went out to Mark's Auto Parts last night, as they were supposed to have there first show (I always though it started on Memorial Day, but it did indeed start last night). It was cancelled because of the wet lawn...

[torquelover]

I would think that would be pretty much mandatory on any flappy-paddle application? Or are there systems that don't do that and just unceremoniously chunk it down a gear like an AOD placed in "1"?

Anytime I down shift an auto, I match revs just like when I'm trying to save the synchros and not upset the car in a manual trans. All my POS vids illustrate this fact. Until recently, rev-matching was only for the exotics. The first application stateside was actually the Cadillac STS, of all things. Quite a few cars have the ability nowadays. ViperGTS guy picked me up in a rental G35 sedan that had a 5-spd auto that matched revs. It was smooth, and fun, to downshift through the gears with the ECU blipping the revs perfectly every time.

[CheeseSteakJim]

It's pretty damn cheap man.

There are five main costs;
transmission, anywhere from free-$500 or more.
clutch, $150 ish
flywheel, $200 ish
95 CV barke booster, $80 ish
mustang pedal assembly. $30-50ish.

Hopefully with the tranny you get the bell housing, clutch fork, shifter, and shift handle. I had to purchase that stuff separately, however I got my T5 for free. You do NOT need a new drive shaft to do the conversion. All said and done I was under $700, but if you buy a nice T5 and nice clutch and fly wheel, you could easily be around $1500-$2000. Honestly, I wish I had done an aluminum fly wheel.

Are you 100% sure I wouldn't need a new driveshaft? This is on an '88 Town Car, and keep in mind a Town Car has a longer wheelbase than your Crown Vic. And if you truly don't need a new driveshaft, I'm wondering why Freshmeat's article mentioned needing a 92+ driveshaft, pinion, and adapter of some sort.

I could push back the project further and save up to have a custom aluminum driveshaft built, but I'd rather avoid that unless I absolutely can't.

Out of curiousity, and because I don't fully understand these things just yet, why do you wish you had gotten an aluminum flywheel? If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it entirely right the first time.

[mrltd]

The driveshaft yoke is the same for both the aod and t5... However the tc trans is longer, so custom stuff will be needed.

[Archangel]

Anytime I down shift an auto, I match revs just like when I'm trying to save the synchros and not upset the car in a manual trans. All my POS vids illustrate this fact. Until recently, rev-matching was only for the exotics. The first application stateside was actually the Cadillac STS, of all things. Quite a few cars have the ability nowadays. ViperGTS guy picked me up in a rental G35 sedan that had a 5-spd auto that matched revs. It was smooth, and fun, to downshift through the gears with the ECU blipping the revs perfectly every time.

The Caddy does that indeed, but what I have a big issue with is the delay of the actual downshift - I've seen as bad as 2 seconds, which I find absolutely unacceptable considering the situations you usually downshift manually.

[1987cp]

What's a G35?

[gadget73]

an Infiniti if I'm guessing right.

[Glen]

Why couldn't you use a Hyd. clutch instead of the mechanical clutch?

[Nathan in MI]

You could; it's just never been tried in a Panther application, at least to our knowledge.

[91waggin]

an Infiniti if I'm guessing right.

Infiniti version of the Nissan 350Z. Except it seats 2+2 instead of just 2.

[Tiggie]

Seems like I heard somewhere something about '90-'91 having something different going on with the driveshafts - but that still wouldn't have affected freshmeat's wagon. Or maybe that was the tranny crossmember I was thinking about.

KornIce (dunno if he's on here or not) also did a conversion: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/250410/13

[Blaze86Vic]

Yes, because the Town Car transmission's output shaft is longer you will need to either use a custom drive shaft, or make/get a driveshaft spacer to make up for the needed extra length.

An aluminum flywheel is lighter that stock (usually more than 50% which is roughly 10-15lbs less). Less mass in the rotating assembly of the engine lets the engine rev faster. However, for a big car or heavy load a heavier flywheel makes it easier to engage without stalling. I don't know if you have ever been to a road course with highly modified P1 and P2 Corvettes, but those things are really hard to start without stalling. As somewhat of a reference those 700hp cars with experienced drivers commonly stall in the pits.

[FastGallopingPonies]

I'm thinking I may try and setup a hydraulic clutch setup on mine if I give this a go, I was looking at my service manual and the Hydraulic setup in the Thunderbird/Cougars, doesn't look like it would be that hard to adapt to a panther with a T5.

[mrltd]

Rangers were also hydraulic IIRC...