6speedXR8

What power is the car developing? Mal

I regularly build high performance tailshafts for cars with high power levels, I recently built a tailshaft with a Billet Steel Yoke, 1350 series High Performance uni/ joints, Chrome Moly tube, and bolt on rear diff flange. This combination will hold well over 500 rwkw, the cost of this shaft is $2550 and is available for both ute and sedan. Mal Wood

I take it that you are running a T56 in your car because a T5 will not hold a genuine 330 RWKW for long! The ACE option 3 11'' was developed to handle well over 300 rwkw yet drive smooth with absolutely NO SHUDDER. This alone puts this clutch way out front of anything else offered, anyone can supply a button clutch that will hold high power levels even I can! but the real test is a clutch that drives as standard and holds high power levels and the option 3, option 3 PLUS and the option 5 twin deliver just that. Mal Wood

I just sent you a PM with all the details, Mal

We did an auto to manual last week, it only takes a bit over 10 hours to do it properly so here is a list of what is required to upgrade to a 5 or 6 speed. New Flywheel New clutch kit New flywheel bolts and spigot bearing Reconditioned XR6T 5 speed or Reconditioned XR6T T56 6 speed or New XR6T T56 6 speed New crossmember and mount New slip yoke and an exchange front half of the tailshaft (the auto one needs to be shortened) New Alloy CSC (hydraulic bearing) New braided line New clutch pedal carrier and pedal with the master cylinder New reservoir and bracket Cut back the brake pedal in the car with an air hacksaw, trim it up and fit a manual brake pedal pad. (this saves a heap of time) New floor boot and the retainer New console insert New gearstick New gearstick knob You will be able to use the existing loom and just change it to suit and then get the car reflashed. Or you can come for a drive and I will do it for you and save all the bother. Regards, Mal Wood

Hi everyone, I need 2 Black BA/BF sedans, XR8 or XR6, for a wedding in Stanthorpe on March the 7th, if anyone can help please call my son, Daniel on 0421 870271. Thanks, Mal Wood

The discussions on shifters always amuse me when someone is asked why one is better than the other and the response is I know a bloke who said these are good or whatever!!!! One of the shifters mentioned is old design copied off a well known brand in the US. There is basicly two shifter designs one uses two little coil springs under the crosspin and these types get sloppy over time when the coil springs ( compression springs) weaken, the ( FORD) V8 utes used this design (Steeda) for years and had big issues with wear and when we rebuilt the transmissions we were always reworking the shifter to get a bit more life out of them. The compression spring shifters, to name a few, B&M including the Ripper shifter, RIP shifter, Hurst all wear premeturely when used for 6 speeds where the shifter is operated through 4 gates were the main problem is the compression spring under the crosspin on the right hand side is completely compressed and coil binds when selecting 6th. Some shifters have shift stops and these are really not necessary in street cars or in any cars for that matter!!! If the driver shifts gears with an open hand technique you will NEVER damage a transmission. Most transmissions that have come through my shop that have had shifters with shift stops have not had the shifter adjusted properly anyway! The other type of shifter uses a wave spring design as used in the original Ford and Holdens when fitted with a T5 or a T56, all have shifters that have wave springs in them (except for the VE) The wave spring design, in my professional opinion, is far superior as the wave springs do not suffer the same issues as the coil spring type and the springs can be increased to give better shift centering ( the so called Straight Gate design as advertised for other shifters is an ABSOLUTE LOAD OF CRAP) When I started hand building shifters many years ago I started with the factory Tremec shifters and shifted the pivot point therefore shortening the Throw and then worked on spring ratios to get the shift just right, the shift had to be free of NVH,Noise Vibration and Harsness, yet still deliver possitive, precise and smooth shifts. The Mal Wood Auto shifter delivers to the driver a superior shift to standard yet without compromising quality in our quality cars, afterall how quick a driver can shift the gears comes down to three basic things .... Brain to Hand to Foot coordination not how short the throw is!!! Regards, Mal

[quote name='phatal' post='766977' date='Nov 12 2008, 05:56 PM']Any chance of a pic Mal? And are these "new" shifters any different to the shifters that you had a group buy on a few months back?[/quote] Here are the photos, Mal

[quote name='boosted_sa' post='764029' date='Nov 8 2008, 09:25 AM']Hey Guys, Got a PM from Mal, Said that he'd do his new T56 short throw shifter for $330 delivered. Not to sure how these group buys work but we need at least 10 people. He'll also throw in a stubbie cooler and maybe a cap. Not sure how much the short sticks are worth but I'm sure Mal could work something out Regards, Kym 1. Boosted_sa[/quote] I will hold this one open until Christmas, now don't forget you will get a choice of colours, Blue, Gold or Silver and the new FG shifter is also available at the same price. Regards, Mal

Try www.aceclutch.com.au and you will find the Mal Wood developed, designed and tested option 3 11'' clutch, the ACE option 3 is an 11'' High Performance clutch fitted on a unique 11'' Billet Steel Flywheel and will hold 350rwkw with ease and will not shudder and gives smooth operation. Mal

