I hate to bring up this beat-to-death subject but one of the things I have not seen anyone mention is what pro and amature road racers are doing to deal with the MT82 transmission.

In the past there were allot of issues with the old T-5 and when SCCA American Sedan was created these were the only transmissions that were allowed. While these boxes were not ideal, racers and transmission builders did figure out how to make them work in road racing. This information filtered down to the street and as a result this transmission became more reliable if it was prepared properly.

I recently watch some Roush Racing Continental Tire Boss 302s practice at KS Speedway and it later dawned on me that they were running OE 6 speed transmissions. Also, the current 5.0 GT and Boss 302s are competitively classed in SCCA Club Racing where the MT82 box has to be used. So some racing miles are being accumulated.

So, has anyone talked to these racers/race teams? I plan on doing some research myself.

 

What issues?

 

I track my car at the drag strip and what am I doing to deal with the MT-82? Well I'm buying an automatic next year as a track only car...lol. I just really don't think you can do any competitive driving with the MT-82. I'm ok with dealing it for the occasional street fun and I'll always own a manual as a DD, but I just really don't believe this MT-82 transmission is a trackable trannie. I've yet to read about one person being happy with it racing competitively.

 

When you say Boss 302s, do you mean Boss 302S or Boss 302's, because the 302S to my knowledge doesn't use the MT82 it uses the TR6060.

 

They replace them with TR6060 or T56 if real serious, and of course allowed in the series -- any you see on TV, or in any semi-pro or pro ranks, have either the TR6060 or a Rockland or Hewland.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/stampede/

 

I would say though for the MT82 people have gone with DOT 4 brake fluid, since the brake and clutch system use the same fluid, MGW shifter, Joe Heck braided clutch line, though 5 DOT 0 in the Boss section has done all of these things and has said he still has issues. I would also recommend removing the shift assist spring, this should help if you have clutch sticking to the floor issues.

 

I googled the Grand Am rule book. Boss 302Rs are run in the GS class. They are allowed alternate transmisssions/ratios and clutches. So no telling what the cars I saw had in them.

On the other hand Boss 302s are being run in SCCA Touring 1 and 11-13 5.0s and V6s are in SCCA Touring 2. MT82's are the spec transmissions for these cars both classes. The cars are not completely stock but there are no modification allowances for the driveline listed in the latest version of the SCCA GCR.

So I think it will be interesting to see what they figure out.

 

I know of a guy who made new parts from scratch to toughen up his MT82 for racing. Replaced the stamped steel shift forks with billet pieces and such. A T56 or 6060 is a lot easier if you like the ratios they come with. The T56 and 6060 are well suited to supercharged cars.

 

You will love your 6R80. I was always a manual guy but this auto is bulletproof. Best choice I ever made. I love going against manual guys. 9/10 they have no chance. Too much room for error w/ mt82.

 

Does he happen to plan on selling the stuff or were they one off's just for him?

 

I've heard others say it's a good tran too so it's good to hear more confirmation of that. Yeah...I was trying to make it work for a little while now. I did ok and was able to make it to the finals a couple of times this summer. But yes, racing and auto trans technology has changed and an auto is a must in today's racing world. You just can't compete. Especially if bracket racing. I get up to the starting line and I have a million things going on. I'm trying to slip the clutch ever so slightly to load the drivetrain so as to not spin like crazy out of the hole. I'm trying to steady my RPM's bouncing all over the place. So I'm looking up at the tree...down at my RPM's...back up at the tree...whereas the guy I'm racing can concentrate almost 100% on the tree...lol. Then as I'm racing I have to granny shift so as to not have a gear lockout on me which futhers throws more variables in the mix. Even having a 2/100ths of a second variation time in my entire complex shifting process I have to go through will pretty much screw me on a race.

 

You're 100% correct. It has absolutely nothing to do with your driving ability.

 

From FordRacing; the Boss 302R uses at least close to the same MT-82, while the 302S uses the "GT500 [tremec] 6 speed transmission"

That shows me an acknowledgement that the MT-82 is a weak point for a dedicated/premier/top-end racing car. For the same reasons that everyone in the road cars is complaining? Hard to say...

http://www.fordracingparts.com/compe...osscompare.asp

Edit* I was under the impression that the 302R was supposed to be the higher performing car, while it appears they are both for different rule sets and the presumably MT-82 equipped 302S is actually $50k more expensive.

 

May I suggest looking at your tach once then use your ear.

 

It's a good point and I actually do when racing other street cars. But when going up against a super pro or the faster pro cars, that isn't possible. All I hear is the rumble of their car literally vibrating my head...lol. I lose all touch with my own car completely and have to rely on gauges to have any clue where my car is.

With street cars I do rely more on ear since I am generally much louder.

 

The Boss 302R is built for a rule set that allows alternate transmission ratios in an approved alternate transmission. So even if the MT82 was a built proof piece a race team will always opt for a gear box that offers more gear ratio selections.

As far as drag racing is concerned, an automatic makes allot more sense. They even work well in autocross if they are prepared properly.

In organized road racing automatics are generally not allowed. For example, in the SCCA you can only use an automatic in road racing if you have a medical wavier - IE you're a paraplegic. That said, I have never seen a domestic automatic survive in SCCA Club Racing. I have a friend who is a para and he tried to make slush boxes work in his A Sedan camaro and he never could. He eventually used a Jerico because those boxes can be shifted without a clutch.