T5 trans swap yes or no?

fftoddster

Senior Member
This is for those that have done it. Does anyone regret doing it or is it a really good upgrade?

My 3 speed is no good and I have a T5 already.

If you have done it what did you do to the rear? Open drive with banjo, and how mounted/supported... parallel, transverse with a torque arm? or update whole rear to like 8" 0r 9"?

Thanks
 
The stock read end will work fine with an open driveshaft conversion. But a torque arm of some type needs to be provided/added. I like the OD capability.
 
Did it to my '48 F1. Of course I already had the open drive shaft. Removed the old rear cross member and built a new one. Your rear axle will be fine. Wouldn't even consider going back to the old 3 speed. It's good you have the T5. They are getting hard to find and expensive when you do. Which T5 do you have?
 
Pulled it from an 88 S10 but it is actually a WC out of a 93 so elect speedo but it does have the better gearing
 
I used a 1993 T-5 from an S-10 and it did have a Ford bolt pattern. I had to change the case because of a bad crack and used an earlier case with a Chevy pattern. 9" rear with 3.55 posi. I'm running about 2700 rpm at 70 mph.
The best addition to my 35 coupe!
 
Well it came out of an 85 so unless they swapped the whole eng.
The bottom mounting holes are 9" apart and the top are 81/8" apart.

Chevy or Ford?

Has the 3.something first gear.
 
That's the Chevy pattern, the bolt pattern should be 8 1/4 top, 9 1/8 bottom and 4 7/8 on the sides.
 
Make the swap.....I don't have a G.M. T-5, .... but a Tremec with a O.D. ratio of .73......... I am very happy with the reduced engine R.P.M.
 
I like them. In your 37 for the rrans mount. You can make the center x member plate for the trans mount like the chassis engineering but I make my own and set it up to use a stock un split wishbone. With the early ford to chevy bellhousing adapter your stock clutch linkage will work. I have made my own torque arm and you do need it.
 
FFTODDSTER: Contact Mac Van Pelt: he can answer your every question, walk you through the complete installation and probably has any / all parts and pieces that you may need. (And more specifically to your question: yes, had a T5 in a previous flathead powered vehicle, and loved every minute!)
 
FFTODDSTER: Contact Mac Van Pelt: he can answer your every question, walk you through the complete installation and probably has any / all parts and pieces that you may need. (And more specifically to your question: yes, had a T5 in a previous flathead powered vehicle, and loved every minute!)


I thought he was the 3 speed guy?
 
I like them. In your 37 for the rrans mount. You can make the center x member plate for the trans mount like the chassis engineering but I make my own and set it up to use a stock un split wishbone. With the early ford to chevy bellhousing adapter your stock clutch linkage will work. I have made my own torque arm and you do need it.

Any pics?
 
Back
Top