I've owned my Mustang for about 7 months now, and I've still got some
learning to do but I've pretty much figured out the torque band, rev
limiter and shifting. The Mustang has a Tremec TR-3650 5-speed
transmission which seems to be regarded as a decent, if not good modern
manual unit.
Although the Tremec has (presumably) better gear spacing
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremec_TR-3650_transmission) and a much
shorter throw, I still sometimes get some grinding when shifting,
usually going into second. On occasion, I'll get a seamless shift in
the Mustang; however, in my BJ8 I never have any problem getting from
gear to gear (except going into first at a dead stop, but that' a
different story). Maybe it's because I've got 25 years' and 80K miles'
practice in the Healey, but the Healey gearbox holds its own once you've
gotten used to it (you certainly can't shift as fast, but the Tremec
requires some timing and pausing to hit the gear perfectly as well).
Granted, the Mustang isn't exactly the epitome of modern sports car
design, but it's no slouch and it's interesting how well the Healey
stacks up in overall driveability against the much more modern car (the
Mustang's 4.6L V-8 is a gem:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward%27s_10_Best_Engines). Probably
because it has more than twice the HP, is only about 50% heavier than
the Healey and comes from the factory with sh*tty tires, the Mustang is
much more unpredictable in a corner. I believe the Healey has better
weight distribution, despite the lump in front of the firewall.
Interesting (to me, at least), the Mustang rearend uses a panhard rod,
just like the earlier Healeys (the BJ8 uses radius arms, theoretically a
more modern design). Of course, the Mustang rearend is largely
unchanged since it was a contemporary of the BJ8.
I've got fat radials and a smaller-than-stock Derrington steering wheel
so it takes some muscle to turn, but the Healey has, IMO, a better
steering ratio than the Mustang's power steering. For a tight corner,
I can grab the wheel with one hand and crank it, while the Mustang
requires some hand-over-hand for the same corner.
The Bullitt Mustang supposedly has a more "tuned" suspension than a
stock GT, but the Healey with its original Armstrongs is only a tad
harsher ride, and seems less affected by seams and grooves in concrete
roads.
And, although I haven't measured it myself, I'll bet the 60-0 stopping
distance of my Healey with its Ferodo pads is at least a few feet
shorter than the Mustang's (not noted for particularly good brakes,
despite an "upgrade" from the standard GT's).
Anyway, I was wondering if driving the Healey after driving the Mustang
daily would make me feel like I was back in my father's Model A but, not
to worry, the Healey is hardly a downgrade in driving experience. Yet
another testament to how well these cars were sorted out--especially
given the financial, technological and materials constraints--by Donald
and Geoff more than 50 years ago.
Bob
--
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Bob Spidell San Jose, CA bspidell@comcast.net
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