Looking for some experience or thoughts from those of you that have been there, done it, or even that have looked at the options ... I am going to upgrade transmissions on my Capri this winter. To this point, I have been running the 4 cylinder T5's, they used to live okay, every now and then I would frag a 3rd gear, but they was amazing for what they was (230 ft/lb torque rated transmission running at 350 rear wheel torque) ... Ultimately, when I stepped the power up, they started breaking an all kinds of new ways, even shifting them slow. Clearly I crossed a line with them and an upgrade is needed.
That all said, here are the options I see and rough prices ...
- I now have a Quick Time belhousing that allows me to use either a T5 or TKO pattern so the options open up a lot.
- I had sort of been held back because I could only get 10 spline clutches that would work for me. After a nice conversation with Spec, they will build me a 3+ with either 10 spline or 26 spline, so another roadblock is removed. In any case, I'm changing clutch becasue the 4 puck without a marcel is killing things, so the cost here isnt an issue.
- I had also been pretty locked in on a low 1st gear because the 4 cylinder needs it ... At this point, I'm mostly willing ot add the rear gear needed to make whatever it needs work.
- Whatever I do will still need to be syncronized and keep a 5th gear. I drive this car every day in warm months, and would give up on the racing side to keep it a street car.
I can get a new Tremec T5, basically the Z spec rated at 450HP / 330 Torque for $1,295.00 ... All I would need to do with this si turn down the input chaft to fit the 4 cylinder pilot bearing and it's a drop in using everything I have ... Issue I see is that I'm, still above the torque rating, but it's the cheapest option for sure. No matter what option I go with, the input needs turned down to make it work with the 2.3 pilot bearing, the other option is a bushing that fails for guys as it is VERY thin.
I can get a new TKO 500, with the shift enhancement modifications from Liberty's gears for $2,299.00, but add to that a new shifter ($200), a new driveshaft yoke ($70.00), crossmember issues, height issues, etc ... Good is that the torque rating is there plus a 3.27 1st gear, bad is that these things have poor shifting reputations (even with mods), a bit heavier, etc ... Ultimately a faceplated TKO would be great, but I wont live with that unless I have to.
Astro A5 has caught my attention. In the end, this could be G-Force as well ... I can get a fully built A5 from Astro for $2595.00, rated as 485 ft/lbs and 550 HP ... if this is true, I'm not going to exceed this. I will be changinf clutches no matter waht so the 26 spline isnt an issues and I now feel the 2.95 1st, with my 4.10 gear can work with enough launch RPM :D
Roughly i'm not considering G-Force becasue of the failures out there. I know everyone has issues, it just seems that they dont help with theirs ... That's why Astro is leading in my mind (again, input would be appreciated).
There is also the option for sure to buy the Astro A5 Kit ($1,350), add in a full rebuild kit ($300.00), a cluster support kit ($50.00), and even go as far as a new G-Force case ($350.00), add in misc stuff and some labor, and be less than $2,400.00 for a pretty stout "T5" based tranny. I get to keep my shifter, go 26 spline clutch.
Obviously, everyone can see I could go with a PA performance C4, manual body with a brake, converterm etc and likely be cheaper in the end ... It simply is NOT happening ,so it's not a discussion. There are way too many hurdles to making a C4 work with a small discplacement turbo 4 for it to be viable, and in the end, this is a fun street car and that will kill it.
So thoughts are appreciated. I had really thought the TKO was where I was going, but now I've changed to thinking a lot more of the A5 option (either bought or as a pile of parts) ... The other benefit to staying roughly T5 based is I can switchback to my spare T5's in a pinch without big changes ... The TKO changes a lot.
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