*MT-82 upgraded* but what does it mean ?

nastang87xx said:

GT350 TR3160 is a great shifting trans. Very positive feeling. Any direct shift no remote linkage T56 or derivative feels awesome. Corvette transaxle transmissions are a bit sloppy but stout...usually. A LOT of C5 Z06's are being autocrossed and raced in SCCA right now and their transmissions are giving up 3rd gear and reverse at a scary pace. 3 in my SCCA region in one week alone. The trans in the S2000 is a dream.

People who right out complain about the MT82 without any frame of reference really need one. Two characters: T5. Done and done.

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The T5 was one of the best shifting transmissions in any mustang. It's only flaw was it's lack of strength in the case which allowed the mainshaft to flex and destroy 3rd.

With that said, I have no issues with the MT82. It's a bit clunky, but shift's quite well. Powershifting is quite easy once you realize that the shifter requires a push away from the driver on shifts, especially the 2-3.

My '11 5.0L Brembo GT had the MT-82. Hated it! Clutch stuck to the floor sometimes, notchy shifting when cold, hanging up at redline shifts, etc. It improved slightly with a fluid change (per the Ford TSB) and an MGW Ltd shifter, but still a bad trans, IMHO. The T5 in my '89 5.0L LX was marginally better, despite many people having troubles with their T5's. I liked the Tremec 3650 that was in my '03 Mach 1 best.

I trust that Ford has tired of hearing how bad the MT-82 has been, so the upgraded MT-82 in the '18 will likely be much better. One can hope, right?

The 4 t5s (in 3 mustangs) i have owned have all been unpleasant transmissions. Notchy, noisy, and far from smooth. I just sold my 95 gt a couple weeks ago and shifting the mt82 is a dream compared to shifting the t5 that was in that car.

Even at my power level it's still a joy to row through the gears in my mt82

BmacIL said:

MGW + BG Syncroshift II and I doubt you'd have any complaints about it. Super slick, smooth, and precise.

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I've done everything you mentioned and even put a stainless steel clutch cable and the Steeda spring in and it's still notchy. Although somewhat better but it's definetly not super slick or smooth. I must of gotten a bad one. If I ever get another Mustang It will be a the 10 speed auto even though I really don't care for an auto in a sports/ muscle car.

DickR said:

What manual transmissions have you guys driven in high power cars which shift better? Are the Tremecs better? The Corvette transmission? What other's are there not counting $$$$ dollar high power imports?

Just curious since my experience is limited to various generations of Mustang's.

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My 2011 Subaru STI had a wonderful transmission, but it didn't make up for other issues I had with the car.

Five Oh Brian said:

My '11 5.0L Brembo GT had the MT-82. Hated it! Clutch stuck to the floor sometimes, notchy shifting when cold, hanging up at redline shifts, etc. It improved slightly with a fluid change (per the Ford TSB) and an MGW Ltd shifter, but still a bad trans, IMHO. The T5 in my '89 5.0L LX was marginally better, despite many people having troubles with their T5's. I liked the Tremec 3650 that was in my '03 Mach 1 best.

I trust that Ford has tired of hearing how bad the MT-82 has been, so the upgraded MT-82 in the '18 will likely be much better. One can hope, right?

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The T5? Lol. That thing couldn't even handle 300lb-ft of torque.

.

TomcatDriver said:

I think he's talking specifically about the MT82 not the car.

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So was I

I had a couple cars with the 2011 version of the MT-82, and they both crunched going into second gear. Other than that they worked fine. There was an issue with welding spatter on the shift rod that destroyed the shifter bushings on one of them, and that shifter became difficult and at times frightening to use. With an MGW replacement for the shifter, most of my issues with that MT-82 were resolved. The 2015+ version of the MT-82 was really good in my opinion. I think the manufacturer fixed some of the notchy characteristics of the transmission and it became one of my favorites. It really worked well.

I didn't really like the Tremec box in my GT350 quite as much as the 2015+ MT-82 at first, but it has grown on me. I feel like the Tremec in the GT350 gets a little smoother with the miles.

I've owned several cars with T5s. The T5 is a very smooth shifting transmission. Almost too smooth for me. I had a Tremec 3550 with a Hurst shifter in a Fox for a few years and I really liked that transmission. It was notchier than the T5, but shifted well and was strong. There was a nice, positive feeling when you engaged a gear. I also had a TKO600 for a while and it shifted very similarly to the 3550.

None of the transmissions I've owned in any Mustang have compared to the feeling of precision I got when driving a 2005 Porsche 911. I found the car in general somewhat boring, but the sensation of changing gears was amazing.

Sadly I liked the Mazda 5spd in my old Escort with a B&M shifter than I liked the feel in the 3650 of my Mach1. The MGW made it better, it was never horrid, but it was never as smooth as the Escort ZX2 I had. I know it could never take the power a 3650 could, but to me that's just an excuse. There is no reason a transmission that's designed to take more power can't also be smooth as silk. My friend is pushing just under 400whp out of his S2000 and his transmission is one of, if not the smoothest shifting that I have never tried.

I haven't tried the MT-82 yet, but if it's worse than my 3650 I'm going to be disappointed. It likely wont kill the car for me, I'll just be more inclined to get a nice shifter sooner than not.

I put the Steeda 35 lb spring in and immediately the clutch felt better. You could feel the engagement point so much easier.

P.S. Best shifting transmission to date was in my 2006 Cayman S. I think I missed one shift with it in 4 years! And I did several HPDE track days at seriously high RPMs & speeds.

c-rizzle said:

I put the Steeda 35 lb spring in and immediately the clutch felt better. You could feel the engagement point so much easier.

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Small investment for big returns!

TJ

FIVE_LITER said:

The 4 t5s (in 3 mustangs) i have owned have all been unpleasant transmissions. Notchy, noisy, and far from smooth. I just sold my 95 gt a couple weeks ago and shifting the mt82 is a dream compared to shifting the t5 that was in that car.

Even at my power level it's still a joy to row through the gears in my mt82

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Ya, the t5 was horrible compared to my mt-82. I actually think my mt-82 it's pretty nice as long as it holds up. I still don't feel the need to even upgrade the shifter, yet.

The best shifting transmission I've ever had in a car I owned was the five speed in my 96 Geo Metro. I loved that little car, I wish they still made them.

Wriggly said:

The best shifting transmission I've ever had in a car I owned was the five speed in my 96 Geo Metro. I loved that little car, I wish they still made them.

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lol. I was once driving around in a Geo Storm. I didn't know the specs, but thanks to Wiki

1.6 L SOHC 4XE1 I4, 95 hp
Transmission 5-speed manual
0-60 mph 10 seconds,
top speed 108 mph

nastang87xx said:

GT350 TR3160 is a great shifting trans. Very positive feeling. Any direct shift no remote linkage T56 or derivative feels awesome. Corvette transaxle transmissions are a bit sloppy but stout...usually. A LOT of C5 Z06's are being autocrossed and raced in SCCA right now and their transmissions are giving up 3rd gear and reverse at a scary pace. 3 in my SCCA region in one week alone. The trans in the S2000 is a dream.

People who right out complain about the MT82 without any frame of reference really need one. Two characters: T5. Done and done.

Click to expand...

Mt82 in my 13 gt was terrible. Tr6060 is hands down my favorite, had it in 2 variations. One in my hellcat and
a 2011 GT500 spec I swapped my my 06 mustang.