Technical IMPROVING THE SHIFTING ON A T5

If I understand correctly you are using the oem parts because there stronger and the flat spring plates will hold up better than the little coil springs the aftermarket uses? Also adding additional spring plates to solve the missed shift issue.

If I want to make a short throw shifter as well using the stock shifter its going to require a spacer plate like the one shown in the link above?

 

The diaphragm springs are certainly more reliable and cannot "coil bind" [You need the extra pressure to centre the shifter over the 3-4 gate [and to resist going over to the 5 -R gate when cross shifting]

Short shifting [or quick shifting] mods is a separate process, I attached a link in the 1st posting [and there are plenty of threads on how to do this mod.

When doing the short shift mod you might as well add more diaphragm springs while the shifter is apart.
Short shifting mods also produce less degrees of movement left/right so there is less spring compression from the crossbar [making the shifter feel soggy]
It would be beneficial to add more diaphragm springs along with this mod.

 

I have another question regarding the stock/modified shifter verses the aftermarket short throw shifters. The aftermarket ones include stop screws to limit how far you can force the shift. According to the "net" you can bend shift forks by putting to much force on the lever if your speed shifting. Since you race and have experience with this I figured you could give some practical information on this. Thanks for all the information.

 

Personally.........learn to shift properly, an not whack the lever like a hammer. This is especially important with 5 & 6 speed transmissions with an extra shift gate.

All aftermarket shifters are recommended that the stops are backed off 1/2 turn on the adjusters. So they only save the trans in "brute force and ignorance" driving approach.

We have made internal stops on a T5 by machining a plastic collar /spacer for the shift rail [2nd & 4th gear]


And for 1st, 3rd, and 5th stops use a block of Engineering plastic screwed in place behind the offset lever [at the rear] Measuring properly is your friend here.


We've seen no advantages in "shifting like a hero" [only breakages] , for drag racing you'd be better off with the "quick shift" mod and then slowing down your shifting technique.
And if you must use a stop adjuster.........put this on your clutch pedal to limit pedal travel.

These transmissions T5's, T56's, Toploader's, Muncie's, T10's etc etc are all slow shifting because of the synchro's.
If it was a Dog Box you might save a tenth on the shifting.

 

Thanks again for the information. Just recently decided to swap the AOD in my project for a T-5 so I am trying to learn any tips to making it work better and anything I should update or change while I have it out and mocking it up.

May have to build one of those shifters if things dont work out with where its fitting.

 

@Mimilan
Sure enough, that did the trick!
Thanks mate.

 

Excellent thread, well done and well presented...............Thank You!

 

Update after 3 years.

The shifter is working perfect as is, but we are always looking for ways to improve.
Used T5 and T56 OEM shifters are starting to dry up in the swap meet / online auction marketplaces.

But replacement diaphragm springs, delrin balls and plastic pin covers are still available as new replacement parts.

The stock diaphragm springs come in 2 grade thicknesses [0.015" x 1 and 0.018" x 2]
Replacement diaphragm springs come in 2 grade thicknesses [0.018" Blue and 0.025" Red]

After experimenting with a stock shifter the best results were from adding 2 x Red diaphragm springs to the stack [5 in total]
If you were into extreme brutal competition shifting, We would recommend adding 2 x Red diaphragm springs and 1 x Blue diaphragm spring [6 in total]
This is not for "smooth as butter" shifting on the street [but neither is Competition Clutches, Face-Plated Dog Box transmissions etc etc]

When we opened up the shifter for a 2nd time we drilled 2 x 1/8" pilot holes for rivets later [and 3mm button head cap screws]
This allowed us to assemble and disassemble the shifter multiple times for trial and error of the new springs.

The rivets hold it together until the shifter is finally TIG welded


we also discovered the cut down factory boot to be perished [it ripped when being removed]


We got an old tyre tube and were going to cut out a patch to laminate glue underneath!
The tube had 3 patches on it that were a perfect concave shape , so we cut these out and punched a slightly undersized hole in the centre.


It stretched over the shifter stub and acts like a floating umbrella dust cover [it works perfectly without interfering in shifter movement]


please note: this dust cover is unique for our shifter due to height restraints [normally a CV boot is recommended]
see post #19

Next week Kerry [Kerrynzl] will start a build thread on how to prevent the dreaded 1st to 2nd back into 1st "Money Shift" on a T56 transmission.
Accidentally shifting back into 1st at a 7000 Rpm upshift is not fun [and the curse of T56 transmissions]

We are waiting on some parts to come back from the electroplaters and he'll start a "how-to" thread
[it will be photo heavy, and doesn't involve dismantling the transmission]

 

This is excellent info, thanks for posting, may sell my hurst short shift setup and do this, especially as the parts are available. I bought a T5 with the stock shifter and the Hurst, not actually used either yet as I'm 'still' building the car, but I could use the height saving in a stock shifter over the Hurst, so will look into this more.

 

Sell the Hurst , and massage the stock shifter.
It will be far more reliable than any aftermarket shifter.

On a T56 with our latest round of mods it is faster than any "vertical gate" shifter.
You need to make the call ! Do you want it smooth as butter? or brutal fast and accurate?

You can play with these a bit [if you temporarily use rivets] to get it right for you. Then TIG is later
They are usually easy to pull out of the hole in the tunnel.

 

Well, I have to say to @Kerrynzl , we now know who has the brains in the family !!!

Messing with ya!

 

I finally got the "Money shift" mods for a T56 finished
The thing is lightning fast and accurate like a vertical gate shifter.

 

I love my 6-speed.... Enough said!...