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4 cyl T-5

  • Thread starter Thread starter 65straightsick
  • Start date Start date Sep 5, 2004
6

65straightsick

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Jun 4, 2004
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Montgomery, AL
Sep 5, 2004
#1
  • Sep 5, 2004
  • #1
I will be keeping the six as the sig says and I can only do so much to improve performance. In the future I hope to have a 203ci with an aussie head, bigger carb, a turbo and a T-5. The T-5 is in the more immediate future and while the guys at fordsix.com are helpful, they don't reply as frequently....This is an out there question but for you tranny guys, does anyone know where I can find a 4 cyl T-5. I keep hearing that is the tranny I need for a 200 and i can't seem to find which cars had them. Any info or website link would do. Thanks
 

69Rcode_Mach1

Active Member
Apr 20, 2004
1,473
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Salt Lake City, Utah
Sep 5, 2004
#2
  • Sep 5, 2004
  • #2
Too bad your giving up on the V-8. But a rippin six is a killer idea.

Try out corral.net

Go the drivetrain section and its nothing but t5's. Im sure youll find a 4 cyl t5 for cheap. If you can get an 8 cyl one and then get the 4 cyl bellhousing for it. That way youll be able to handle the power of that turbo. I don't know if the input shafts are the same though. Let me know how it goes. Also try the sidedraft carbs for your engine they would work quite well.
 
6

65straightsick

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#3
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  • #3
Well will a turbo be too much for a 4 cyl tranny? i thought the V8 trans would be too much for the non-turbo and the turbo might be too much for a 4 cyl trans..quite a predicament, but the turbo and newer head might not be a sure thing so i will go for the 4 cyl tranny i guess. What do you think?
 

MrBobMarley

Founding Member
Oct 7, 2002
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Ft Myers, FL
Sep 5, 2004
#4
  • Sep 5, 2004
  • #4
There's a guy on ebay that's always selling rebuilt 4cyl and v8 t5s for like 300 or 400 bucks.

Why would the v8 t5 be too much for the 4 cyl w/o turbo? There's a guy I remember with a turbo/4 cyl/5 spd mustang II hatchback. I'll look for it now.
 

MrBobMarley

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Oct 7, 2002
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Ft Myers, FL
Sep 5, 2004
#5
  • Sep 5, 2004
  • #5
http://www.a351must2.atfreeweb.com/

Click the 78 t-top in the menu on the left. This should help out a little.
 

69Rcode_Mach1

Active Member
Apr 20, 2004
1,473
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37
Salt Lake City, Utah
Sep 5, 2004
#6
  • Sep 5, 2004
  • #6
If I were you I would go with the 8 cyl tranny. The price difference is almost nothing and the insurance is great to have. Keep in mind that a 200cu is a lot bigger than 120cu. With a turbo it will put some good power. I recommend doing the 8. Good luck though you will have one unique and cool car.
 
6

65straightsick

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Sep 5, 2004
#7
  • Sep 5, 2004
  • #7
Money is the all inclusive factor....I have $200-220 for sure and the rest is with the parents.......the engine rebuild for now will be next to free and I was hoping to find a tired T-5 and have it rebuilt..for cheap of course. Yeah the thing I like about the 200 is that it is different...I want the wow factor...when people hear the exhaust and look under the hood, I want to see confused looks. But I will have to talk with the parents to see how much they are willing to help with.
 

TheWolf

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Jan 13, 2003
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Sep 5, 2004
#8
  • Sep 5, 2004
  • #8
Glad to see you decided not to follow the crowd. I think the base 4cyl version was rated for 240 lbs of torque. There were other versions of course. This could be a problem. The only advantage I see to using a 4cyl version is that its 1)lighter 2) the gear ratios are better for the six. I plan to do the swap once I get everything in order.
 
