Help with manual conversion

[CPH89LX]

So i picked up my 89 fox earlier this year as something to just play around with. It came with a carb'd 347 with a c4 trans in it. Now from looking at the car, it looks like it was originally a 4cyl 5 speed car and the just cut the wire harness out of it and made it like an old school no frills car.

I am wanting to swap it over to a 5 speed as I'm not a fan of the auto that's in it. I'm not real familiar with mustangs as I've spent more time building jeeps so don't really know which year's are best for doing this type of swap. Are there years to avoid or ones that are easier to swap in it? I know I'm gonna have to get a flex plate, bell housing, pressure plate and clutch, and all that stuff. Just not real sure on main trans part and which one to get.

Thanks for all the help. Looking forward to tearing more into this car and actually getting it out and driving it.

 

[Noobz347]

How much torque do you generate?

Are you looking for an OEM T5 setup or something beefier?

Does your car still have the clutch pedal in it?

 

[CPH89LX]

Yes car still has the clutch pedal in it. Not quite sure on torque numbers. Motor does seem healthy tho. Was kinda looking at a normal t5 setup.

 

[keel]

T5 swap with OEM parts is definitely going to be the easiest and cheapest way to go. If you can find a crashed or roached out 5-speed V8 parts car for cheap that's probably the route I would take, you'll get everything you need in one shot and it will make your life easier. I used a crashed 1989 GT for my manual and 5.0 swap into my (formerly) 4 cyl 1993 LX hatch.

If your car started life as a 4 cyl car I would also check to see if you have the stock 7.5" rear axle or if the last owner upgraded to the 8.8" rear axle. If you have a 7.5" that is another reason in favor of picking up a parts car so you can swap over the rear axle and rear brakes.

I believe any V8 5-speed car that is 1986 and up has the upgraded world class T5 and an 8.8" rear end.

 

[Noobz347]

V8 5-speed car that is 1986 and up has the upgraded world class T5 and an 8.8" rear end.

True

 

[KRUISR]

I believe any V8 5-speed car that is 1986 and up has the upgraded world class T5 and an 8.8" rear end.

The 8.8 started in the 1986 V8s. The V8 WC T5 was rated at 265 ft lbs up to the end of '89 model year. The 90-93 V8 T5 was rated at 300 ft lbs. These are factory trans numbers, not the T5Z or other upgraded T5s.

If you change the input shaft and bearing retainer you can use a 94-98 V6 T5 (rated at 265 ft lbs, same as the early V8 WC T5s) or the 94/95 V8 T5 (rated at 300 ft lbs) or the 99-04 V6 T5 (rated at 300 ft lbs - same gear set as the 90-95 V8 T5s). To not change the input shaft and bearing retainer you will need the hard to find 94/95 5.0 bellhousing - it is cast 5.0 into the housing. V6 bellhousings after 94 were cast 3.8.

 

[keel]

The 8.8 started in the 1986 V8s. The V8 WC T5 was rated at 265 ft lbs up to the end of '89 model year. The 90-93 V8 T5 was rated at 300 ft lbs. These are factory trans numbers, not the T5Z or other upgraded T5s.

Wasn't the 5.0 already making more torque than that 265 ft-lb rating in 1986? What's up with that??