Stay AOD or swap for 5spd?

[TrickFlowd]

What you guys think? I just bought a 92 LX, with 70k original miles, but its auto with 2.73's. I plan to swap those out for 4.10's since its just a nice day car...but what about the AOD? How hard is the swap if I did decide to go 5 speed. I have mechanically knowledge and would be doing the work myself. I think autos are boring to drive, but maybe with a nasty shift kit, and 4.10's...it might be alright? Future plans are HCI, some exhaust work, and some other little bolt ons.

 

[apex827]

Id go to a T-5. I hav a AOD in my notch and i hate it. When i gather the money and parts im gonna do the swap. Personally id prefer a manual, i think autos are boring. but thats just my opinion. altho with a shift kit it might not be bad, idk. all personal preference i guess

 

[TwoToneHatch]

sA shift kit will only be fun for awhile. When i bought my car it waa aod/2:73's and it was a dog. I swapped to 3:73's and it woke the car up. Then i did a shift kit and it made the car more fun but after about two weeks i was right back to craving 5speed. If i was you i would just got 5 speed i'm currently piecing together parts for my swap.

 

[TrickFlowd]

Thats what I was thinking. I'd get tired of it after alittle while. There's nothing like side-step'n the clutch and blowin the car sideways. Just have to come up with the funds to do the swap.

TwoTone - What all is needed?
Crossmember, bell-housing, clutch, flywheel, peddle and shifter assembly, starter, and of course a tranny?

 

[90lxcoupe]

5-spd+gears=big fun factor

Try and get ahold of a used tremec TKO, they are pretty much bullet proof, ive had one in my car since i bought it and its never sneezed at a missed shift, powershift, nothing phazes it. T-5's aren't the most reliable thing when your driving hard. Ive seen people blow 2nd and 3rd with minimal modifications

 

[ill advised]

I love having an AOD as my daily but I couldn't have it as my only option. I can go months without driving my '90 but when I do, the thing I love most is rowing through the gears (the 4.10 definitely adds to that). I would like to drive it everyday but with my stop-n-go commute it becomes a nuisance.

 

[5.0Torx]

T56 6 speed if you can afford it. best trans in the world.

 

[TrickFlowd]

5-spd+gears=big fun factor

Try and get ahold of a used tremec TKO, they are pretty much bullet proof, ive had one in my car since i bought it and its never sneezed at a missed shift, powershift, nothing phazes it. T-5's aren't the most reliable thing when your driving hard. Ive seen people blow 2nd and 3rd with minimal modifications

What are used TKO's goin for these days? I've been out of the game for almost a year. I'd like to do a tremec and aluminum driveshaft at the same time. Do it right the first time, instead of breaking a T5 and having to change another tranny. I've been down that road before, and it sucks!

Ill - I agree! Driving a 5 spd everyday sucks (my dd is 5 spd), but a nice day stang with 4.10's and 5 spd is always fun. My old 91 had 4.10's and a world class t5 with HCI, and that was quite fun to drive.

 

[Notchbck93]

What do you ultimately want to do with your car? Always establish a game plan/project list as to what you want your future project to be.


If it was my car here is what I would do, seeing that technology has come so far since I acquired my first 'Stang in 99.

Throw the 4.10's at it, a PI converter, Manual Valve body, and a Hellion Turbo Kit.

Go to the track and knock off some mid to high 11's and have a car with great driveability.

Phase 2:

As funds allow, you throw in a low compression Boss block, real heads, fuel system, new upper and lowers at that point... well you get the picture because then you can go for low 10's on your slow auto, which by at that point will need a full over haul to handle the higher boost.

Oh ya, keep the ponies on it, because really, she's all stock.

 

[TrickFlowd]

Well...First mods will be 4.10's, sub-frames, and tourque box reinforcements, since my last lx started to tear there, I'm not gonna go through that again. Next winter my plan is to do H/C/I and the other bolt ons needed (MAF, fuel stuff, etc.) Thats the time I will decide if I should go auto or stay 5 spd.

Whats a PI convertor, manual valve body gonna set me back? I got a guy who does trannys for a living that would do it for next to nothing. Turbo kit, I know they make insane power, but they take away that mustang sound too. So I'd rather go with a charger someday, instead.

Ohh...and the ponies are staying! I think some 255-50 MT's would look tough on stock ponies!

 

[Jaswir]

t5 swap in my old 92 was the best thing i ever did!

I suggest doing the pedals one weekend and the trans swap the next!

 

[QUICK91LX]

You will need: pedals, shifter, clutch, flywheel, bellhousing, tranny, lower shift boot, 5-spd, clutch cable & fork, console plate/upper boot, i recommend installing a billet clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster before installing the pedals and cable. you also have to take your cluster out and re-route the speedo cable through another hole in the firewall because AOD cars route the speedo through the same hole the clutch cable uses in 5-spd cars. Consider a new speedo cable if your speedo is bouncy, and its a good idea to get a new speed sensor and drive gear.

i used my AOD crossmember and mount

starter is the same

do the swap, it isnt hard at all. the hardest parts are getting the AOD, converter and lines out, and installing the jumper to make reverse lights work with the T5. Which isnt even that hard. you will also have to cut the hole in the floor a little bit for the shifter to fit through.

just make sure you take your time, torque everything to spec. Take your time and you can have it done in a weekend.