Beginning a T5 Swap, 85 Crown Vic, 4cyl T5

[85LTDCrownHip]

Recently on my local craigslist someone posted a t5 for $100. I couldnt pass that up, 2hrs later and ive got a manual. This T5 in particular is a WC unit from an 87-89 4cyl Mustang, the gentleman i bought it from dropped it from a 90 Lx. Im not concered with the strength of a 4cyl T5, due to the lowerd torque rating, im more so worried about the gearing, the first gear is almost 4:1 its something like 3.97 and with 3.55 gears in the back, it comes to about 14.1:1 Final Drive Ratio. This is just for 1st gear (duhh), ive read on mustang forums that 1st gear is essentialy useless, why is this, I get that that final drive is equivalent to have 5.8 Gears in the diff, But wouldnt that just make me accelerate quicker, or would I just spin the tires. I wouldnt be opossed to changing the rear gears cause 3.55's are cool and all but i could get some 3.27's from a crown vic or something. Also What if I would just shift into 2nd gear and not even use 1st, would there be any major consequences? I appreciate all the replies and want to know if you guys know any webcite to get killer deals for tranny parts. Im not opossed to buying used but what parts should i buy new? A clutch for sure, but do i need a nee pressure plate, where can i get pedal assemblies, do i need to mess with the speedo? This is still a lopo v8, done a few things nothing radical. Ill keep yall updated

[Tiggie]

The ~4:1 first gear of the 4-banger T5 gets too much torque to the wheels (wheel spin), sets up a huge gap to 2nd. Really not suited to a V8. If you do run it, get some 2.73 gears for the rear to make it reasonably usable. They sell gear sets to convert the trans if needed, but not budget friendly. Also, don’t forget the pilot bearing for the input shaft is different from a a V8, I think it’s a 1980’s Diesel Ranger part that will work.

You could start out in 2nd if you have 3.55 gears or higher. But at that point it’s a three speed with granny gear and overdrive.

Have you considered a V6 T5? They have the more reasonable 3.35 first and 0.70 5th which is near perfect IMO for the 2.73 and 3.08 rear gears a lot of these cars came with. They have the mechanical speedo gear provision through 1998 or so. Only need to change the input shaft if running a Fox bellhousing. I got one a while back for $80. It needs rebuilt I am guessing, but for $400 total, I’ll have a rebuilt T5 (hopefully).

[87gtVIC]

Looking forward to your progress. Please please please document on the forums how you did it. Way too many just "do it" and leave the important dirty bits untold.

Anyways did the trans come with the bell housing?


You will need to fab up the pedal assembly. Common practice is purchasing a fox body (79-93) mustang manual pedal assembly and robbing it of its clutch pedal and clutch pedal tube and fabricobbling that into your stock pedal box. Like i have done here: http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...l=1#post810949



For the speedo all you will need is the proper manual transmission gear that is installed onto the end of the speedo cable at the transmission.

Below is just a rough list off things I have been purchasing/looking to purchase for my swap..there are some duplicates on the list....just a basic guideline on things to choose from that I am considering/have already purchased for my build.

• LRS-7007R spacer plate $29.99
• M6397A302 10.5” pressure plate and clutch bolts and dowels $14.99
• M6375C302B 50oz billet steel 10.5” flywheel $229.97
• M7560A302 10.5” heavy duty clutch kit $249.99
• LRS-7600A pilot bearing $10.99
• M7553A302-K ford clutch fork, cable, quadrant, firewall adjustor, clutch cable retaining clip $124.99
• MM-MMCP51 1982-04 Ford Mustang Maximum Motorsports Clutch Cable Kit $157.40
• LRS-7515AF 1982-93 Mustang Clutch Fork 5.0 FORD $49.99
• M7003ZB transmission with bell housing and pivot stud $2,099.99
• LRS-6397AK bell housing dowel pins $7.99
• HDW-6392A bell housing to block bolts $10.99
• RP-SCM-K Royal purple syncromesh fluid $59.99
• LRS-17271C-K 21 tooth speedmeter gear for manual transmission $13.50
• LRS-17271B-K 20 tooth speedmeter gear for manual transmission $14.99
• LRS-7513AK Clutch Fork Cover Kit $32.99
• M4033G2 Ford Racing Rear end girdle $214.99
• RP-12300K Royal Purple Gear Lube and Friction Additive $49.99

