T-5
 

I've heard a lot of differing opinions about this transmission, from it being a complete piece of junk to a decent transmission. Now my question is to the people running 350+ horse power, if you ruined your T-5 what kind of a driver were you? Be realistic please, if you power shift every gear let me know. Personally I don't powershift cause i'd rather not blow up my tranny, sure i may get better times at the track but the thought of towing my car home isnt my idea of fun.

Thanks in advance for the replies,

I can tell you this,I made over 100 passes at over 400rpm launch before mine tore up,and that was after it had 80,000 plus miles on it,and I am pushing under 350 hp. hope this helps.

well my car was babied for its 65,000miles and then i got a whole of it and the t-5 went out on me after i got my tri ax shifter about 2,000 miles later of power shifting like once a week at the street races. I broke my imput shaft and the bearing retainer

later

Ive got 353 at the flywheel and all of its goin through a 4cyl T5. Yes you heard me. Some people say it doesnt work or whatever. IT DOES. Its been in my car for about a year and a half and while i dont power shift it it does get its own share of abuse. And it still shifts nice and everything. I even got a pro 5.0 for it. Maybe im just lucky and this 4cyl turbo car tranny was a good find. But its holding up suprisingly well. I though it was gonna blow because of all the stories people tell about T-5's but its still sitting under the car. Ill be sure to let everyone know when it finally does go.

T5's can hold it but only for so long and you have to watch the speed shifting. A member of our club with a built 347 has run 10.75 with the stock T5 launching it at I think it was around 4000 on slicks. Yanks the wheels and is gone.
Here's a link to the car.
http://www.stanggang.com/members/bri..._red/index.php
Sure it'll hold but the real question is how long will it take it. That car above's owner was afraid to speed shift becuase he's selling it and was afraid to destroy the tranny. I'm running a stock T5 leaving the line on 150 shot of nitrous and granny shifting and it's holding fine so far. Also I've run the car all season and power shift it every pass on slicks and it's holding fine, and I made over 200 passes last season. I'm sure it's not gonna last for ever it's only a matter of time till it grenades.
I think honestly most T5s break from not just the all out power that a normal street car can put to them, but the abuse of the driver.

Thanks for all the replies guys, i'm starting to think the T-5 will hold up as long as I dont abuse it. :D Hey roadwarrior, i noticed you live in Edmonton, me too! I'd like to check out your car, i'm in the process of building up an engine right now, i'd like to see whats working in your car. Shoot me an email at chickendreamer@yahoo.ca

don't powershift and your tranny should last you.

a 4cyl tranny? well you dont have a 4cyl tranny, you have a TURBO 4 cyl tranny. they are just as strong as the older T-5 V8's, that is why it is holding up. If you were using just a regular 4cyl tranny, then you wouldnt get a year out of it. my friend put one in his 79 2bbl, and he ate it up within a year and 79's are not that powerful either.

A t-5 is a great street trans and thats it. If you want to get a little ruff here and there it will live a much shorter life with a 350hp and traction. The tremec 3550 will give you the best of both worlds.


wade

Yea cluster gear broke in half while i was leaving the grocery store just driving normal, it was whinening though, so i knew it was sick, it had alot of miles on it though, my new rebuilt one has been beat down every week for yrs now, launching on e.t streets, sometimes at 4-5k, i really try my best to not miss 3rd gear, i think thats what killed my last one, but i will powershift 1st to 2nd shift to try and gain as much grouns as i can on my opponent (ls1's) lol, before they catch up at the top, if they can:p

T-5
 

I think the T-5 will hold up to more power than most people realize. Most destruction is caused by driver error. My T-5 has gotten me to the sixty foot mark in 1.315 seconds, 10.40's in the 1/4 @130-132MPH, all motor. I do believe no one has done it quicker! Furthermore, my T-5 is bone stock except for a steel bearing retainer and synthetic fluid. I have over 75 passes on this tranny with most sixty foots in the 1.35-1.38 range. Of course I don't powershift, but who would expect a T-5 to live behind a powershifted 600 horse motor. When someone tells me they tore up a T-5 with a 12 or 11 second motor, I wonder, was it the power, or the driver?....James

My 302 has near 330 RWHP (naturally aspirated).
I went trough 250-300 runs over the past 5 years
and my T5 is just fine. I usually launch the car between
4000 RPM and 5200 RPM. I m sure that it won t last forever
but i ll change my tranny only when it will break.

BEST 60' : 1.63s
BEST 1/8 : 7.82s
BEST 1/8 MPH: 88.5mph
BEST 1/4 : 12.282s
BEST 1/4 MPH: 109.22mph

SC