T5 to 2.3

[nova+rangerracer]

So my roommate is giving me his t5 to put in my 95 B2300 and Im wondering what if anything do I have to do to get it to work? its an 86-89 manual clutch t5 and I have a hydraulic clutch on the truck. Will the bellhousing match up? what clutch do I use? etc... if anyone could help with this it would be awesome, thank you in advance

 

[bobbywalter]

its a 2.3 t5?

 

[nova+rangerracer]

I dunno, he had it in his fox body with a 5.0

 

[bobbywalter]

not a bolt in

 

[nova+rangerracer]

will it fit with some modification? I go to UNOH for high performance automotive and I have access to the machine shop so I can make whatever I need

 

[bobbywalter]

it will bolt in easily, if you get the 5.0 that was attached to it.


start with a 4 cyl bell, and run a hydro setup for the throw out.

 

[nova+rangerracer]

Ok cool, how much do the 2.3 bell housings usually run?

 

[bobbywalter]

need to look around....look for some old merkur at the yards or t coupes...

call some shops.


i think 85 up coupes were hydro clutch which may be better to start with. make sure you set the pilot up right...iirc one input snout is longer then the other...

 

[RacinNdrummin]

You need to look for an 87/88 Turbo Coupe bellhousing, they were the only ones that were hydraulic. You should be able to adapt the slave to your ranger system.

Also, you should actually look around for a 4 banger T5, they have way better ratios for the 2.3... Its gonna feel like a dog with the 5.0 tranny. You should be able to trade straight across for a 4 banger transmission, as the V8 trannies are more desirable to...thats right... V8 guys. If you get an 86 or so up 4 cyl T5, it will still be a world class unit with better bearings just like the V8, but it has the better gears for the 4 cylinder, and is usually far less beat on than the V8 trannies...

 

[shane96ranger]

Here's some good info on the history of the Borg Warner/Tremec T5. It is a great trans which is still used by Ford (well, as of 2010 at least).

http://www.moderndriveline.com/Technical_Bits/t5_history.htm

 

[--weezl--]

this is actually a move i've been wanting to make with my truck... i can't stand my manual nor my slave... i will be putting in a t5 eventually... i will probably go back to a cable also, no more slave cylinders to bother with!

 

[RacinNdrummin]

Here's some good info on the history of the Borg Warner/Tremec T5. It is a great trans which is still used by Ford (well, as of 2010 at least).

http://www.moderndriveline.com/Technical_Bits/t5_history.htm

Thats a good article, and for the most part is right, however there is some mis-info. First, The Fairmont never got the T5, dont know where they pulled that out of, second, there is a LOT of V8 cars running around with 4 banger T5's in them and they hold up just fine, Id even go out on a limb and say they arent any less strong than a V8 unit in practical use, The torque ratings are as they are from an engineering standpoint, just because the 4 cylinder has a lower ratio gearset and more force is applied to the bearings because of that. The part that everybody forgets about V8's is how smooth they run in comparison to a 4 banger or even V6. A 4 cylinder engine is much more harsh on a transmission than a V8, just for the fact that there is less overlap between combustion cycles. Either way, there is a lot of V8 cars (And built ones at that) that have had 4 cylinder T5's stuck behind them, and they live just fine. The idea that the 4 cylinder tranny is any less strong than the V8 doesnt hold water very well... Especially when there is 2.3T's out there that make more power than most SBF's and are still running through the stock T5.

 

[shane96ranger]

Thats a good article, and for the most part is right, however there is some mis-info. First, The Fairmont never got the T5, dont know where they pulled that out of, second, there is a LOT of V8 cars running around with 4 banger T5's in them and they hold up just fine, Id even go out on a limb and say they arent any less strong than a V8 unit in practical use, The torque ratings are as they are from an engineering standpoint, just because the 4 cylinder has a lower ratio gearset and more force is applied to the bearings because of that. The part that everybody forgets about V8's is how smooth they run in comparison to a 4 banger or even V6. A 4 cylinder engine is much more harsh on a transmission than a V8, just for the fact that there is less overlap between combustion cycles. Either way, there is a lot of V8 cars (And built ones at that) that have had 4 cylinder T5's stuck behind them, and they live just fine. The idea that the 4 cylinder tranny is any less strong than the V8 doesnt hold water very well... Especially when there is 2.3T's out there that make more power than most SBF's and are still running through the stock T5.

Yeah, I didn't notice the Fairmont claim when I read it - good eye. As far as people using 4 cylinder trannies in a V8, I'm sure there are plenty of guys who use them and don't have issues. I won't ever use one because the pilot shaft is smaller and the input shaft is longer than a V8 trans. Those are the key differences. I'm sure you could add washers to make up the space, and might be able to find a pilot bushing to make it work. I'd rather just use a V8 unit though (unless I'm putting it in a 2.3 like the OP).

 

[88gt]

To the OP: What you need to make the 5.0 T-5 mate to your 2.3 is a bell housing adapter plate. THe plate bolts to the rear of your 2.3 in the factory bellhousing locations, then the v-8 bell housing bolts to the plate.
http://cididit.com/adaptor_plate.htm
take a look at the link. It casts a few bucks, but make the trans a bolt in adventure.

 

[bobbywalter]

To the OP: What you need to make the 5.0 T-5 mate to your 2.3 is a bell housing adapter plate. THe plate bolts to the rear of your 2.3 in the factory bellhousing locations, then the v-8 bell housing bolts to the plate.
http://cididit.com/adaptor_plate.htm
take a look at the link. It casts a few bucks, but make the trans a bolt in adventure.

one note here....they need to reverse it in this case....

Due to low demand plates will ship up to 1 week after order.

judging by that they are made to order so it should not cost extra