The V8 T56 can be changed over to suit but you will need a New Bellhousing, New input shaft, New mainshaft, New shift rail, New rear case, New bearing kit and the labour to build it. If you want a T56 then you may be better off to get one of MWA that is ready to fit, the complete T56 kit ready to fit is only $4550. A TKO 600 will not fit, Regards Mal Wood

I have always set the flywheels up in my lathe on a mandrel and faced them for the best finish, at least this way you will know that it will be dead flat. 99% of ground flywheels that have come through the workshop are not flat and the finish is far too rough. With the T5 or T56 we always use Castrol Transmax Z, we have found this fluid to lubricate very well and is well suited to the Tremec Transmissions. Mal Wood

The ACE option 2 will hold that power but the T5 will not hold long term, you would be better off to consider an upgrade to T56 @ $4550 for the complete kit and the ACE option 3 11'' clutch @ $1310. Mal Wood

The one I run now has bedded in very nicely... I can idle off the line in traffic now which is great... I'm now slipping it on the brake to do hard launches. I can bring boost upto 6psi on the handbrake, 10psi spins, but the launch now is awesome... might head to wsid later on ( Previous quote ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am sorry but this really is a crazy statement!! Clutches can't be slipped if you expect them to last!! When you slip a clutch for a so called better launch all that is happening is an enormous amount of heat being generated through friction which leads to failure of the facings and damage to the pressure plate and flywheel. As for holding capability the non organic facings such as Carbon Button and Ceramic have a higher friction coeficent than the normal organic facings, but in my professional opinion I prefer organic discs to the others afterall I have a Trade customer in SA that has an XR6T that has done 3 years of work and the ute now has 430 rwkw! The whole clutch debate will continue as long as there is competition in the market and at the end of it all it depends on the driver of the car! the same guy that complains about a burnt out clutch is the same guy that brags about the set of tyres he fried in one week but doesn't complain about the make of the tyres or how he treated them. Mal Wood

The option 3 11'' will do the job fine, the cost for the New 11'' Billet Steel Flywheel and 11'' HP clutch kit5 with an Alloy CSC will be $1480 for Forum Members. Mal

If you drive your car to its full potential with 300RWKW the T5 will not stand a chance! The T56 is by far a better choice and will hold easily and if you use the ACE option 3 11'' clutch you will have the right package. I have a range of New and Reconditioned T56 kits available, either kit comes with New MWA Short throw shifter, New braided line, New remote bleed, New Alloy CSC, New mount, New crossmember, New yoke and Oil and @ $5570 for the New T56 and kit or $4550 for the low k Reco T56 and kit these upgrades are great value. Add to that the ACE option 3 kit at $1310 and you have the best overall package available. Mal Wood

There are two pins in the reverse lockout soliniod, just earth one out to the bolt that holds the reverse lockout on and run the other one to the downstream side of the brake light switch. So then you will only get reverse with your foot on the brake. Mal

[quote name='chrissat' post='690023' date='Jun 8 2008, 07:46 PM']hello is this group buy still on . if so can i put my name down . thanks chris[/quote] Chris, I will still do the same deal for you so just send me an email or pm. Oh and for all the Forum Members that purchased the Short Throw Shifters thanks for the support. Mal Wood

Thanks to all on the Forum for the support, I have sent quite a few out in the last few days and I have included a Mal Wood Auto cap and a stubbie cooler with all orders. Autotechnique's number is 97631195, Thanks again Mal Wood

You are pretty well spot on with this response, the T56 in standard form does suffer from various levels of rollover noise that really shouldn't be in a relatively New Car. I have found by blueprinting our transmissions it reduces the rollover to virtually zero at idle and it only being evident when hot and idling with the Air on. Transmax Z we have found to be a better lubricant than the standard mineral Dextron 3 and is a very worthwhile upgrade, we use 4.5 litres. Overall you are best to voice your concerns to your local Ford dealer and demand something be done if you are unhappy with it. Mal Wood

You can upgrade to the Typhoon T56 Very easily, what power levels are you aiming for? For example you can purchase a Reconditioned Blueprinted T56 fitted with a MWA alloy short throw, New braided remote bleed, New braided line, New drive yoke, New alloy CSC, New Billet steel flywheel, New option 3 H/P clutch kit and the transmission fluid for a package price of $5860 plus freight to your door or fitting and this package will hold 350 rwkw with ease. Mal Wood

The option 5 doesn't rattle, if you have a close look at it not only has it got 3 drive lugs but it also has strap drive on the intermeadiate plate. It is the largest twin plate designed and built in Australia @ 10.5'' diameter, the Flywheel, inter plate and the base plate is made from 4340 grade Nickel Chrome moly Steel billets and the plates are solid centre bonded riveted organic facings which give smooth operation and great holding capability through design. This clutch is rated @ 550 rwkw and I have one holding 600rwkw. Mal

I have had the option 3 running 430 rwkw in a car in SA for over a year without an issue, this clutch continues to surprise me. Mal

Oh no he wasn't ! He told me so!! Yeh Right?????? Mal

It was running our option 3 -- 11'' clutch kit, Mal