T-5 tranny ?'s

[Kamaro Killer]

I just had the pleasure of taking my T-5 out. I was planning on just buying a new/ rebuilt T-5, but I am now thinking about rebuilding it. I don't think I'll ever have more than 300-320hp in her, so I'm not concerned about the reliability of the T-5. This tranny came out of an 88 GT, so I'm assuming that it's not a World Class. When I get it rebuilt, if it's not a WC, can I have the rebuilder put World Class gears and syncros in it? I am considering getting it rebuilt by Hanlon Motorsports, but I kind of wanted some other options. Has anyone had their tranny rebuilt by another reputable company that they would refer me to? I am pretty unfamiliar with the terms used with a transmission, so please explain anything in layman's terms Thanks, Keith

[Dog5ohfun]

Keith,

I had the pleasure of destroying a World Class T-5 and it was cheaper to buy a new one rather than rebuilding it. I got it from D&D Performance and it lasted 6 months, just blew up getting on the freeway. The labor is the most expensive part of getting it rebuilt. Unless you know someone that will give you a good deal. I am not even making 300 horse at the tires and this was before I rebuilt the engine. If you are planning on over 300 hp I would spend the money to get a TREMEC 3550. I think I ordered the TREMEC from Downs Ford Motorsport SVO. Their web address is www.downsford.com. Right now in the August issue of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords they have a TREMEC 3550 with bell housing for $1395.00. I think it was like $1500 with shipping. I will never buy another T-5, any of them. It is worth it and it is stronger. Good luck

Brent

[lxfiveoh]

ALL T-5 transmissions installed in 5.0 Mustangs since the early-mid 80's have been "World Class" T-5's.

You may be confusing that with the Ford Motorsport M7005-Z heavy duty T-5 (which is ALSO a World Class T-5).

Visit D and D Performance and search for a FAQ or info on T-5's there.

[HORSEMEN RACING]

Dog5 you sound like you are pretty hard on parts,because I know numerous people making a lot more than 300hp to the tires and they have their original T5's.

D&DPerformance is definitely a good source matter of fact August issue 2002 they had a very good article on the difference between the wide ratio and close ratio T5's so it is all good.

T5 is not a bad transmission it is not the best either but if you are chucking gears with a stock shifter,then you are taking your wallet in your own hands.

Whatever you decide Killer factor in the cost of a good shifter if you want that tranny to last,I bought my 90 5.0 LX in Dec 89,Jan 90 it had a Hurst shifter in it,did it raise a stink when I took it in for service yeah but the part that was broken was not the tranny it kept breaking valvesprings,but that is another story.

Call up D&D and also Hanlon,Tremec is a good tranny also,but remember this when it come to high performance parts"if man can make it,man can break it"

[Kamaro Killer]

I was under the impression that, all T-5's before 92 were non-world class T-5's. Is this true? Mine has a Borg & Warner stamp on it on the tail end of the transmission, and a Tremec stamp on it towards the center of the transmission. I will take a picture and post it today. I am a little confused as to what I have. I am not sure if it's a World Class or not. I am going to buy a new shifter and an aluminum driveshaft in before putting the tranny back in, so I am not too concerned with wearing the gears due to a stock shifter. Is there anywhere else other than D&D and Hanlon to get my tranny rebuilt? Thanks, Keith.

[HORSEMEN RACING]

Keith,
there are a couple of guys locally that can help with your rebuild,and they are Autosport Performance in Escondido,and Manning Motorsports in San Marcos,they can help with the rebuild but be prepared.

On the WC issue,all T5's since 1985 are World Class transmissions,some are wide ratio(3.35 1st gear ratio) and some are close ratio(2.95 1st gear ratio) the Z T5 is a close ratio with the 330ft-lb torque rating.


TTC bought Borg-Warner out a few years ago,but they probably supplied the parts for the Borg-Warner T5 which is now referred to as the TTC T5.

[Dog5ohfun]

Carl,
The first T-5 was the original and it just had a worn out second gear it was about 8 years old. The 2nd one that I actually destroyed was from D&D Performance and I talked to them and they said it was just one of those fluke occurances. It broke when I wasn't even shifting. The 3rd one I sold and put in the Tremec when I rebuilt the engine so I wouldn't have to worry about future modifications and power gains. I am shooting for mid 500hp when all is done. Yeah like that ever happens. You are never done, it's a hobby. I was just trying to think ahead. The only thing that sucked was no warranty from D&D.

