Anyone know of a good experienced tranny shop that can strengthen this auto to take 400 or so HP? I live north of Atlanta but can travel. I've heard rumurs about the input shaft, but would like to hear the gospel from a expert. I've had a 700r4 auto on my chevelle that handled a modified 454 with no problems, so I know auto's can handle a lot of power if they are built right.

I want to put a supercharger on it with mild boost, so I need to take care of this first. I had no choice but to buy the auto for this car (married), for some reason, and I know there is exceptions, women have a genetic defect thing about shifting.

This is my first Ford so I don't know the expert shops out there.
Any help appreciated!

Jim

 

What makes you think the tranny can't take 400 HP ?

I think you'd be safe with anything under 500 before needing to be concerned about it.

 

This a newer integrated Tranny meaning no valve body persay to mod. The best thing you can do is get an SCT tune and have them load the latest trans tune. This in it self will upgrade all the shifting and torque convertor parameters to shift 100% better. Billet Speed has the latest files and has done several V-6s and GTs.

 

Where do you get your information? I have been all over asking if the auto can take a 100HP nitrous hit and no one can give me an answer. The gear heads on the other forums do not have a clue. Please direct me to your source. Thanks

 

I don't have a source other than my own comon sense.
100 additional horsepower is not going to make or break a transmission.

Let's take Whipple superchargers for an example. Some time back he was talking about his kit for the 05 Mustang. He had stated that a version for the Automatic would be available at a later date. He also stated it had nothing to do with strength, but had everything to do with figuring out how to manipulate the torque management system.

Unless you're intending to build a 500+ horsepower racing car, I wouldn't be all that concerned about it!

 

Hi, I included the partial quotes from Whipple that I read on a forum, that's why I need to look into the input shaft and other mods.

Thanks to all for the replies!

"Overall, engine and drive-train on manual Mustangs will be very good, still not like stock as that would be impossible with the power they make, but you'll still have a daily driver that will last in most cases 100,000+ miles. Drag racing, track use, higher boost levels, etc. will lower this depending on the duty cycle of the engine. Spark plugs and fuel filters will need changing more often than stock. Automatic equipped Mustangs have a very weak transmission, same as used in the V6 Ford Rangers. We will offer a system for this motor, but it will use more torque management during take off and shifts to increase the transmission life, but it's still very weak. We will offer this only after further testing, the manual kits will be released first.

Thanks,
Dustin
Whipple Superchargers"

He's one more in response to what was weak:

"As for the transmission, I've heard that the input shaft is the weakest point on the auto tranny but that was only the beginning.

Thanks,
Dustin"

 

Wow! quite different to what he said in a forum post over at stangnet some month's ago. That's where I got my tidbit from.

Oh and by the way, the Ranger DOES NOT use the 5R55S. The Ranger uses a 5R55E, might very well be similar, but something tells me the 55S is going to be stronger than what's used on a Ranger and Explorer.

The vehicles the 5R55S DOES share with the Mustang are the Lincoln LS, and the Thunderbird. That seems a little more like it to me

My point is this, there are lot's of other things to worry about with trying to blow on this motor. Anything over a few pounds of boost is going to be shaky with the non-forged internals.

If you feel like running 10+ pounds of boost on this motor to produce 500+ horsepower, you're looking at going with forged internals anyway if you want the engine to last. That's the point I would consider doing a tranny swap.

But hey.... that's just my dumb logic

 

Thanks 66, I know from my driving experience the transmission is very robust. I can't detect any slipage and it shifts very firm. I have noticed that it is "learning" my driving habits. I have tried to break everything gently, and I think it shifts a little softer, if thats the right word, than it did when I picked it up at the dealer.

Some folks said after a break-in to disconnect the battery, and then drive it hard. I think a programing could help with the parameters on this.

Like I said Im new to Fords so I appreciate the knowledge you guys have.

Jim

 

There may be differences between the different versions of the 5R55 trans, but I wouldn't count on it be as strong as the 4R70W it replaced. I'm sure it is adequate for the stock power levels, but adding a 100+ Hp as Dustin said, will stress it quite a bit more. The input shaft on a stock AOD/AODE is weak link, and this trans isn't a new design. It is basicially a smaller 4-speed auto with an overdriven first gear to make it a 5 speed. I wouldn't want to be the first one to break this trans.

 

I bet I know who will be the first on this board!

Bryan, (2005RedGT)

He's eyeballing a procharger for his rig and has the auto.

 

Yes, I went to his site and he's done a lot to his ride. I didn't know the motor was not built with forged parts. Anyway I would like to put a blower on it with low boost, just to get to 400hp, hopfully it would hold up. I still would like to know more about the stupid input shaft I keep hearing about.

Jim

 

I'm not sure about the Mustang tranny but the Rangers tranny, 5R55E stands for 5(5 speed) R (not sure) 55 (multiply by 10 to get max torque before damage) and E (electronic.) Keep in mind your auto does not see the same torque that the engine puts out, it sees DOUBLE that due to the way the torque convertor works. The tranny in my Ranger (only available with FFV 3.0 and 4.0) is a 5R55E which means I can safely run 275 lb/ft of torque before any damage to bands and the like occur. I hope I cleared up a wee bit even if it made no sense. :scratch:

 

oops double post. MODS feel free to delete. :worship:

 

Hi Racrguy,

I think the GT's motor is rated at 320 lb/ft of torque. So if the 550/2=275 is
correct we already exceeded the limit. I don't think the 55 means that in this case.

Thanks,
Jim

 

I have a hard time believing Ford would be that dumb!

 

Tony now you know why I am asking. I was going to use a dry juice system that is good for 100HP which is all the powdered metal rods can take. Looking for facts. Hear say ain’t worth a poot. LOL.
You promised to only drive that Pony 140mph on deserted roads late at night and here you are blowing the doors off some soccer MOM’S car scaring the crap out of the poor thing. Man I would hate for someone to pull out from a side road on that two lane. You might be history. Them too. I only had the first one up to 120 on the interstate at 2AM when Fuzz is asleep. This next one I will do it flat out after all the controls are moved up.

 

I don't remember no PROMISE

Look if you've never been to the desert southwest, it's probably hard to imagine what our roads are like. Just ask Vegas Jay, and better yet Stubbies...who I went cruising with taking pictures.

And and it wasn't a lady scared to death in the Escalade, It was a guy who could care less

 

Desert road's are sweet! A few mile's out of Vegas and you might as well be on Mar's! There's a strech of road heading to Ely, NV that is straight as an arrow for 30 mi. +. It's also flat as a pancake, with no grade. You can go out there in the middle of the week and go hour's without seeing another living sole! I go out there and try to go fast enough to fly. That's why I don't want to get to crazy with my gear's 4.30's etc. It's all to easy for us desert folk to go fast! I love the desert....

 

I grew up in Barstow, CA. There's straight open roads all over the place out there. I still haven't found a good place to open mine up safely, oh well. I envy the desert guys.

Jason

 

Ease up man. You are way too serious. I was only teasing you.
Seems like every time I try to be humorous on this forum someone takes it the wrong way.I am a member of the host club in STL and can’t even tease those Texas boys about possum.
On other forums they have a mouse in one hand and a blow torch in the other.
Just don’t understand this.