The Power Tower shifter from...
The Power Tower shifter from Pro-5.0 (right) has better geometry than a stock shifter. Because it has stops and a tighter gate, shifting is easier on the transmission-and you.
Many aftermarket shifters concentrate on shifter stops. Pro-5.0's Power Tower goes a step further, offering a straight-line shot that keeps the handle from going from side to side on the way from Second to Third gear during aggressive upshifts. Transmission damage happens most often from missed 2-3 shifts than from overshifting, which is prevented with positive stops. The Pro-5.0 Power Tower saves expensive '83-'95 Mustang T5 and '96-'01 T45 five-speeds from damage caused by bad shifters and miscalculated upshifts.
Danny Walker of Grapevine, Texas, owns a '95 SVT Mustang Cobra with the T5 five-speed transmission. (Although our project vehicle in this case is a Fox-4 Mustang, this shifter will work very well in a vintage Ford fitted with the T5 transmission.) He found out the hard way about misguided shifts, which is why he's opted for a Pro-5.0 Power Tower shifter. He managed to negotiate the rather challenging zigzag path a stock shifter yields from Second to Third gear. But at 6,000 rpm, he shoved his stick too hard into Third and broke off a shifter fork in the stock T5. Shifter stops would have prevented this.
The forks slide the synchronizers back and forth over the gear clusters with the movement of the shifter handle. If the distance is 1 inch, the forks move just that 1 inch. This is the stop you feel when shifting from gear to gear. Using excessive force tends to damage or break the fork. With enough abuse, forks fail.
The Power Tower takes the abuse instead of the forks and synchros. This not only makes the T5 or T45 easier to shift, it also helps them live longer.
Pro-5.0's Power Tower shifter...
Pro-5.0's Power Tower shifter comes with all installation hardware. All you need is some silicone sealer and white grease.
The stock shifter knob screws...
The stock shifter knob screws off by hand without tools.
For Fox-4 Mustangs, place...
For Fox-4 Mustangs, place your fingers inside the lip of the console and pull it loose by popping out five clips. Vintage Mustang buffs won't need to do this.
The boot assembly lifts out...
The boot assembly lifts out like this for '94-'01 Mustangs. Move on to the next step if you have a vintage Mustang.
The stock T5 or T45 shifter...
The stock T5 or T45 shifter handle is secured with two metric bolts as shown. You'll need a 10mm wrench.
Four bolts secure the stock...
Four bolts secure the stock shifter.
Lift the stock shifter out...
Lift the stock shifter out as shown.
Protect the transmission's...
Protect the transmission's internals with a clean rag as shown, then scrape off the old gasket material with a putty knife.
This is the T5 shifter rail....
This is the T5 shifter rail. As you can see, it's easy to understand.
For '94-'01 Mustangs, this...
For '94-'01 Mustangs, this dust boot must be trimmed as shown to accommodate the Power Tower.
After you've lubricated the...
After you've lubricated the shifter ball and rail with white grease, install the Power Tower.
Don't forget a thin film of...
Don't forget a thin film of silicone sealer between the shifter and the transmission. Hand-tighten the four bolts.
Torque the four bolts to 10-15...
Torque the four bolts to 10-15 lb-ft. Crisscross your torquing process from upper left to bottom right, then upper right and lower left. Then check your work.
Adjust the shifter stops next....
Adjust the shifter stops next. Push the shifter firmly into First gear and hold. Turn the stop bolt inward until it just touches the shifter handle. Then back off one full turn and set the locknut. The First/Third gear stop works for these gears. Then, adjust the bottom stop bolt the same way. Put the shifter in Second gear and do the same thing for Second and Fourth gears.
The protective boot goes back...
The protective boot goes back in like this for '94-'01 Mustangs.
The console goes back together...
The console goes back together like this.
Screw the shifter knob on,...
Screw the shifter knob on, and you're finished. A testdrive is a good idea at this time.