Club Cobra - ??'s about changing C4 to 4 or 5 Speed

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??'s about changing C4 to 4 or 5 Speed

Hey Guys,

This Spring I am disassembling my Cobra and having the body work finished, prepped and painted. At that time, I am planning on swapping the C4 Auto thats installed to either a 4-Speed or 5-Speed manual trans.

Anybody have any suggestions or recommendations that would make this change less painful???

My motor is a built-up 1971 351W. The Rear is 8" Ford. >> yes Eight inch...
I was wondering about bell housings, will I need to find a new one for what ever trans I go with, or will this one fit other Ford Trannys?? (I probably know the answer to this one).... Nothing usually EVER works with something else....

Also, will I have to have the driveshaft resized???

I bought the chassis already assembled with the C4. I would've gone a different route from the start... but........

Any Pros/Cons between 4 & 5 Speeds??

Would anybody have a list of what all I'd need to complete this swap???

Thanks,
RZ

Ron,

You will need a flywheel, piolt bearing, bellhousing for a Toploader if you go that way or if you go the Tremic 5 speed route a different one for that, a clutch set, clutch fork, cable set or if you want slave & master along with a clutch pedal set up that will work with the set you have in the car now. You will probably have to build a new shaft as the input may not work with the manual trans, and a shifter set up for the top loader, or a shifter handle for the 5 speed.
We use the smaller 302 flywheel as it cuts down on weight so the engine spins up a bit faster. Remember you have to match the flywheel to the bell housing.
The 8 inch will not hold up with a 351 and stick. You will need to swap it to a 9 or something as strong. The 8.8 is a bit soft for anything bigger than a 302, my opinion, the axles have a bad habit of twisting off. Yes you can get better axles but for all the work why not just put in a 9 and be done with it.
That and a bit of time you got it made!

Bruce Edwards
Gemini Motorcars Inc.