6

65straightsick

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Sep 5, 2004
#9
  • Sep 5, 2004
  • #9
What setup do you have? Do you plan on using the V8 tranny or a 4cyl tranny? This may be a swap that is too expensive for me. But not long ago my father said, "I would think about putting a manual in it" So i might can remind him of his statement and try to take advantage of that....parents are always right you know
 

TheWolf

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#10
  • Sep 5, 2004
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As of right now, all I have is the Holley/Webber 5200 carb (a cheap swap if you havent already done something with a carb), which really gives it a kick with the duel outlet header and duel exhaust. I also have a mild cam that a preivous owner had intsalled. I have a few other parts still in the box I havent installed. Instead of the aussie head, you might want to see about getting one for the 80s they had the largest intake valve size of all the years (exhaust stayed the same), mill the head though get it down for about a 9.2 cr (just a number I like, I think stock was in the low 8's ). You could go higher on the cr, but watch the grades. This is what I plan on doing.
I *think* the 4cyl version will be good enough for what I have planned, so thats the one I want to use. I figure, the tranny swap would run between $700-$1000 given transmission, adaptor, crossmember, clutch cable, installing it (even if done yourself)
Oh btw, when I said that the gear ratio for the 4cyl version was better for the six, the reason is that the 1st gear is higher which mulitiplies your torque a little higher, which helps the take off.
Btw, do you have a Ford Six Falcon Handbook (something like that)? They discuss a swap in there for a 4spd SROD. basically its like a 3.03 3spd (like currently in my 67) with an overdrive tacked on. It might be worth looking in to, not as good as a T5, but I would think it would be cheaper (not much demand, not as much adapting) but harder to find.
Good luck and I hope you're dad remembers how wise he was.
 
6

6stang8

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Dec 5, 2003
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Sep 6, 2004
#11
  • Sep 6, 2004
  • #11
TheWolf said:
Glad to see you decided not to follow the crowd. I think the base 4cyl version was rated for 240 lbs of torque. There were other versions of course. This could be a problem. The only advantage I see to using a 4cyl version is that its 1)lighter 2) the gear ratios are better for the six. I plan to do the swap once I get everything in order.
Click to expand...

I'm not too sure about a 4 cylinder T5 being any lighter than a V8 T5. They have different gearing in them and that's what makes them weaker than the V8's. A 3.95 1st gear is weaker than a 3.35 1st gear which is also weaker than a 2.95 1st gear.

Someone could buy all the V8 gears(including the input shaft) and convert a 4 cylinder T5 into a V8 one if they wanted to, but it would be cheaper just to get a V8 one in the first place.

I would think a 4 cly T5 would work well behind a I-6, but who knows how much power y'all can get out of those things!

Oh, and whatever T5 anyone buys, be sure it's a World Class T5.
 

66P51GT

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Nov 7, 2003
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Cerritos, CA
Sep 6, 2004
#12
  • Sep 6, 2004
  • #12
When searching for used T-5s refer to this chart to be sure of what you are getting: http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/09/t5swap/index2.shtml

BTW - all post '85 T-5 transmissions are considered World Class.

Miscellaneous T5 Information

* In 1985, the T5 was upgraded to the "World Class" T5 - improvements include:
* tapered roller bearings on the countershaft
* caged needle bearings under 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears on the mainshaft
* double synchronizers on 1st and 2nd
* steel blocker rings with friction linings on 3rd and 4th
* torque capacity remains at 265 lbs-ft because of the new 1st gear ratio being 3.35 vs the 1983 1/2 - 1984's 2.95

* In 1990, the T5 was upgraded again with the following improvements:
* 4615 alloy steel for the cluster & 3rd gear
* 4620 alloy steel for 2nd gear
* a coarser pitch was used on 2nd and 3rd improving strength
* these upgrades upped the torque capacity to 300 lbs-ft despite the 3.35 1st
 
6

65straightsick

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Jun 4, 2004
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Montgomery, AL
Sep 6, 2004
#13
  • Sep 6, 2004
  • #13
Wow, I didn't expect this much feedback on my little I-6 post. I guess something different usually excites people. Like I said, I am in the researching and planning stage now, there is no rush So It might take a while to find out everything I need. Thanks again for your help

PS. wolf, which engine, the 200 or 250 head? I have heard good things about them both
 

Route666

Active Member
Aug 16, 2003
1,652
6
39
Brisbane, Australia
Sep 6, 2004
#14
  • Sep 6, 2004
  • #14
I agree that having a ripping 6 is cool.

