91 5.0 5spd....any ways..all signs point to my input shaft bearing is shot. Question: is this a easy fix or do i need to take to a shop? Also should i do anything else while im doing this ?
There are several guides and manuals around that will give you a step by step process to disassembling the transmission so you can replace the input shaft bearing. I wouldn't call it an "easy fix", but it's certainly something that someone who is patient enough and mechanically inclined enough can accomplish.
Depending on how many miles you have on it and what else you find when you open it up you may just consider re-building it while you have it apart. Probably not required, but also not the worst idea in the world.
While you have it down you may also consider replacing the tailshaft bushing and oil seal. If your clutch is worn, now would also be a good time to replace it along with the flywheel, pilot bearing and throwout bearing.
There are several guides and manuals around that will give you a step by step process to disassembling the transmission so you can replace the input shaft bearing. I wouldn't call it an "easy fix", but it's certainly something that someone who is patient enough and mechanically inclined enough can accomplish.
Depending on how many miles you have on it and what else you find when you open it up you may just consider re-building it while you have it apart. Probably not required, but also not the worst idea in the world.
While you have it down you may also consider replacing the tailshaft bushing and oil seal. If your clutch is worn, now would also be a good time to replace it along with the flywheel, pilot bearing and throwout bearing.
I acually took it apart because i suspected i shucked a clutch disc only to find out the clutch was fine but worn. So a new clutch is going in. I found a rebuild kit in jegs for around $250. That should have all parts i need. (unless i find bad gears) do i need any special tools to rebuild this?
A T5 rebuild kit with syncros, bearings and other small parts costs about $160. It does not include any gears or shafts.
http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com/ also has a video on how to rebuild your T5 or Tremec. It costs about $20, and is worth every penny of it.
I did a Tremec 3550 rebuild, and it wasn't that difficult. The video was an immense help, and I would recommend viewing it. At $20, it will give you an opportunity to look and decide for yourself if you think that it is something you want to try to do.
T5 Shim kits – best product I have seen in a while… http://www.5speeds.com/t5/shims.html
“The Peel ‘n Place T5 World Class shim kit makes shimming T5 counter gear and main drive gears very easy.”
The tricky part is that you will need some shims to adjust the endplay in the two shafts: the new bearings will change the clearance. There is no way of telling what it will be until you get to the point that it is time to measure and check the clearances. Halon has the individual shims if you can wait for them. If you can't afford the wait, the auto parts store can sell you some shim stock and you can make your own, or have a machine shop make them for you. The shim stock comes in brass (easy to cut) and steel, in varying thicknesses. That's where the dial indicator & base come in - there is no way to get the clearance right without it.
Getting the car jacked up high enough to get the trans jack in and out from under the car was somewhat challenging. Since I didn't have a helper, getting the trans out of the car and back it was one of the more difficult things about the job. I built a trans jack out of 2x6's, some angle iron and a $25 floor jack. If I hadn't done that, I would have needed a helper or to rent a commercial trans jack. At 100+ pounds the Tremec 3550 was far too heavy for me to lift by myself.