An engine plate, flywheel and hardware, and McLeod 11-inch clutch kit replace Ford's S197 torque converter and flexplate. Two clutch switches must be installed with this conversion. Note how the wiring harness is routed from the engine compartment down to the transmission area. Once the transmission is in and the exhaust is reinstalled, the blue connectors on the harness will be matched with the GT's O2 sensors.
Once the Tremec is in its new home, the crossmember is positioned and secured and all of the tranny-related wiring is connected to ensure that the PCM keeps up with all the kickin' and stickin'.
When you glance inside the cockpit, the finished product looks factory with the Hurst shifter in its proper location and the 'Stang's original center console returned to its home. Some modifying must be done in order to pull it off cleanly. While a lower boot is incorporated into a stock, manual shifter on S197s, shifters on automatics don't have them-nor do Hurst's short-throw shifters for '05-'08 Mustangs. To fix this, AMP uses lower shifter boots from '84-'93 'Stangs, which keeps noise and heat out of the interior. With the trans tunnel sealed off, the OEM console is returned to its place and topped off with a factory leather boot and surrounding trim plate (for stick-shift cars).
AMP selected and installed 4.10 gears in the 8.8 rear to enhance Dave's performance and seat-of-the-pants driving experience with the 'Stang's Saleen huffer and new Tremec stick trans.
Final steps include installing a new engine harness that will accommodate the five-speed transmission. AMP recommends setting the harness on the engine first to make sure all the plugs are correctly installed. With that task complete, reconnect the supercharger and the remaining wires and hoses.
Chris Ciolek uses a Dynojet chassis dyno and DiabloSport tuning software to bring out the best in 'Stangs that are brought to AMP for performance upgrades. Dave's S197 certainly didn't disappoint. With a custom tune, including reprogrammed key fobs (for the vehicle's security system), the former automatic 'Stang produced a stout 470 rwhp and 430 lb-ft of torque with its new five-speed tranny setup.