Transmission Upgrade Is it worth it? - Modified Mustangs & Fords Forums at Mustang & Fords Magazine

Transmission Upgrade Is it worth it?

  
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Transmission Upgrade Is it worth it?

 
shortems shortems
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 05/08
Posted: 05/03/08
12:37 PM

From what I have read here and other sites is that A T5 swap, in a vintage ('71 302 with 3 speed) mustang is very easy the hardest part is taking the tranny out, which I have to do for the clutch anyway.

Is the swap worth it? I was also looking to fabricate the modified tranny mount, and either the spacer plate or the fulcrum point, I have not decided which bellhousing i want to use (if i do the swap).

Is there anything else that might be an issue with the swap, again i know depending on the bellhousing used either the bellhousing needs to be modified and a spacer plate needs to be installed or the shifting fork fulcrom needs to be moved, and the drive shaft needs to be shortened. Again anythoughts would be great, or problems people have run into when doing the swap, all the websites say it is just soo easy my experience is nothing is easy.  
'71 Convertible Mustang 302 3 speed

 
68stang63falcon 68stang63falcon
New User | Posts: 23 | Joined: 03/08
Posted: 05/04/08
08:46 PM

It is a great upgrade.  I did the swap a few years back on my 68 stang.  I have a 302 with 4.11 gears, so the swap made perfect sense.  I had a C4 in it before, but then I found a 91 T5.  You need to look up fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/09/t5swap/index2.shtml.  This will get you started.  It is a T5 identification chart, as there are several different gear ratios.  The best T5 is from a cobra, but good luck finding one.  I actually have one with a 2.95 1st gear and with a 4.11 rear, it is really too steep.  I'm still spinning when I have to shift into 2nd.  I would use the T5 Bell also.  Then you can run a clutch/cable kit like the new mustangs.  One upgrade that I did is on the clutch pedal weld on a clutch quadrant(goes on the top of the pedal).  It is a half moon shaped piece, which keeps the cable tight when the pedal is not in use.  I had no real problems.  Shorten the driveshaft, install a tranny mount (available from many mustang dealers) and select a clutch.  By using the T5 bell, you do not have to use a spacer, relocate the fulcrum or use the old 60's z bar b-s.  Plus you can sell your old stuff to someone that wants an original 4 speed setup.  Use the same address above except drop the (2) after index.  This is the entire article that I used to do the swap.  Stock T5's are only good to around 300-350HP.  When you go over 400HP, you need to upgrade to a Tremec.

John  

 

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