Can a T5 be rebuilt to handle more power?

[ForceFed70]

I've got a WC T5 from an 88GT. I know that I can change the 1st gear ratio and up the TQ handling a little (like the newer T5's). But is there anything else that can be done to strengthen the T5?

Just planning ahead...

 

[Glen's 1965 5.0]

T5 info

Installing a 2.95 gearset will make for a good tranny. I would also install a countergear stabilizer also along with a steel bearing retainer.

www.rosehillperformanceparts.com
www.astroperformance.com
are some of the places that has the parts needed. A g-force gearset or the A5 gearset will handle good power also but more $$.

Glen

 

[ForceFed70]

Installing a 2.95 gearset will make for a good tranny. I would also install a countergear stabilizer also along with a steel bearing retainer.

www.rosehillperformanceparts.com
www.astroperformance.com
are some of the places that has the parts needed. A g-force gearset or the A5 gearset will handle good power also but more $$.

Glen

That A5 gear kit looks great! $1200 tho! By the time I pay for the rest of the rebuild parts I'll be into for a good $2000. What's a tremec that can handle 450Tq worth?

 

[57fairlane]

I would look for a 3550.

It could handle it for awhile and if you ever blew it apart, it is the same case as the TKOs

 

[red65]

That A5 gear kit looks great! $1200 tho! UOTE]

For what it's worth, I just bought a rebuilt T-5 with the A-5 gear kit from Astro. Tony at Astro was helpful and responsive, they delivered on time, and the transmission looks good. Their prices are a bit better than G-force. I can update you if you're still interested once I have the trans installed (this weekend I hope).

- Andy

 

[HistoricMustang]

The T-5 has gotten a lot of bad press.

I actually had more trouble with the toploader before switching to a T-5 in my road racer.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

 

[red65]

The T-5 has gotten a lot of bad press.
www.historicmustang.com

Some of it is well-deserved. Mine grenaded last week after seeing only street and open-track use (it's never even been on a drag strip!), easy shifting and DOT tires. It's behind a fair amount of horsepower, but I'm just sayin...

 

[C0V3R]

That A5 gear kit looks great! $1200 tho! UOTE]

For what it's worth, I just bought a rebuilt T-5 with the A-5 gear kit from Astro. Tony at Astro was helpful and responsive, they delivered on time, and the transmission looks good. Their prices are a bit better than G-force. I can update you if you're still interested once I have the trans installed (this weekend I hope).

- Andy

Id be interested to see how u go

 

[Rusty67]

I would stay with the T5 and spend the money to make it beefy. The larger tremec trans don't fit without modifying the tunnel (as far as I know). I've only heard of one person that did it without modifying the tunnel. He made his own cross member for the trans and I'm not convinced the trans is siting at the correct angle for the U-Joints/rear end. I'd like to hear how his diff and or trans are doing after 50,000 miles.

Basically I'd rather blow a wad of cash on trans internals then mod the tunnel especially since I'd have to pay to have most of the work done anyways.

 

[red65]

Id be interested to see how u go

I got the Astro A-5 trans installed on Saturday morning - it's amazing how fast I can get a trans in and out, with all the practice I've had .

First impressions:

- Shifting is 'tight' - in other words, it takes a bit of effort to put it in gear, and to shift between gears. I think that probably this will dissipate over time and is a symptom of the new Mcleod dual-friction clutch and unbroken-in synchronizers. Tony at Astro advised a 500-mile break-in before whaling on it.

- Pedal effort is lighter with the King Cobra PP than with the Spec Stage 1 that was in it before. Since I'm taking Tony's break-in advice, I don't know how well it holds yet.

- The numerically lower first gear (2.95 vs. 3.35) is nice - makes first gear more usable (I've got 3.55 rear gears for reference).

- The stock overdrive (0.59:1) is really low. I had a 0.80:1 O/D before, which netted about 2,800RPM at 80mph. With the new ratio, it just breaks 2,000RPM at 80MPH, and I really can't use fifth gear for anything but freeway driving (my engine gets a little cranky at less than about 1800RPM). Time will tell if that works OK.

- It makes more noise than the stock T-5 (I had a '95 Cobra T-5 before), a little more at idle and a lot more under acceleration. I'm assuming (hoping) this is because of the gear face angles, and not a sign that anything's wrong.

- The trans was visibly clean and well-prepared, nothing leaks and all the bolts were tight. However, one of the threaded trans-mount bolt holes stripped almost immediately when I installed the mount; Not a big deal since there's space on the back side for a nut (which is what I did). I guess this is a potential risk when going with a rebuilt unit rather than a new one.

- Astro's got a decent deal - just over $2k and a core gets you a rebuilt A-5 (T-5 with strong gears), a couple quarts of the outrageously expensive synthetic lube, a Mcleod dual-friction clutch, King Cobra pressure plate, T/O bearing and a pilot tool.

Hope that helps. I'll keep you all posted, especially if I manage to tear this one up too.

- Andy

 

[ForceFed70]

Thanks for the info.

Decisions decisions decisions.... I'm not too worried about modifying the transmission tunnel. But really like the idea of just a simple T5 to T5 swap. I could be rolling by the end of the day..