I'm trying to help a friend of mine find a rebuilt T-5 tranny for an 88 5.0. Where is the best place online to buy? He Doesn't feel like rebuilding it himself and would rather not go the ebay route if possible.
Also what other options does he have besides the T-5?
eBay has some good deals now n' then, but you also gotta factor in the cost of shipping ... and the risk of the occasional scammer.
Comb the local ads for cars being parted out, or start hitting up the local boneyards. You can use a T-5 out of a four-banger 'Stang just fine, and they always can be had for a THIRD of the price of a V8 T-5, just so long as you either use a conversion pilot bearing (easily obtained through eBay or other Internet sources) or change out the input shaft, and you don't make a habit of powershifting it and/or pushing some major mods on it (power adders, built motor, etc.)
You could swap in an old C-4 tranny, but there'd be more cost/labor/parts involved than it would be worth, and there'd be no blessed 4th gear for highway driving.
(Btw, Hanlon Motorsports kicks arse. Got one of their input shafts in my 'Stang. Quality stuff, nice folks, and decent pricing.)
you're better off spending the money on a tremec 500 or 600, as the grand + spent on a new t5 is wasted cash, compared to a few hundred more for a bulletproof setup.
FYI, just find a local mom and pop old school type shop. I found a couple local and he rebuilt my t5 for $450 out the door including all parts and labor, a brand new second gear, used input shaft and new slider.
lol........where to buy a t-5??? if that isn't the question of my lifetime i don't know what is.....read my posts on my t-5 nite mare experiences.......choose wisely, for i have not!!! lol......although it does appear i'll be getting my money back on this last catastrophy.....i checked out that link above but it didnt take me to the on line catalog...perhaps i can call them i don't know where their prices start...but i'm looking again too although the idea of rebuilding on myself is becoming rather appealing. i assume he's buying one out right because he's doing a swap not that theres already one in it that needs rebuilt??