Black P-38
Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 137
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 16
- Location
- Oregon Coast
- Vehicle Year
- '91
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- Rover 4.0 Aluminum V8 swap
- Transmission
- Manual
My V-8 swap plans include using a T-5 to transmit as much power as possible to the pavement. Finding a good used trans can be a challenge, here's what happened to me...
I recently purchased what was advertised as a T-5 World Class trans from a '92 5.0 Mustang. I expected to receive a T-5 with a 3.35 to 1 first gear ratio and a 300 ft lb tq rating.
The identification tag was missing and upon receiving the unit I set about checking to see if it was really from a 5.0... it was NOT. This created two problems for me... One: I overpaid for a 4 cylinder unit, two: At 240 ft lbs tq rating it was NOT strong enough to hold up to my expected power output making it unusable for my project. I took a loss of over $200 by the time I finally resold the unit.
For those of you who are looking to buy a T-5 trans here is a little info that may be of help.
When considering a purchase, either check it out in person or have the seller check it for you. Below I have outlined a couple basic steps to help avoid buying the wrong unit.
When the tag is missing from a T-5 trans or the authenticity of the tag is in question there is a way to figure out it's basic origin. Measure the pilot sector on the input shaft. An easy way is to see if a 5/8" open end wrench will slip over the pilot shaft, it either will or it wont. If the wrench slips over the pilot sector it is NOT a V-8 World Class trans. V-8 models are .668 dia.
Another clue is the 1st gear ratio. Put the trans in first gear, mark a line on the input shaft and at the same spot on the retainer with a felt pen. Mark a line on the output shaft and at the same spot on the output shaft seal.
Turn the input shaft 'til the output shaft makes one full revolution and the marks line back up while counting how many turns the input shaft makes. First gear ratio is almost always 3.35 to 1 on V-8 models with a small number being 2.95 to 1, whereas most 4 cylinder models are 3.97 to 1.
The 10 spline input shaft makes it easy to count fractional rotation as each spline is counted as .1 revolution. In example, a 3.35 to 1 ratio will be 3 full input shaft revolutions plus 3.5 spline to one revolution of the output shaft. The 4 cylinder models will make almost exactly 4 revolutions making it easy to tell them apart.
Hope this is helpful to someone,
Mike
I recently purchased what was advertised as a T-5 World Class trans from a '92 5.0 Mustang. I expected to receive a T-5 with a 3.35 to 1 first gear ratio and a 300 ft lb tq rating.
The identification tag was missing and upon receiving the unit I set about checking to see if it was really from a 5.0... it was NOT. This created two problems for me... One: I overpaid for a 4 cylinder unit, two: At 240 ft lbs tq rating it was NOT strong enough to hold up to my expected power output making it unusable for my project. I took a loss of over $200 by the time I finally resold the unit.
For those of you who are looking to buy a T-5 trans here is a little info that may be of help.
When considering a purchase, either check it out in person or have the seller check it for you. Below I have outlined a couple basic steps to help avoid buying the wrong unit.
When the tag is missing from a T-5 trans or the authenticity of the tag is in question there is a way to figure out it's basic origin. Measure the pilot sector on the input shaft. An easy way is to see if a 5/8" open end wrench will slip over the pilot shaft, it either will or it wont. If the wrench slips over the pilot sector it is NOT a V-8 World Class trans. V-8 models are .668 dia.
Another clue is the 1st gear ratio. Put the trans in first gear, mark a line on the input shaft and at the same spot on the retainer with a felt pen. Mark a line on the output shaft and at the same spot on the output shaft seal.
Turn the input shaft 'til the output shaft makes one full revolution and the marks line back up while counting how many turns the input shaft makes. First gear ratio is almost always 3.35 to 1 on V-8 models with a small number being 2.95 to 1, whereas most 4 cylinder models are 3.97 to 1.
The 10 spline input shaft makes it easy to count fractional rotation as each spline is counted as .1 revolution. In example, a 3.35 to 1 ratio will be 3 full input shaft revolutions plus 3.5 spline to one revolution of the output shaft. The 4 cylinder models will make almost exactly 4 revolutions making it easy to tell them apart.
Hope this is helpful to someone,
Mike