4 speed vs. 5 speed for stocker

[EdgarTurbo]

Hello guys,

I'm building a 03 mustang mach-1 and i was wondering what are your thoughts on what will be the best choice for my application or any thought at all. I'm undecided on what will be a good choice for me. In the rulesbook said that O.D. gear is not required but at the same time said that the car have to have the same number of foward speeds as original, that's kind of confusing, But anyway if I got the option what will be your choice. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Edgar

[Chad Rhodes]

considering you won't find a clutch assisted 5 spd jerico or g-force. I'd say a 4spd

[Jeff Swanson]

Originally Posted by Chad Rhodes

considering you won't find a clutch assisted 5 spd jerico or g-force. I'd say a 4spd

That's incorrect....

The only thing better than a 5spd is a 6spd, but cost is definitely a factor.

[Jeff Lee]

All I know is the late Bob Pott (K/S & L/S 5.0 Mustang); now driven by his daughter Kelly Pott-Hall) switched from a 4-speed Jerico to a 5-Speed. He was told by "all the experts" the cost difference of a 5-speed wouldn't make any noticeable difference, so that's what he ran for all those years.
Then he made the switch. With no other changes he picked up two tenths.
I'm under the impression the less the torque and the less the RPM capability of the engine, the more of an advantage a 5-speed has over a 4-speed.
And if there was a difference of $5K between the two offerings and I thought I could get two tenths without any other changes, I think it is money well spent.

I'd also highly recommend the Sportsman dual 7" clutch assembly. The idea here is to keep the weight as central to the crank centerline as possible. Again, I think small engines really need this. PM me if you need more info.

By the way, I think an '03 MACH 1 would be a really fun stocker! What class does it fit?

[EdgarTurbo]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

All I know is the late Bob Pott (K/S & L/S 5.0 Mustang); now driven by his daughter Kelly Pott-Hall) switched from a 4-speed Jerico to a 5-Speed. He was told by "all the experts" the cost difference of a 5-speed wouldn't make any noticeable difference, so that's what he ran for all those years.
Then he made the switch. With no other changes he picked up two tenths.
I'm under the impression the less the torque and the less the RPM capability of the engine, the more of an advantage a 5-speed has over a 4-speed.
And if there was a difference of $5K between the two offerings and I thought I could get two tenths without any other changes, I think it is money well spent.

I'd also highly recommend the Sportsman dual 7" clutch assembly. The idea here is to keep the weight as central to the crank centerline as possible. Again, I think small engines really need this. PM me if you need more info.

By the way, I think an '03 MACH 1 would be a really fun stocker! What class does it fit?

Thanks Jeff for your words, I think the 03 mach-1 would be fun, I did the calculation and as far as I know will fit on E/S.

Edgar

[Mike Keener]

I agree with Dave Casey's findings and I will be the first to admit I know nothing about the Ford engines power band, or how it effects performance when switching from the 4 speed to the 5 speed, but I do know about the LT1 Chevrolets' abilities in these very same areas.

Probably few remember but Merc and I ran a 94 Camaro LT1 powered car in 1999 and 2000 which Woodro did the engines for and was the D/S NHRA National Record Holder @ 10.52 which was pretty quick in it's day. For what it is worth this car never ran as quick with the 5 speed as it did the 4 speed. On the best days it was a wash and most of the time the 4 speed was a couple hundreths quicker, so unless there has been some startling new developments in this area lately (like a higher/wider rpm power band) I think the data we achieved in this application is fairly factual.

In fact I still have a like new G Force 5 speed available with a 3:16 low and a 3:25 low gear set complete with a Long Shifter and the correct driveshaft for a late model Camaro if anyone out there is interested.

MK

[Stephen & Horace Johnson]

Originally Posted by EdgarTurbo

Hello guys,

I'm building a 03 mustang mach-1 and i was wondering what are your thoughts on what will be the best choice for my application or any thought at all. I'm undecided on what will be a good choice for me. In the rulesbook said that O.D. gear is not required but at the same time said that the car have to have the same number of foward speeds as original, that's kind of confusing, But anyway if I got the option what will be your choice. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Edgar

get a 5speed, call Jerico or g-force, i'm quite sure either one of those companys will have some used ones or a new one if thats what you're looking for.

[Jeff Lee]

5-speed will be worth nearly two tenths over a 4-speed with that small engine.
You are allowed to run either a 4-speed or 5-speed with your application in S/SS

[EdgarTurbo]

Thanks, Jeff for the input, that is somthing to consider...

[Ed Carpenter]

No one mentioned yet that a 5 speed will cost you about 2000.00 more!!!! Just a small detail.