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AmericanPowertrain · 01-07-2009, 06:40 PM

I have been reading along in this thread based on a tip from one of the moderators to get involved. Most of the information here is pretty accurate. The stock t45 and 3650 transmissions do have some pretty tough gears and shafts. However, a LOT of the small parts are not only junk, they are junk attached to more junk with junk fasteners and junk tolerances. As I have explained here before, Tremec makes great transmissions, but in Ford's never ending quest to cut cost they always take out a lot of the good stuff that Tremec wants to put in and replace it with JUNK! Your stock transmissions are rated for around 310ft-lbs of torque.

It is torque that kills transmissions, not horsepower, and dropping the trans from 4th to 3rd and hammering it is more damaging than a killer first gear launch. This is because torque multiplication dictates that the closer you get to 1:1 (4th gear) the more effective torque hits the transmission. More transmissions break in what we call a "flying mile" than in stop light drag racing because a guy will be cruising along in 4th or 5th, have a smart ass in a Camaro pull up next to him and will drop the trans a gear or two and take of like a shot.

On top of that, a high percentage of Mustangs have dragging clutches that absolutely kill the shift forks and it's all downhill from there. Firewall flex, fat cushion clutches and stretched cables cause clutches to keep rotating after your foot goes down on the clutch pedal. This causes forks to bend and break, roll pins to deform and all kinds of mayhem. Before you go out and go crazy, check your clutch actuation, make sure your firewall is not flexing and replace your OE clutch with a low or no cushion disc. We can help you fix any of these problems for less than $120.

The good news is that we can also build up to 700ft-lb versions of both transmissions, with upgrades that not only strengthen them significantly, but also improve high rpm shifting and fix a lot of the inherent issues that plague these things.

When your transmission craps the bed, DON'T PUT BACK THE SAME JUNK AND KILL IT AGAIN. Let me know, and I will arrange to build a 430ft-lb Plus or 700ft-lb Extreme for you. AP

01-07-2009, 06:40 PM	#12
AmericanPowertrain Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2008 Vehicle: 1966 Mustang Location: TN Posts: 147	Tranny Guy Weighs In I have been reading along in this thread based on a tip from one of the moderators to get involved. Most of the information here is pretty accurate. The stock t45 and 3650 transmissions do have some pretty tough gears and shafts. However, a LOT of the small parts are not only junk, they are junk attached to more junk with junk fasteners and junk tolerances. As I have explained here before, Tremec makes great transmissions, but in Ford's never ending quest to cut cost they always take out a lot of the good stuff that Tremec wants to put in and replace it with JUNK! Your stock transmissions are rated for around 310ft-lbs of torque. It is torque that kills transmissions, not horsepower, and dropping the trans from 4th to 3rd and hammering it is more damaging than a killer first gear launch. This is because torque multiplication dictates that the closer you get to 1:1 (4th gear) the more effective torque hits the transmission. More transmissions break in what we call a "flying mile" than in stop light drag racing because a guy will be cruising along in 4th or 5th, have a smart ass in a Camaro pull up next to him and will drop the trans a gear or two and take of like a shot. On top of that, a high percentage of Mustangs have dragging clutches that absolutely kill the shift forks and it's all downhill from there. Firewall flex, fat cushion clutches and stretched cables cause clutches to keep rotating after your foot goes down on the clutch pedal. This causes forks to bend and break, roll pins to deform and all kinds of mayhem. Before you go out and go crazy, check your clutch actuation, make sure your firewall is not flexing and replace your OE clutch with a low or no cushion disc. We can help you fix any of these problems for less than $120. The good news is that we can also build up to 700ft-lb versions of both transmissions, with upgrades that not only strengthen them significantly, but also improve high rpm shifting and fix a lot of the inherent issues that plague these things. When your transmission craps the bed, DON'T PUT BACK THE SAME JUNK AND KILL IT AGAIN. Let me know, and I will arrange to build a 430ft-lb Plus or 700ft-lb Extreme for you. AP __________________ *American Powertrain* Street and Strip Gearboxes and Transmission Related Parts for Every Mustang Ever Built (Visit our Website HERE)(Request a Quote HERE)