5 Speed Conversion

[Pete]

Can you also modify, e.g., shorten, the torque tube so you don’t have to have an open drive shaft? I recall one of the kits included a shortened torque tube.

David Serrano

Yes, that is a good way to go. No flimsy radius rods to worry about.

This is one of the conversions.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=206955&highlight=T5+TORQUE+TUBE

Another method uses a shortened torque tube/DL with a STOCK T5 or Tremec transmission. It has been posted on this forum a few moons ago also.

 

[1stWoody]

Transmission Exchange in Monticello KY offers heavy duty radius rods for their kit.
$379 I believe.

 

[imtb]

Adapter and bell housing installed. Pretty straight forward
Notch cut used sawzall. Needs more clearance on passenger side for parking brake.
Transmission in. Guide pins made it easy one man job two floor jacks.
Now bolting everything backup.
Pete would you have pic of brake light switch?

 

[Pete]

...

 

[petew]

Adapter and bell housing installed. Pretty straight forward
Notch cut used sawzall. Needs more clearance on passenger side for parking brake.
Transmission in. Guide pins made it easy one man job two floor jacks.
Now bolting everything backup.
Pete would you have pic of brake light switch?

I'll get you a picture today

 

[imtb]

PeteW, thanks for getting pic. of brake light switch, if you have one of parking brake that would be helpful also.
I also wanted to add your tip of putting the adapter in the clutch really helped, the adapter is a really tight fit and would have been tight getting it right in there. Putting T5 into the adapter went right in.

 

[wuga]

Go to post 42 and follow the link. There is a drawing of the bracket necessary to mount the e-brake. If you didn't move the cross member, the original brake light switch should work. For the parking brake, you will have to move the shaft support over towards the passenger side and also move the actuator arm on the e-brake shaft
Warren

 

[petew]

Some pictures.
The brake switch that was already in the car worked fine , no modifications.
The handbrake is easy , requires some dexterity to get it all together and then the rod needs to be shortened.
I took a measurement, cut the rod , threaded the ends and then used a coupling nut to put it back together. That gave me a little adjustment.
You could weld it if you like that better.

 

[petew]

Another pic showing where the handbrake bracket that is provided in the kit bolts to the transmission bolt .

 

[imtb]

petew, thanks for the pics, that helps. I have a different style parking brake that mounts to the top of transmission. I need to locate one that mounts on side. Synder's is out of them and so I put a WTB add out. My car is a 29 and the brake light switch mounts up different. I need to for pics of the 30-31 style. Everything is going back together, and I ordered my driveshaft today, I should have by the end of the week. Hoping to test drive this weekend.

 

[petew]

My pleasure , You will love it when it's done.

 

[imtb]

Making more progress.
Radius rods attached. Brake cross shaft in., pedals back in.
Bunch of Cotter pins to put back in, put oil in ******, cut floor, mount shifter, brake light switch, make cover for old transmission hole, etc….
Everything is super solid.

 

[41blueoval]

Are the rear radius rods bolted solid to that new transmission bracket? If so how can the rear end articulate?

 

[AL in NY]

I've been watching these conversions develop, and it seems like a lot of extra parts and fabrication (cutting the crossmember, beefing up radius rods and fabricating a connection point, making a new brake cross shaft, adding a universal to the banjo, buying special bell housing for T5) just to have one more forward gear then the F150 4 speed with OD. Plus, when you look at the driveline, doesn't even look like a Model A anymore.

 

[Phil Brown]

I've been watching these conversions develop, and it seems like a lot of extra parts and fabrication (cutting the crossmember, beefing up radius rods and fabricating a connection point, making a new brake cross shaft, adding a universal to the banjo, buying special bell housing for T5) just to have one more forward gear then the F150 4 speed with OD. Plus, when you look at the driveline, doesn't even look like a Model A anymore.

Agreed, there is a lot of work there to get things fitting.

 

[wuga]

I've been watching these conversions develop, and it seems like a lot of extra parts and fabrication (cutting the crossmember, beefing up radius rods and fabricating a connection point, making a new brake cross shaft, adding a universal to the banjo, buying special bell housing for T5) just to have one more forward gear then the F150 4 speed with OD. Plus, when you look at the driveline, doesn't even look like a Model A anymore.

Actually, I did not cut my cross member, I did not beef up my radius rods, I did not have to make any new brake cross shafts ( I still run mechanical brakes), I did not have to fab a connection point, I am running a closed drive shaft, you get two extra forward gears, one that allows you to cruise at a reasonable speed and you get full synchronization. Driving my Model A is a pleasure. I could go on and on.
Warren

 

[AL in NY]

wuga, that's great. You have a very unusual installation. Post some photos. I did my own F150 install in 2007 and recently installed a set of the preferred "Goldilocks gears....................Love this setup!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wuga]

I posted this earlier but I will again.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...eed-transmission.1281128/page-2#post-14769385

Warren

 

[Bruce of MN]

That link didn’t work for me.

 

[Phil Brown]

wuga, that's great. You have a very unusual installation. Post some photos. I did my own F150 install in 2007 and recently installed a set of the preferred "Goldilocks gears....................Love this setup!!!!!!!!!!

X2

I posted this earlier but I will again.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-14769385

Warren

The link doesn't work, but interested in what you did