Aod to t5 swap will it live?

[87slow.0]

Hello. I haven't posted here in quite awhile but I have a 87 gt vert that I've been slowly modding and running tnt in the last 2 seasons. I've got it down to a best of 13.29 @100.22 mph in the 1/4 and my best 1/8 mile pass was 8.33 at 79 mph with a 1.69 60ft..
Previously, it was going 1.68-1.70 60s consistently but the last few trips it was in the mid 1.7s even when it ran the 13.29. That was the 1st time I'd run the 1/4 in awhile due to no roll bar and bc of the e.t. I only got 1 pass. Anyway last Monday I laid into it pretty hard on the street and the Trans slipped on the 1-2 shift. I lifted immediately and it drove the rest of the way to and from work fine. On the way home I hit it again and it held it but it has me worried so I picked up a complete wc t5 swap minus the pedals/quadrant, cable, and I'll need a pilot bearing. I keep hearing from people, non mustang people so...., that it will not be as quick at the track with the t5. I disagree but we shall see. My worry is if it will hold up to the abuse the aod has for the last 4 years. I do maintain the car pretty thoroughly but i have not been easy on it for sure.

 

[General karthief]

A couple things I've learned around here and personal experience, first and most important.to drag strip passes, the T5 don't like to be speed shifted, I have heard of a few things that help it live but it's costly.
Sticky tires are a threat too.

 

[RaggedGT]

As @90sickfox can tell ya- sticky tires and Rpm’s will quickly add Neutrals to your gear set quickly lol. I’ve shattered 3rd gear myself a couple times

But I do know,that 90sickfox knows some of the tricks that keep em alive. If he has time he may drop in

 

[Noobz347]

I've twisted a T5 into a pretzel in a driveway.

It's a [good] street transmission, relatively smooth, and well built for OEM 302 Windsor torque levels.

Ape shifting at the track?

 

[87slow.0]

A couple things I've learned around here and personal experience, first and most important.to drag strip passes, the T5 don't like to be speed shifted, I have heard of a few things that help it live but it's costly.
Sticky tires are a threat too.

I most likely won't be no lift shifting it but I do run it on drag radials. I run 275/50/15 nittos 555r2 on the rear. Even with the aod it's absolutely no fun on a street tire. Car has a 4.10 rear gear in it, stock rear springs and lakewood 50/50 and strange 10 ways up front with again stock springs. I would like to at least still be in the 1.6-1.7 60 ft times.. are drag radials harder on parts then slicks?

 

[87slow.0]

I've twisted a T5 into a pretzel in a driveway.

It's a [good] street transmission, relatively smooth, and well built for OEM 302 Windsor torque levels.

Ape shifting at the track?

Haven't swapped it yet. To be honest if my aod is OK when I change fluid and filter the t5 will rest in the corner of the garage til I need it. My aod only has about 25k ish.. miles on it. I had it built about 4 years ago. I called the shop and they said to change the fluid and filter bc from the heat from the converter it's probably just time. It has a non lockup 3500 converter..

 

[General karthief]

Trans cooler?

 

[87slow.0]

Trans cooler?

Yes. It's got a huge trans cooler. Runs thru the radiator cooler into external cooler about to the trans. I have dusl electric fans and the one on that side is purposely positioned directly inline with the trans cooler.

 

[87slow.0]

The fluid hasn't been changed since the rebuild about 25k miles ago. Lots of street miles and a 1200 mile road trip at 75-80 mph at around 3k rpm for hours on end.. probably should have changed fluid n filter when I got back from that trip honestly.. going to try that first. It only slipped one time on the 1-2 shift wot for probably less then a second and I lifted.. hoping it's not done for. Bought the t5 swap just incase.