Brent

[HORSEMEN RACING]

I hear you there Brent,
it always starts out real simple you know you tell yourself "well I will just bolt on pulley's,put a K&N in it,maybe some Flowmasters" then it get's crazy,next thing you know you have gears,throttle body,roller rockers,heads,cam intake you name it.

That is the one thing about high performance parts,that suck,they have no warranty,I am in the process of purchasing a Z T5 myself and trust me I am going to find out if it can take the torque of the new bullet I am putting under the hood.

Keith ggod luck with your rebuild,if you do not do it the very least take it out of the car and have it rebuilt,at least you will not get charged with an installation fee.

[Kamaro Killer]

I actually took the dirty beast out this last Saturday. I have a picture of it. I think I'm just going to have this one rebuilt. I don't have any miles on my new motor so maybe it's better that I replace other parts (as in the driveshaft, tranny) before I start putting miles on my new motor. I'm going to be searching for someone to rebuild this for me, so if anyone knows of a shop or a tranny specialist, let me know. Thanks, Keith

[Kamaro Killer]

I'm not sure of what I should be replacing when bringing my Tranny to get rebuilt. I know there are aluminum pieces that need to be replaced with steel pieces, but I'm not sure what the pieces are for I don't know anything about transmissions, so let me in on what I should be getting replaced. Thanks, Keith

[HORSEMEN RACING]

Definitely replace the bearing reatiner with a steel one,it is the little sleeve on the front of the tranny where the input shaft is sticking out of.

[Conman]

if you pulled the tranny yourself you must be somewhat mechanically inclined

if you want to do it cheap why don't you give it a go yourself

I had never had a 5 speed apart before I rebuilt mine
bought a kit from d&d for like $160 plus the steel retainer for $40 and a manual for $20. Everything you need to know is in the manual and just take your time with it. This way you can spend the other $1200 a new one would cost on other things

just some food for thought, if you have any other questions I might be able to help you out

oh and I think Hanlon even made a video you can buy where they walk you through a rebuild

[bigred90gt]

Horsemen,
How can you tell if it is a wide ratio or a close ratio? Is it stamped on the tranny itself? Also, what would be the performance difference between the two? Thanks, Caymon

[HORSEMEN RACING]

Okay let me see if I can try and make this simple without confusing you,okay here goes all 5-speed V8 Mustangs from 85-95 except the 93-95 Cobra,had wide ratio gearboxes with the 3.35 1st gear ratio,83 1/2-84 and 93-95 V8 Mustang GT's and Cobra had the close ratio T5 with the 2.95 1st gear ratio.

Performance difference is you can put a little steeper gear numerically higher in the rear axle with a 2.95 1st gear T5 and get better use out of it,then you would a 3.35 1st gear T5 with the same gear spread.

Ford Motorsport and some other aftermarket dealers out there sell the Z T5 tranny which is rated at 330ft-lb of torque it supposedly can take and it has a 2.95 1st gear ratio.

So to make a long story short,if your Mustang was original when you bought it and it was not a Cobra or a 83 1/2-84 GT then you have a wide ratio gearbox in the tunnel.

[mysweetlx]

As long as you don't run slicks, can't a stock WC t5 last even w/ 400rwhp? I've heard of guys doing this, are they lucky or BSing?

[lxfiveoh]

That all depends on how easy you drive it. As long as the tires are the 'weak link' in the traction chain, they will spin before you break an axle/diff/tranny. This assumes that you're not driving it like you hate it.

I'm sure we all know people who's broken T-5's on stock 5.0's on street tires, too!

YMMV...

[HORSEMEN RACING]

LUCKY!!!!!!!!

[bigred90gt]

Thanks for the clarification. Can't you also buy the super duty gears and replace the guts in your tranny for a higher rating, or do you also have to find shafts and so forth?

[Kamaro Killer]

I was wondering the same exact thing, Keith

[HORSEMEN RACING]

yes you can replace the guts in a tranny and get a higher rating,doing a little research come to find out the 93-95 V8 T5's had a higher torque capacity than,the 85-92 V8 T5's.

The reason being the 93's had gears made out of 8620 steel the same material that roller cams are made of.

Hanlon and D&D have the heavy duty gears available for 149-250 dollars.