• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

How far can you push a stock T5 Tranny

  • Thread starter Thread starter bln92cpe
  • Start date Start date Jun 24, 2004

bln92cpe

New Member
Dec 15, 2003
158
0
0
Los Angeles, CA
Jun 24, 2004
#1
  • Jun 24, 2004
  • #1
I am about to drop 5 grand on my car and was wondering if my stock tranny would last awhile. The tranny has 135,000 miles on it and i would rather buy other stuff first than buying a Tremec TKO. Are you running a stock tranny or an afterarket and what would you suggest. thanks
 

ECU5.0

Banned
Jan 10, 2004
1,803
1
0
raleigh, nc
Jun 24, 2004
#2
  • Jun 24, 2004
  • #2
if youre spending 5 grand on your car i would definetly get a new tranny. the t5 isnt going to like hard launches or lots of power for long. im gettin the tko 500 pretty soon because my t5 is just starting to give up at 196k
 

Rick 91GT

Mustang Master
Nov 29, 1999
9,692
95
99
PA
Jun 24, 2004
#3
  • Jun 24, 2004
  • #3
Well I had just rebuilt mine and had it on the dyno, on the N2O it made 450RWHP+ and 740FTTQ and my T-5 lived, and even took the 1.60 60ft and 5500rpm launches. Now I feel I had a freak, most do not take that abuse.

If you are putting out over 350RWHP I suggest upgrading to a TKO.
 

ninjacoupe

New Member
Jul 6, 2003
174
0
0
NY
Jun 24, 2004
#4
  • Jun 24, 2004
  • #4
Mines held up for quite awhile. Been to the track twice, once on drag radials and a second on ET streets. Z-spec motorsport one though. Good tranny but I'll be opting for a new remec soon.
 

FiveOhhStang

New Member
Jan 27, 2003
299
0
0
Sanger, Cali.
Jun 24, 2004
#5
  • Jun 24, 2004
  • #5
Honestly not very far..both my buddies did a Intake & Gear swap..and the tranny didnt last more than a month on both thier cars..mine blew a month ago, and my car only had some mufflers and a K&N....its a decent tranny, but only for a stock motor IMO. They have a hard time handling the stock Torque of the 5.0, Id say rebuild it, or buy a 3550.
 

1fast94svt

New Member
Jun 14, 2004
205
0
0
Michigan....Detroit
Jun 25, 2004
#6
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #6
just by listening to all of these guys make their suggestions...its clear from my point of view, it all depends on how each of these guys drove their cars..hard or light for those over 100K miles. I mean i have 434RWHP and my t-5 is just fine w/ 60K on it. It all comes down to how you have treated it and how good you drive. You could always do a rebuild and upgrade imput output shafts and all the bearings and stuff.
 

Rick 91GT

Mustang Master
Nov 29, 1999
9,692
95
99
PA
Jun 25, 2004
#7
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #7
1fast94svt said:
You could always do a rebuild and upgrade imput output shafts and all the bearings and stuff.
Click to expand...

Parts will cost over $550, plus labor to buiild it if you can't yourself. I'd put that money towards a Tremec.
 

millhouse

Founding Member
May 14, 2002
1,985
0
46
Simpsonville, SC
Jun 25, 2004
#8
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #8
190K+ on my tranny going strong. I also have 150+ dragstrip passes on her, and have a long commute to work.
 

houstonstangguy

Founding Member
Mar 16, 2002
979
0
0
Houston, Texas
Jun 25, 2004
#9
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #9
Like they said above, it depends on how you have treated it all this time and what you plan on doing with it once you drop all the cash into the car. if it will primarily be at the track then yeah get a new tranny, but if you are only daily driving it then it should be ok until you can afford to replace it.

honestly if it aint broke then dont fix it, but if you can afford a couple hundred bucks you could probably find another used tranny as a back up (just in case) and until you can come up with the cash for a 3550 or tko. thats just my opinion though.
 

black82fiveoh

Founding Member
Jan 4, 2002
304
0
0
madison wisconsin
Jun 25, 2004
#10
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #10
there is a guy around here who runs 10.8,10.9 and was working fine. he has now switched to aod I think(dont know exactly why)

regardless-I would suggest getting at least a 3550
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Jun 25, 2004
#11
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #11
Rick - 450 HP/ 740 ft-lbs? Seems like turbo-diesel numbers - at what rpm did those numbers occur? Torque number seems abnormally high.
 
S

Schlodes

Founding Member
Feb 26, 2001
354
0
0
Lidsville.... West side dawg..
Jun 25, 2004
#12
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #12
Mr Yount, I wondered the same...

Was thinking the 450 RWHP is in the upper RPM and the spray got turned on at like, 3000 RPM and BAM 740 ft lbs???
 

bln92cpe

New Member
Dec 15, 2003
158
0
0
Los Angeles, CA
Jun 25, 2004
#13
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #13
I bought the tremec TKO500 for 1600...Looks like I wont be having any tranny issues. Thanks for the input guys.
 

houstonstangguy

Founding Member
Mar 16, 2002
979
0
0
Houston, Texas
Jun 25, 2004
#14
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #14
you need the bell housing to use tko did you get it too???
 

Rick 91GT

Mustang Master
Nov 29, 1999
9,692
95
99
PA
Jun 25, 2004
#15
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #15
Nitrous is a wonderful thing the hp number is low because the bottle was running empty, the tq was correct since the tq comes in almost immediatly on the bottle and if memory serves me correctly it was around 3000rpms in 4th gear. I had a really hard time not smoking the 26" x 12.5" MT Sportsman Pro's I had on the dyno, the first 3 runs it smoked the tires bad, you could here them sticking to the rollers as it slowed down.

Car went 130mph through traps and was lean, would have went a little faster. The TQ made it really interesting to launch, car was quite the handful the first 330ft, after that I didn't have to pedal it and it went straight. My 1/8 miles times on the bottle were the same for a car running 11.70's (just about what I ran NA, but 9mph faster), however it went 11.11
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Jun 25, 2004
#16
  • Jun 25, 2004
  • #16
edit - double post - grrrrrrr
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
3.8 T5 & Bellhousing to 1987 Lincoln 5.0
  • ks65stang
  • Mar 2, 2026
  • Other Auto Tech
Replies
3
Views
328
Other Auto Tech Mar 3, 2026
Noobz347
Engine Suggestions on an engine rebuild. Stock cam/GT40Ps or aftermarket on both for a fun weekend driver?
  • MadSquirrelTech
  • Apr 28, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
23
Views
839
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 7, 2026
MadSquirrelTech
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
628
Drivetrain Parts Dec 26, 2025
AeroCoupe
Progress Thread Progress Thread- From6to8's 95 GT/Saleen Supercharged 331 install
  • from6to8
  • Mar 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
941
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 6, 2026
from6to8
New Member with a 1992
  • Clutchfork
  • Oct 18, 2025
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
5
Views
308
The Welcome Wagon Oct 19, 2025
Clutchfork
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang 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?