All Small Six Continuing the journey - T5 Upgrade

[rickwrench]

No driveshaft shortening required? Hmm.
Aluminum driveshaft is quite a bit larger in diameter that the stock shaft. I had a few issues using an aluminum police/crown-vic shaft. The much larger diameter aluminum shaft cuts into the upward range/travel of the rear suspension. New leafs and a big rubber dif bumper fixed it.
"Crossover" U-joints are available for most sizes. I used a 1330x1310 with the aluminum shaft. If you need to adapt an 1100 series u-joint you'll be better off getting the driveshaft modified.
That said, I originally had some adapter cups made that created a 1100 x 1310 joint (Mav 8").
Watch your driveline angles, too.
Pic: S10 shifter location on my Squire. I'm tall, and the (custom) seats have extra travel and are all the way back in this shot.
Console is relocated back a couple inches, too.

 

[awasson]

Yes, from all of the info I've been gathering on YouTube and other media, I understand that with the Early Mustang to Fox Body (1983-1992) T5 upgrade, the drive shaft is at a nearly perfect length, within a 3/4" or 5/8" margin of error. In the video I embedded a few posts back, the author is a transmission rebuilder and he measured the drive shaft length to be certain and was satisfied that there was enough travel of the slip joint to account for suspension travel and the yoke would neither slip out or bottom out.

 

[awasson]

I've read that some of the mustang guys who went with the Explorer driveshaft had issues with their exhaust being too close to the larger diameter drive shaft. I've got single 2-1/4" from a Y-pipe on the header for now. I intend to put an X on my header and run duals but not until I have the drivetrain buttoned up.

 

[funkaholik]

Watching this because this will be my next upgrade.

@awasson Everything I've read from the knowledgable folks here is that a Y into single exhaust is best for torque, and a dual setup is just for looks/sound.

I'm curious where you got your 4-cylinder T-5. Did you find it used, known good, have it rebuilt, or...? I like the deeper gears and lower overdrive compared to the V8 version. I feel like using the V8 trans will necessitate me swapping rear gears from my stock 3.20, whereas this trans provides quicker acceleration in 1st and 2nd and a decent overdrive on the freeway.

 

[427John]

Watching this because this will be my next upgrade.

@awasson Everything I've read from the knowledgable folks here is that a Y into single exhaust is best for torque, and a dual setup is just for looks/sound.

I'm curious where you got your 4-cylinder T-5. Did you find it used, known good, have it rebuilt, or...? I like the deeper gears and lower overdrive compared to the V8 version. I feel like using the V8 trans will necessitate me swapping rear gears from my stock 3.20, whereas this trans provides quicker acceleration in 1st and 2nd and a decent overdrive on the freeway.

The swap I did years ago was using a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe T-5, a 5 lug swap with Granada front disc swap and a 2.80 geared 8 inch, the T-5 gear ratios worked great with 200 and the 2.80 gears, the low first gear gave plenty of acceleration and the OD with 2.80 gears allowed effortless 75 mph cruise.

 

[awasson]

Watching this because this will be my next upgrade.

@awasson Everything I've read from the knowledgable folks here is that a Y into single exhaust is best for torque, and a dual setup is just for looks/sound.

I'm curious where you got your 4-cylinder T-5. Did you find it used, known good, have it rebuilt, or...? I like the deeper gears and lower overdrive compared to the V8 version. I feel like using the V8 trans will necessitate me swapping rear gears from my stock 3.20, whereas this trans provides quicker acceleration in 1st and 2nd and a decent overdrive on the freeway.

I picked up the transmission used, from a guy who did a V8 Swap in a 92 Mustang. He said the engine and the transmission were fine when he removed them but you never know until you know. It looks to me like it has been opened up at some point as it has orange silicone on the shifter housing and it has orange silicone on the speedo mount. It also looks like it has newer black RTV on the mounting plate at the input shaft and at the tail shaft junction.

Everything feels good and the Shifter Bushing has been replaced with a new one but I'm going to pull the top and have a look just to be sure. The 4 cylinder T5 is not as pricey as the V8 but even so, I managed to get a ridiculous deal. He was selling the engine and transmission for $150 so he sold me the transmission for $75. I was happy to drive the 100 miles to get it last winter. I've been holding onto it for a year because I had to rebuild the engine first.

I've put about 500 miles on the car with the 3-speed. I think the T5 will be a life altering improvement.

 

[bmbm40]

I picked up the transmission used, from a guy who did a V8 Swap in a 92 Mustang. He said the engine and the transmission were fine when he removed them but you never know until you know. It looks to me like it has been opened up at some point as it has orange silicone on the shifter housing and it has orange silicone on the speedo mount. It also looks like it has newer black RTV on the mounting plate at the input shaft and at the tail shaft junction.

Everything feels good and the Shifter Bushing has been replaced with a new one but I'm going to pull the top and have a look just to be sure. The 4 cylinder T5 is not as pricey as the V8 but even so, I managed to get a ridiculous deal. He was selling the engine and transmission for $150 so he sold me the transmission for $75. I was happy to drive the 100 miles to get it last winter. I've been holding onto it for a year because I had to rebuild the engine first.

I've put about 500 miles on the car with the 3-speed. I think the T5 will be a life altering improvement.

"life altering improvement" good way to put it! I agree. 5 speed w/od completely improved my Bronco driving experience.

 

[powerband]

T5 upgrade adds a gear for every situation and lower RPM OD interstate cruise within the torquey' small block six's powerband .
.
have fun
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.

 

[427John]

After I did the swap, the friend I did it for said thats how the car should have been built in the first place, he felt it was perfect and it make a couple of coast to coast trips.

 

[DON]

back in the day, I went coast to coast in my 200 convertible 67 mustang, auto. No air. Only thing that happened was had to replace the exhaust doughnut between manifold and pipe. I guess early 80’s