HPJ Performance Manual-Swaps S550 Mustang Shelby GT500 for Fun
While it may be a bit slower than stock, this manual-swapped S550 Mustang Shelby GT500 is clearly more fun to drive.
When the S550-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 debuted for the 2020 model year, it was obviously a big deal for a lot of reasons. That includes the car’s monstrous 760 horsepower, supercharged 5.2-liter Predator V8, its new dual-clutch transmission, and some pretty incredible performance to accompany those impressive components. However, there are still some folks out there that weren’t exactly thrilled that FoMoCo decided to only offer the newest Mustang Shelby GT500 with the dual-clutch and not a manual, as was the case with prior generations, even if it results in a performance disadvantage.
Turns out, some folks simply value the driving experience over all-out performance, and as such, we’ve seen at least one manual-swapped S550 Mustang Shelby GT500 in recent years. Now, the folks at HPJ Performance have created another one, as the shop outlined in this recent video. While they claim this is the world’s first manual-swapped Mustang Shelby GT500, that isn’t true, though it is one of the very few row-your-own examples out there, and interested customers can now have the same treatment applied to their own rides.
Of course, one of the reasons so few people are doing this is because it isn’t exactly easy. As our host points out, getting the car’s CAN bus system to play friendly with a different gearbox is a complicated process – not the act of physically swapping out gearboxes, which isn’t too difficult. However, with a lot of tinkering, it was able to do precisely that.
The old dual-clutch in this Mustang Shelby GT500 is long gone, replaced by a Tremec T-56 Magnum transmission, which utilizes an SFI bell housing. HPJ now offers these swaps with a variety of clutch options, though it prefers sticking with a Mantic triple-disc unit – as well as a host of choices in terms of shifters.
As for the install itself, HPJ’s goal is to pull off this swap while retaining an OEM look, and that’s certainly the case here – if you didn’t know any better, you’d think this GT500 rolled off the assembly line with a manual gearbox. Thanks to the fact that it’s a plug-and-play installation, one could easily return the car back to stock if so desired, which is important given the GT500’s collectible status. Obviously, you’re giving up a little in terms of acceleration, but given how fun it is to row one’s own gears, that tradeoff may be one a few owners will be more than happy to make.
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