Shifters/synchros/trannys

85MustGT · 03-07-2002, 06:46 PM

I will be needing my transmission to be looked at. If I cruise all is fine otherwise second and third grind real bad. I had the clutch/plate/TO/Flywheel changed last year.
I still have the stock shifter and quadrant. What is it going to cost me to get the synchros fixed? Maybe the shifter fork is bad? What up with the aluminum transmission collar, can you buy a sleeve for it? The engine is stock except for the new Holley carb. It is an 85 GT, I changed the rear end for an 8.8 inch with 3:55s. With the old rear I did not have to shift so much! The most power the tranny will see is if I upgrade the heads and cam in the future.

Unit 5302 · 03-07-2002, 08:35 PM

Your tranny is shot. The syncros are worn out in 3rd gear and it needs to be rebuilt. Don't bother having it rebuilt, just get a new one.

D&D Performance sells a bolt in T-5z for $1095. I'd get a junkyard tranny before having it rebuilt even. The experiences I've seen suggest many rebuilders aren't worth the wrenches they crank.

An adjustable quadrent is about $100, and a steel input shaft bearing retainer is $50. It comes standard on the Z spec.

An aftermarket shifter will run you about $160, get the Steeda Tri Ax. It's cheaper than the Pro 5.0, and most people like it better.

The forks in your tranny are fine. They cannot bend as they are made of cast aluminum. They either break, or stay straight.

Ponycar_302 · 03-07-2002, 10:10 PM

Be careful with those boneyard tranny's. I shelled out $400 for one yesterday, and spent four hours laying in my gravel driveway putting it in, only to find out the syncros in second gear are bad. It pops out of gear about 75% of the time when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd.

It's good to go going up through the gears though. It also makes some real funny noises. Not "ha ha" funny either.

This is my opinion of T-5's; They are junk!

This is the third one I've had in my car. OK, the first one had a bad input shaft bearing when I got the car, and I didn't help it when I filled it with 90 wt gear oil.

However, the one I replaced yesterday was a T-5 World Class from Ford Racing that was brand new. I got a year out of it.

Save your money and go with the TKO. It'll cost you less in the long run.

kevknotch88 · 03-08-2002, 12:17 AM

Forget the t-5 and get a tremec. I run the 3550 and it is sweet. Go ahead and buy an aftermarket shifter.

Chipdog · 03-08-2002, 09:09 AM

Gear Oil?
The guy at the tranny shop told me to use ATF when I got my syncros done two days ago. I am installing today. Stop me if I am wrong.
chip

Chevyguy · 03-08-2002, 11:07 AM

Yes fill that sucker with Dextron III he was referring to the fact he messed up his tranny by filling with gear oil.

To make your problem worse, the 85 trannys were weaker than the newer series starting in 90, though I think yours is still "world class" I realized this after having my trans rebuilt and I did not copy down the ID#'s this trans was a junkyard replacment and has speedo gears for 3.08 gears (all done by a P.O.) My original trans was rated at 300 ft lbs, the earler ones only 265 ft lbs. this one ????

I paid $575 last year to have my totally shot T-5 rebuilt and after 20K miles it's ok but the 2nd gear synchro is balky sometimes. Now I wish I got the T-5Z since I don't abuse the car. I have a friend that works at Forte's maybe it's TKO time. I heard the T-5 shifters don't fit properly on a Tremec trans?? I have a nice MAC shifter I would like to transfer over.

Any trans change may be a pain since I need the low 3.35 first with my 2.73 gears. Doesn't the T-5 Z have a 2.95 first?

