• Mustang Forums
  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech

Cologne 2.8 V6 To T5 WC Transmission

  • Thread starter Thread starter tvrman
  • Start date Start date Apr 21, 2005
T

tvrman

New Member
Apr 21, 2005
1
0
0
Apr 21, 2005
#1
  • Apr 21, 2005
  • #1
I am looking for information regading the Cologne V6 engine that was used in the Mustang back in the 80's. I have a TVR 280I which uses the same engine and I am looking to swap out my current 4 speed transmission with a T5 WC unit from a Mustang GT that I recently purchased. I am told that there were certain models of Capri, Mustang, Ranger etc that used this combination and that I should be able to purchase a bellhousing and ancillaries from a Mustang parts supply house.

Can anybody confirm that my sources are correct, or if the T5 was ever using in any other application in conjuction with the cologne 2.8 block?

Thanks in advance.
 

78CobraII

Moderator
Jul 31, 1998
1,808
8
39
Birmingham, AL
May 11, 2005
#2
  • May 11, 2005
  • #2
TVRMAN,

I am not aware of the T-5 ever being used with the 2.8L Cologne V6.

In fact I would have thought it would have been done in a TVR if in anything.

I have heard of the T-5 being used in a couple of 2.8L or other Cologne swaps though. I was contacted some time ago by a guy installing a 2.8L V6 in a Sunbeam with a T-5. The engine was sourced from a Mustang II and he used the MII 4-speed bellhousing along with a custom hydraulic throwout bearing. I can't find any contact info for him, but I did come across these links:

http://www.team.net/www/rootes/sunbeam/alpine/mk1-5/techtips/alpv6p1.html
http://www.team.net/www/rootes/sunbeam/alpine/mk1-5/techtips/alpv6p5.html

There are other relatives of the Cologne V6 that would be interesting swaps into 2.8L powered cars...The 4.0L SOHC V6 comes to mind as well as the DOHC 3.0L V6 built by Yamaha and used in the Ford SVO Taurus. Here is a link to a website for a SVO swap into an Austin Healey with a T-5:

http://members.cox.net/rdgrauman/Healey.html

He used a manual transmission bell from a Ford Aerostar van along with an adapter plate and the hydraulic throwout bearing from the Aerostar.

This a swap I'd love to see in a Mustang II!

Hope it works out for you.
 
G

GBGeorge

New Member
Mar 2, 2011
1
0
0
Mar 2, 2011
#3
  • Mar 2, 2011
  • #3
Doing the same match years later

I was wondering if anyone has found out any more info on matching a T5 with a Cologne 2.8 V6.
 

78CobraII

Moderator
Jul 31, 1998
1,808
8
39
Birmingham, AL
Mar 3, 2011
#4
  • Mar 3, 2011
  • #4
There is a new 4.0 V6 with T-5 swap going on over at another MII site:
Mustang II Network Forums - 4.0 T5 mustang II swap

He's using a 2.8 V6 manual bellhousing with a 2.3L T-5. The 2.3L T-5 has a different input shaft than the 3.8L/5.0L T-5.

And another link to the Sunbeam Alpine swap:
Rob Wiseman's 1961 Sunbeam Alpine (Series I) - Ford 2.8L V6 Conversion
 
S

SonicGT5448

Member
Dec 8, 2009
46
0
6
k-zoo
Mar 3, 2011
#5
  • Mar 3, 2011
  • #5
It wasn't a T-5 but I had a late production '84 Bronco II with a 2.8 and a five speed. It was also available in '85. For 1986 they switched to the 2.9 liter.
 

Blue coyote

Founding Member
Sep 14, 2002
347
0
16
North America's hemp-basket, BC, Canada
Mar 4, 2011
#6
  • Mar 4, 2011
  • #6
SonicGT5448 said:
It wasn't a T-5 but I had a late production '84 Bronco II with a 2.8 and a five speed. It was also available in '85. For 1986 they switched to the 2.9 liter.
Click to expand...

The Bronco II/Ranger line used the Toyo/Kogyo 4 speed in 83-84, the Toyo/Kogyo 5 speed in 84-85, the Mitsubishi FM145/146 86-88(?) and the M5OD after that (into and including the Explorer model line) All will interchange, since the 2.8, 2.9, and 4.0 all share the Cologne V6 bellhousing pattern.

The upside is that any of them are at least as solid as the RAD4 and all but the T/K 4 have overdrive. The downside is that all use the hydraulic clutch setup.

Because the 2.8 likes a high-RPM workout, I'd still like to see if the RAD 4 bellhousing with bolt up to an SROD and fit behind a 2.8 in a Mustang II...
 

78CobraII

Moderator
Jul 31, 1998
1,808
8
39
Birmingham, AL
Mar 4, 2011
#7
  • Mar 4, 2011
  • #7
One of the MGB engine swaps over at the British V8 website uses a Ford 2.8L V6 with the M5OD trans. The shifter on the M5OD may turn out to be too far forward for use with a MII, I hope to get some pics and measurements on here soon.

If you had an application that needed a forward located shifter, in addition to the M5OD (and probably the T/K transmissions), the T-5 built for the Chevy S-10 has the shifter at the front of the tailhousing rather than at the rear like is used on all Fords.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mustang II V6 conversion to V8 HO and T5 problems and solutions
  • greenflash79
  • Jul 6, 2025
  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech
  • 2
Replies
34
Views
2K
1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech Jan 29, 2026
greenflash79
K
3.8 T5 & Bellhousing to 1987 Lincoln 5.0
  • ks65stang
  • Mar 2, 2026
  • Other Auto Tech
Replies
3
Views
322
Other Auto Tech Mar 3, 2026
Noobz347
F
T5 transmission questions
  • Forddestroyer96
  • Aug 27, 2025
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
209
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Aug 27, 2025
Forddestroyer96
F
For Sale Borg Warner WC T5, Stock Bell Housing, RAM Clutch Set, Double Hump Cross Member, & Pro 5.0 Shifter
  • AeroCoupe
  • Aug 9, 2025
  • Drivetrain Parts
Replies
1
Views
619
Drivetrain Parts Dec 26, 2025
AeroCoupe
0
V6 to V8 Swap info
  • 02_2v_Curtis
  • Jan 11, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
715
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Jan 11, 2026
02_2v_Curtis
0
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?