[85LTDCrownHip]

NO, unfortunatly there was no bellhousing, but around me the t5 is the hard part to find, there is a posting on my local cl also for an aluminum bellhousing and 157 tooth flywheel for 100, Is there anyway to change the gearing in teh tranny? All you would have to do is pop out the 4cyl gears, and throw in the v8 ratios right, i need a few more videos that I need to watch first, but im not going to be starting the swap until i have EVERYTHING. Right now its just the gear box (not even a shift knob, got the shifter tho) ive still got much more to hunt for, I will try to be as indepth as possible when ever everything goes down.

[DerekTheGreat]

I've got a '89 K1500 with a 350 and a 5LM60 transmission with 3.73 rear gears. It has a 4.01:1 1st gear. It IS useless, but 2nd is too steep to start in @ 2.32. It feels like I have to shift as soon as I let the clutch out, at 10mph I think the tach is close to 2k rip 'ems.

[P72Ford]

I'd unload the 4 cyl unit and find either a V6 or V8 T5.

If you have plans to increase power (or you are a spirited driver with mild bolt ons), I would definitely look into a steel bearing retainer, shimming the input shaft, a cluster support, and if you are ambitious, billet synchro keys and bronze shift fork pads. A good shifter with positive stops is also a good idea.

You can buy all this stuff for a couple hundred bucks, and it will improve the strength and "shiftability" of the transmission, especially at rpm.

[87gtVIC]

NO, unfortunatly there was no bellhousing, but around me the t5 is the hard part to find, there is a posting on my local cl also for an aluminum bellhousing and 157 tooth flywheel for 100, Is there anyway to change the gearing in teh tranny? All you would have to do is pop out the 4cyl gears, and throw in the v8 ratios right, i need a few more videos that I need to watch first, but im not going to be starting the swap until i have EVERYTHING. Right now its just the gear box (not even a shift knob, got the shifter tho) ive still got much more to hunt for, I will try to be as indepth as possible when ever everything goes down.

and part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR8LetFQSoc


Quite a bit going on.

[DerekTheGreat]

Yeah, funny thing is that after all that work, Eric ended up going with a TKO something IIRC. Maybe he'll sell it to you, 85LTD.

[gadget73]

Its possible to change the gearing, but basically you need a donor trans to do it. If you've got the donor trans with the right gears, there isn't much point in swapping them around unless the donor is fucked in some other way.

[marquis_82_withneons]

yes yes yes.... please keep us posted. i too am doing a t5 swap. im in the parts gathering stage and looking for guidance too! i will for sure be posting up my progress with it as i continue with it.

i found this article during my search and have re-read it several times. has some pretty quick crash course style info on what ratios went in what trans for all the years. http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-t...-5-five-speed/

ETCG also has a few videos on the Fairmont 8.8 rebuild if you have any interest in doing gears changes or a LSD.

for my 82 Merc im still trying to source my t5, looking for a mustang unit, the later the better from what ive read regarding the overall strength and power handling and has a higher ratio. im already in the process of a 96 axle swap with disc, im rebuilding it with traklok 3.73s, and then a 351 to make it all turn.

[Giraffe]

ETCG's 8.8 build video actually makes me want to try it myself. Hands down the best tutorial on how to set up gears without a pinion depth tool I've ever seen.

[DerekTheGreat]

Indeed, yet I still feel like I'd screw it up. I liked that video a lot. Looks like he'll be tackling a GM 10 bolt soon too. He hates the factory stereo in that truck too, yet wont respond to emails in which I've asked him to sell it to me.

[Giraffe]

GM went all in with the goofy futuristic user interface on their late-'80s/early-'90s offerings.