This isn't tranny related, but since you're going the aussie head way... You COULD get one of the latest DOHC 4.0L straight 6s. In some models (of the Falcon) they come from the factory with a turbo, and there are some amazing kits here for them. All street legal, emmissions legal, one is 600HP, just ups the boost and frees up the inlet and exhaust, and uses bigger injectors, and such.

One of these motors from the performance team at Ford puts out the most torque of ANY production car in Aust. Including the V8 version of the same Falcon. And it's not as powerful as these kits make it.

Anyways, sorry to deviate from your trans thread, just thought I'd give you some info on some options if you wanted to get really crazy.
 

TheWolf

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Sep 6, 2004
#15
  • Sep 6, 2004
  • #15
6stang8, You could be correct, I haven't weighed the transmissions or anything. I have just read that the 4cyl version is a few lbs lighter physically.
The I6's power potential hasn't been really looked at over here, but it certainly has a lot of potential. The proof is what our Aussie friends have done. I really wish the US had done the same.

I'm planning on using the 200 head, but really, I'll make use of whatever I can find cheapest. It'll give more power and will be junk yard cheap. If I had the money, I 'd go the Aussie route (or maybe even the head from Argentina, something about the shape of the combustian chamber shape is supossed to make it really good) I'm just worried about sending for such a major part all the way across the planet. I have bought other smaller parts from Australia through FSPP though. I'm probably worried about nothing.

Long live the I6. I have a feeling Ford will bring back an I6, Chevy has a great one, foreign cars have been using them for years. My personal opinion is that its a much better design than a v6.
 

Route666

Active Member
Aug 16, 2003
1,652
6
39
Brisbane, Australia
Sep 6, 2004
#16
  • Sep 6, 2004
  • #16
I wouldn't worry about sending stuff around the world. Make sure you have a good (big and well known) carrier, and put insurance on it if you want. Fedex has that tracking system, so you can see where your packages are. The cost of the freight is bad though, but if you gotta get it from somewhere in particular, there's no other way.
 
6

65straightsick

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Jun 4, 2004
411
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Montgomery, AL
Sep 6, 2004
#17
  • Sep 6, 2004
  • #17
People usually go off of fads, the biggest one out there is to have a huge stroker engine laying out high 3 digit HP numbers and Gobs of torque. But truth be told, it is getting old, and more expensive. For the price of one souped up V8, you could have possibly 2 I6's that could beat the hell out of a stock to mild 289-302. Not only is it cheaper, it is different. Pretty soon everyone else will find something else to do with there cars besides big engines and eleanor body kits. But hey, what you make in HP, I save in gas mileage...that'll do very nicely.
 
6

65straightsick

New Member
Jun 4, 2004
411
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0
Montgomery, AL
Sep 6, 2004
#18
  • Sep 6, 2004
  • #18
I am reconsidering the aussie head too, 600 for a used head is way too much...if I can find a good deal I might try it but 600 is too much IMO.
 

Route666

Active Member
Aug 16, 2003
1,652
6
39
Brisbane, Australia
Sep 7, 2004
#19
  • Sep 7, 2004
  • #19
Keep in mind the 600 bucks is probably in AUD. Divide it by 1.4 approximately. (ATM at least)

$USD428 unless the price was already USD.
 

TheWolf

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Sep 7, 2004
#20
  • Sep 7, 2004
  • #20
I think the bare head over here is $500 in US already shipped over here, theres a waiting list too.
 
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