Welcome to my world. It's a $hitty place. Going for my 2nd rebuild pretty soon. First time I powershifted with the stock shifter, sheared a bolt off the shift rail and screwed up a few other things. Got towed home from the dragstrip. Got it put back together by a good ole country boy, labor, parts and all, $380 give or take. After about 4 months, it'd grind early in the morning, right after start up, going in 3rd (2-3). Then it eventually (another month or 2) would grind 3rd much more often.
Currently (another 3 months later) it'll grind every shift if I try to shift really quick (basically powershift without holding the throttle to the floor). Even 5th, which has it's own shift rail, will grind even on a conservative shift.
It's got 73K miles on it. I've got another T-45 w/ 44K miles and a broken countershaft waiting to donate it's synchros and shift forks (basically everything but the countershaft) and another T-45 (freebie) with a bad bearing as another donor.
It's at this point that I've decided that drag racing my only car is not a wise thing, as I cannot afford the repairs. And it only makes 200hp at the rear wheels! Cannot imagine these blown cobras & GT's with stock T-45's.
Hope I don't ruin your day fellas, but you're heading down the road to my world. BTW, the fella whom I got the T-45 w/ broken counter shaft from broke it driving to work, not racing. And if you think I'll just get a Tremec and be done with it, better count on a custom lengthened driveshaft $200+ and a Lakewood Bellhousing (another $200+) on top of the price of the Tremec ($1200+).
Ain't life grand? There is the possibility, if you've still got warranty left, that Ford with replace your T-45 with the Tremec built T-45. There's a service bulletin (or whatever they're called) out on in.
Good Luck!
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96 GT: KB subs, March pulleys, Bassani X pipe, 3.73's, alum. drive shaft, 70mm TB, K&N, KB Carbon Kevlar BP, Steeda Tri-ax shifter, Flowmasters, MSD wires
H&R springs, Tokico Illuminas,MM C/C plate & GW RLCA sitting in the garage waiting for a free weekend...
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