Ditching Your MT82 For A TREMEC Magnum XL

There is no doubt that with a few aftermarket parts, modern Mustangs equipped with the 5.0-liter Coyote engine can generate exponentially more power. With that increase in power often come hardships down the line, specifically in the driveline of the car. Many enthusiasts have voiced complaints about the stock MT82 transmission, which comes on the 2011 and newer Ford Mustangs. Owners mention issues with the transmission not shifting smoothly, and later, that the OE-spec transmission cannot handle the additional power. The good news: there is a plug-and-play, bolt-in solution for this problem, and it is called the TREMEC Magnum XL transmission.

Save The Manuals

For those who crave big power and relish the experience of manually shifting gears, TREMEC’s Magnum XL six-speed manual transmission might be the right answer. TREMEC has enhanced the size of internal components to ensure the transmission is rated for 700 lb-ft of torque.

Mike Kidd, aftermarket business unit manager at TREMEC states, “What truly makes the Magnum XL a bulletproof transmission is the size of some of the internal components. First, the transmission features larger diameter, but narrower, synchronizers, allowing for added face width on speed gears. The increased face-width on the speed gears provides more mesh and greater strength.”

What’s inside is what matters. The TREMEC Magnum XL is all brand-new components with larger diameter synchronizers which allows it to handle 700 lb-ft of continuous torque.

Clutch It

Between the potent power of the Mustang and the robust TREMEC Magnum XL, you will also need a capable clutch to seamlessly transfer the torque from the engine to the transmission. For this, we turned to the experts at McLeod Racing. When it comes to clutches, the market offers numerous choices, often accompanied by confusing information about the right package for a build.

To simplify the world of clutches, we consulted with Billy Mieczkowski, who handles technical sales at McLeod Racing. Before delving into clutches, Mieczkowski emphasized his strong recommendation for swapping out the MT82 for a TREMEC Magnum XL, saying, “That is the first modifications I would recommend for a Mustang. I would swap in the TREMEC before I did an exhaust or even messed with tuning. It is the best mod you can make to a Mustang.”

McLeod Racing supplies a full clutch…