03-07-2002, 06:46 PM	#1
85MustGT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 6	Shifters/synchros/trannys I will be needing my transmission to be looked at. If I cruise all is fine otherwise second and third grind real bad. I had the clutch/plate/TO/Flywheel changed last year. I still have the stock shifter and quadrant. What is it going to cost me to get the synchros fixed? Maybe the shifter fork is bad? What up with the aluminum transmission collar, can you buy a sleeve for it? The engine is stock except for the new Holley carb. It is an 85 GT, I changed the rear end for an 8.8 inch with 3:55s. With the old rear I did not have to shift so much! The most power the tranny will see is if I upgrade the heads and cam in the future. __________________ 1985 Mustang GT Holley List 80457 S 5 Speed 8.8 3:55s

03-07-2002, 10:10 PM	#3
Ponycar_302 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 120	Be careful with those boneyard tranny's. I shelled out $400 for one yesterday, and spent four hours laying in my gravel driveway putting it in, only to find out the syncros in second gear are bad. It pops out of gear about 75% of the time when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd. It's good to go going up through the gears though. It also makes some real funny noises. Not "ha ha" funny either. This is my opinion of T-5's; They are junk! This is the third one I've had in my car. OK, the first one had a bad input shaft bearing when I got the car, and I didn't help it when I filled it with 90 wt gear oil. However, the one I replaced yesterday was a T-5 World Class from Ford Racing that was brand new. I got a year out of it. Save your money and go with the TKO. It'll cost you less in the long run. __________________ I'm sofa king we tall did.

03-08-2002, 12:17 AM	#4
kevknotch88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Athens, WV Posts: 29	Forget the t-5 and get a tremec. I run the 3550 and it is sweet. Go ahead and buy an aftermarket shifter. __________________ kevknotch88 1988 Coupe 135k BBK uneq, X-Pipe, mac 2.5, pullies, southsides, alum d/s, 3:08's, Tremec, TFS Stage 1 cam, 65 TB, Mass Air, Gt-40 U&L = 13.645 @ 104.61

03-08-2002, 09:09 AM	#5
Chipdog Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Miami,Fl USA Posts: 297	Gear Oil? The guy at the tranny shop told me to use ATF when I got my syncros done two days ago. I am installing today. Stop me if I am wrong. chip __________________ 92 GT Convertible Hooker Headers, Headman X pipe, Flow Masters, 4.10s, BBK 1.5 drop, 73mm Mass air, 65 FMS TB, FMS Aluminum radiator, T-5 swap with a Steeda shifter. And a 9 pound Blow Job

03-08-2002, 11:07 AM	#6
Chevyguy Backyard Mechanic/Chemist Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Acton MA USA Posts: 435	Yes fill that sucker with Dextron III he was referring to the fact he messed up his tranny by filling with gear oil. To make your problem worse, the 85 trannys were weaker than the newer series starting in 90, though I think yours is still "world class" I realized this after having my trans rebuilt and I did not copy down the ID#'s this trans was a junkyard replacment and has speedo gears for 3.08 gears (all done by a P.O.) My original trans was rated at 300 ft lbs, the earler ones only 265 ft lbs. this one ???? I paid $575 last year to have my totally shot T-5 rebuilt and after 20K miles it's ok but the 2nd gear synchro is balky sometimes. Now I wish I got the T-5Z since I don't abuse the car. I have a friend that works at Forte's maybe it's TKO time. I heard the T-5 shifters don't fit properly on a Tremec trans?? I have a nice MAC shifter I would like to transfer over. Any trans change may be a pain since I need the low 3.35 first with my 2.73 gears. Doesn't the T-5 Z have a 2.95 first? __________________ 2001 Crown Vic Maurader Airbox/MAF, DR chip Edel IAS shocks Single exhaust :wtf: 93 P-71 Vic interceptor Backup car now 90 5.0 LX Notch SOLD 74 Chevy Laguna type S-3 454 under construction Currently apart undergoing bodywork.

03-07-2002, 08:35 PM	#2
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	Your tranny is shot. The syncros are worn out in 3rd gear and it needs to be rebuilt. Don't bother having it rebuilt, just get a new one. D&D Performance sells a bolt in T-5z for $1095. I'd get a junkyard tranny before having it rebuilt even. The experiences I've seen suggest many rebuilders aren't worth the wrenches they crank. An adjustable quadrent is about $100, and a steel input shaft bearing retainer is $50. It comes standard on the Z spec. An aftermarket shifter will run you about $160, get the Steeda Tri Ax. It's cheaper than the Pro 5.0, and most people like it better. The forks in your tranny are fine. They cannot bend as they are made of cast aluminum. They either break, or stay straight.