Cobra T45 into a 98 GT !?

[doorgunner26808]

I have a slightly used T45 from a 96 Cobra that I need to get into my 98 GT without swapping the tailhousings. I know that the tranny mounts on the tailhousings are different between the T45 for the Cobra and the one for the GT. Could I use the T56 crossmember from FRPP? Would this offset the mount enough to mount the Cobra T45 into my GT? I have done a few searches and haven't been able to find anything other than either swapping tailhousings, or making a custom bracket to shift the mount. I don't want to do either of these, I just want an easy bolt up job. Any help would be greatly appreciated. ( Part number: M-5059-B )

FRPP T56 Crossmember

Thanks,
DG808

 

[blackink00]

i dont see why theyre different mounts i think its the same. your 98 came with a t45 also. its was probebly made by borg-warner

 

[doorgunner26808]

BlackInk,
Thats what I thought too, that they were the same. But after i got the Cobra tranny, I did a few searches and apperantly the crossmember mounts on the sn95 bodies are different between the Cobras and non Cobras. Either that, or Ford used two different crossmembers. I don't understand why they would be different, everything else is the same. (driveshaft length, etc...) Please, correct me if I am wrong. I have looked a couple of pics of different T45s and there is a difference in where the mount is on the tailhousing. The Cobra T45s are further back than the the GT's. I havn't gotten under my GT yet to confirm ( I guess I should) BW was bought out by Tremec in 98. Im not 100% but I think I have a Tremec in my GT now. The Cobra is definitely a BW. (Tremec = marginally better internals) I just don't want to tear into a perfectly good transmission, just to change the tail housings.

Thanks again,
DG808

Edit: the first pic is Cobra T45 and the second with the blue shifter is a GT T45. The one by the fireplace is the one I have sitting in the bed of my F150.

 

[tomustang]

Yeah the Cobra's have a farther crossmember due to attempted better handling

 

[doorgunner26808]

Are the crossmembers different? Or just the the crossmember to body mounting points or both?

Thanks,
DG808

 

[tjm73]

Devils Advocate - Why not just change the tailshaft housing and bolt it in and be done with it? I just did this exact same thing in my '98 GT and the tailhousing was swapped on and the tranny installed in less time than it took you to get all these responses.

 

[doorgunner26808]

Thanks for the replys.
Yeah, I could just swap the tail housing, but like I said, I just don't want to. I have to wait a couple of weeks to swap the trannys anyway, so I figure that I have time to wait for the Brown to deliver a cobra crossmember...if it will work.

DG808

 

[tjm73]

Thanks for the replys.
Yeah, I could just swap the tail housing, but like I said, I just don't want to. I have to wait a couple of weeks to swap the trannys anyway, so I figure that I have time to wait for the Brown to deliver a cobra crossmember...if it will work.

DG808

If you got a '96 Cobra tranny cross member, you should be fine. It should bolt right in.

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

the crossmembers are the same, Cobras have a bolt-on brkt on each side of the crossmember where Gt's are welded to the frame rail. you can buy these brkts from any Ford dealer(we sell them for @$40.00 a pair), drill holes and bolt them in place along wth your stock crossmember and be done wth it. I also agree that swapping the tailshaft housing would be quicker and cheaper.

 

[tjm73]

I also agree that swapping the tailshaft housing would be quicker and cheaper.

Yeah, you alreay have EVERYTHING you need. Except maybe a gasket. Why spend money and time to buy and/or modify stuff to make the crossmember fit? I just fail to understadn why you wouldn't just swap the tail shaft housing. It's like 12 bolts, slip it off and slip the GT tailhousing on. Done.