What is the stock T5 capable of?
- Thread starter nightrider50
- Start date
If you never speed shifted it and never dumped the clutch or exposed the transmission to shock loads of any kind, maybe 400 HP. But if you have 400 HP, you WILL be doing all the stuff you aren't supposed to do... 
Some of the guys will suggest T5 gear sets and rebuilt T5 transmissions with special gears and this and that. The question about them is will they continue to take abuse and street driving over the 130,000 - 170,000 miles that is the typical lifespan of a T5 in a HiPo Mustang.
My personal preference is a transmission from the Tremec 3550 family - 3550, TKO, Tremec TKO 500, or Tremec TKO 600. See TTC: TREMEC Transmissions for more information. The Tremec transmissions from this group will take whatever abuse that you can throw at them and never fail. All you have to do is keep the properly lubricated and they will work great and last a very long time.
Some of the guys will suggest T5 gear sets and rebuilt T5 transmissions with special gears and this and that. The question about them is will they continue to take abuse and street driving over the 130,000 - 170,000 miles that is the typical lifespan of a T5 in a HiPo Mustang.
My personal preference is a transmission from the Tremec 3550 family - 3550, TKO, Tremec TKO 500, or Tremec TKO 600. See TTC: TREMEC Transmissions for more information. The Tremec transmissions from this group will take whatever abuse that you can throw at them and never fail. All you have to do is keep the properly lubricated and they will work great and last a very long time.
the stock t5 can handle a good amount, the real question is how long will it last? Like Jrichker said, it depends on if this is mild street driving, rolling on the power, street tires that spin are easier on parts than drag radials or slicks that HOOK. Will a t-5 handle a 400 hp drag car, maybe a pass or two. Many, many variables in this equation
I've seen guys blow it with a stock 5.0, and then i've seen others guys drive it behind a 350HP 5.0 for years with no prob. It's all inhow you drive.
Its all in how you drive it. I've broken T5s on a stock 5.0 on street tires, and then I've heard of people running 10s on them. Like jrichter said, baby it, and it'll handle some power. Speed shifting and clutch drops on sticky tires will kill a T5 even on a bone stock car.
If you google "T5 torque ratings" you'll find year and application specific tables of torque ratings for these trannys. I believe the later-year Fox "World Class" T5s were rated for 300 ft-lbs of torque.
If you google "T5 torque ratings" you'll find year and application specific tables of torque ratings for these trannys. I believe the later-year Fox "World Class" T5s were rated for 300 ft-lbs of torque.
The 85.5-1989 World Class was rated at 275 ft-lbs
The 1990+ WC T-5 was rated at 300 ft-lbs.
That's stock 5.0 power right there
The 1990+ WC T-5 was rated at 300 ft-lbs.
That's stock 5.0 power right there
BLOWN347STROKER
Member
I have got my completely stock t-5 backing my 95 5.0 mustang. It has around 575hp I haven't finished dyno tuning it yet. It is holding up fine right now and lets just say I haven't babied it. So I think it just depends on the transmission.
Car #1. All stock 95K shifted perfect.
Car#2. HCI P600B Procharger 12-13psi, no HP numbers, but it's 1/4 mile MPH was always 113-114 and that was with a 3.08 gear set. I figure 370-400RWHP max and the stock T5 was fine. NEVER had an issue.
Car #3. All stock 145K...2nd and 3rd gear were wasted. Don't know why, I bought it like that...prolly owned by a dumb### that couldn't drive. I got it rebuilt and installed it in a car with 3.73's and bolt ons. Held up fine.
I think the T5 is an excellent transmission. Don't power shift it and drop gears at too high speeds etc...
Car#2. HCI P600B Procharger 12-13psi, no HP numbers, but it's 1/4 mile MPH was always 113-114 and that was with a 3.08 gear set. I figure 370-400RWHP max and the stock T5 was fine. NEVER had an issue.
Car #3. All stock 145K...2nd and 3rd gear were wasted. Don't know why, I bought it like that...prolly owned by a dumb### that couldn't drive. I got it rebuilt and installed it in a car with 3.73's and bolt ons. Held up fine.
I think the T5 is an excellent transmission. Don't power shift it and drop gears at too high speeds etc...
Milk the T5 for the time being, but have a better trans on order, haha.
Seriously, though, if you're not hard up for the money, having a fresh TKO or something like that sitting in the garage until you are ready to swap it in or until you break the T5 wouldn't be a bad idea.
its the torque that kills it or rather flexes the case.
If you had a 4 cylinder turbo motor making 400hp and 300ft-lbs the t5 will last a heck of a lot longer than a 393 with gt40 heads making 400hp and 500ft-lbs.
I know of two in daily driven cars that just blew up 3rd just putting around town.
One lasted a year and a half of 300rwhp and 360rwtq and the other lasted 8 months of 420rwhp and 400rwtq.
TenorPlayinGuy
Founding Member
The three t-5s Ive had all ran decent with care and restraint. I ran on some cheapy cooper cobra s-rated tires on my second (turbocoupe T-5) blew that one all to hell, drove home 10 miles with only 2nd and 3rd. The T-5 I have now is from an 88, and it's been fine for 4 years now, I get way more grip now then I did then. More power as well. But I drive like a grandma compared to most of these guys on here.
blackened88lx
Active Member
Like a lot of people have mentioned it's all in how you drive it. If you powershift, it will break. I've seen them survive powershifting for quite a while but most go pretty quickly. I grenaded 3rd in mine with a stock motor and street tires. If you shift it like grandma, sure it will last longer, but wtf is the point of that.
