5spd needs rebuild, but should I spend the money now?

[mastrdrver]

My t5 needs rebuilt in my 86, but should I just do a cheap rebuild or spend the money for something better? Right now I have 3.55s and exhaust. I plan on putting on TW heads and RPM/Track Heat intake in the next 6mths. Just don't want to spend my money and it not be enough.

thanks
Jeremy

 

[stangbear427]

It won't be enough. It wasn't up to gears and exhaust, it definately won't be up to gears, exhaust, heads and intake. Rebuilding it is by far your cheapest option though- depends on how much you have to spend. IMO, you're only buying yourself some time by rebuilding it; if you can afford to than drop a real Tremec in there and get it over with- but that's a lot more money. There are some good rebuild kits out there, with upgraded gears, etc, that would make rebuilding more worthwhile; they are more expensive, but more up to the task and still cheaper than a new tranny.

 

[mastrdrver]

I think that the reason that it went in the first place was the shifter. The rubber bushing on the stock shifter had broken and it was hard to tell if you were in gear or not. Right now all it is doing is grinding a little when you put it in to fourth. I know that when my buddy bought it, it had this problem and it only had gears. The car has a 175+k miles on it, so that could b another reason.

 

[stangbear427]

Holy crap! Yeah, that may all have everything to do with it. Whatever you do with it, whether it be rebuild or replace, do not drive one mile with it without a good shifter like a PowerTower! Good luck.

 

[strtracer442]

Find a later model t5 (90-93), they have a higher tq capacity(300), the 86's were rated at 265 and the 88-89 are rated at 285

 

[mastrdrver]

Holy crap! Yeah, that may all have everything to do with it. Whatever you do with it, whether it be rebuild or replace, do not drive one mile with it without a good shifter like a PowerTower! Good luck.

I have a hurst shifter in it right now and it is HUGE improvement. Can you just swap to the 90 and later parts with the same housing?

 

[strtracer442]

I have a hurst shifter in it right now and it is HUGE improvement. Can you just swap to the 90 and later parts with the same housing?

Yes, but the individual parts can be expensive, you should be able to buy a complete trans in good condition for less than $500, the last 2 I sold were 350 and 300