Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle MTX-75 Upgrade How-To

Yea don't worry I looked around quite a bit before I decided to tackle this. I just graduated as a mechanical engineer back in May. Terry and I were shooting emails back and forth for a while when I was questioning him on the Porsche intake design for the Contour.

One update on this. Nowhere in this How-To did I mention the rubber vent for the shift tower. The part number is correct (I had gotten it from a previous posting on here), but there is still an additional vent piece that is needed as I discovered. I'm still trying to track down the Ford part number and will post it when I find it.

There seems to be a dearth of info. when it comes to the MTX75 rod actuated trans. I opened mine up last weekend and although the instructions and how to provided here give a basic procedure, there are differences and some incorrect info. My gearbox is an early to mid yr. 95 unit.

However, if you too have a rod actuated transaxle don't worry. The shifter forks are similiar and can be upgraded. Tranny is not in the car yet, so I cannot comment on the shift feel with upgraded forks. Sure looked better and slid on the shafts nice and easy though.

Anyhow, if anyone is contemplating work on an early transaxle & needs encouragement or further info. PM me.

anybody run into this problem- my stck shifter cable is too long and wont connect to the focus shift tower? will a focus cable work, i believe the part number is 7E395.

Might what to make a post in the Transaxle forum so you get a quicker response. That way people can see exactly what your problem is by the post's title and can respond accordingly. Just FYI.

Anyhow... The location of the connection points I believe should not move that much? The stock Contour cable should work just fine. Are you sure you have the new connector on correctly? It allows for a length adjustment to ensure proper shifting. When you attach the new connectors you need to ensure that the shifter and the shift tower are both in neutral. Lock the shifter in place (I used two vise grippers to hold the cables in place) and then adjust the cable end connectors to the appropriate position and snap them onto the shift tower making sure you do not move the shift tower out of the neutral position. I believe there is a how-to explaining this procedure somewhere in the transaxle forum. Do a search in the Transaxle Forum for shift tower install or shift cable and see what you come up with.

The Focus cable is too short.

If you have a 98 cable set, you can use the Focus cable ends. If you use the 99 and newer cable set, you will need to figure out how to change the attaching points from the Contour shift tower over to your Focus shift tower.

Originally posted by Big Jim:

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If you use the 99 and newer cable set, you will need to figure out how to change the attaching points from the Contour shift tower over to your Focus shift tower.

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Or try to find 98 Contour cable set?...

i looked up a cable for a 99 contour on a hunch, and found that it is replaced by a focus number, i finally got the cable today and luckily it is the right length and has the newer style snap ends. so a word of advice too... you cannot replace your stock shifter cable without also upgrading the shift tower. the old style pin end cables that are made for the contour shift towers are no longer made.

Originally posted by Shelbycrash :

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so a word of advice too... you cannot replace your stock shifter cable without also upgrading the shift tower.

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You can if you have a 98 or older car.

That is only if you have the redesigned shifter cables in your car 99-00... not sure if 98.5 had these as well.

how tough was it to adjust the ttorsen with shimis, does it require a some kind of tools

For everone inquiring about this topic click HERE for Torsen shimming instructions.