Put it on the back burner for next yr or so when you'll have more know how to get back at the installation of the T5 tranny.

When you jump in to fast it becomes like quick sand over your head that over whelming and ez to give up. And getting to the point of give up is kind of a sick feeling. When you know damn well you could really do it with the know how.

So get over the, I can't do it feeling and move one to the next thing you can do for now.

It will take about a mouth of reading and going to sites and cross/reverence all the info.

Even Advance Adapters has info on their site for viewing and stuff.

Do what you started out to do when you have all the info of the ins & out of completing the installation. Then do it.

I've always thought, hell if other guys can do it, I can learn to do it also..
Never get up!
Orich

 

Then the time isn't right to think about swapping mechanical parts between generations.. you'll quickly be over your head until a solid foundation of general knowledge and know-how is built. In the mean time, learn to maintain and repair your truck to keep'er on the road reliably before embarking on more intensive endeavors like a 5-speed tranny swap.

 

Kinda hate to see you throw in the towel already, but if you only have limited mechanical experience a tranny swap may be a bit ambitious. It's certainly not likely to be a quick one-weekend sort of job like you hoped. It takes a while to scrounge all the parts and figure out exactly what needs to be done, and then work out just how to do it. Some fabrication is certain to be needed, something like this is rarely a simple bolt-in swap.

It's not at all difficult to swap flywheels, and a used flywheel would probably cost a lot less than the tranny adapter shown above. You apparently have a 164-tooth flywheel, sounds like you need a 157-tooth. If your engine is original to the truck and hasn't had a later one swapped in, then you'll need the 28oz. imbalance version as pointed out above. And you're present clutch may or may not work with the replacement flywheel so you might have to source a new one.

The driveshaft will either have to be cut or you'll need to find one the right length at the wrecking yard. Seems to me there's one out a Crown Vic or LTD station wagon, something like that that works, can't recall where I stumbled across that tidbit. Been a while since I had any driveline work done (last one I did myself on my own lathe) but it can be quite reasonable if you find the right guy.

The other major bit of fabrication will be the clutch actuation. You already know that the stock mechanical linkage won't work, so you have to decide if you want to go cable or hydraulic. Either way is going to require some fabbing, do you have welding skills and equipment or know someone who does?

Then, as we've already discussed there's also the shifter position to think about, you might be okay or you may have to swap the seat or shifter, or tailhousing etc.

So you've got a lot of things to consider here. If you just want to get the truck back on the road ASAP then maybe you are better off to put this project on the back burner and just get something in there for now that will get your truck back in action without any major parts swapping and fab work. Up to you of course, but we'll give you any help we can.

 

To somewhat close the loop and for general reference, below is a T5 with a 302 in a 71 shortbed. The crossmember was moved back about two inches. EZ... drill two holes.

1971 short wide (shortstack) - Page 3 - The FORDification.com Forums

 

Huu looks like a real need for bucket seats. A bench seat not be able to shift unless with out using a "S" shaped shift stick of some sort. But all still do able in but not a weekend time slot..
Orich

 

No exactly.....Aftermarket shift towers are available to reposition it left, right, or even more rearwards. It's also easy enough to move the shifter forward by drilling some flat stock to avoid the bench. Btw, my TKO with a candy cane shifter shown previously doesn't even touch the bench in 2nd or 4th gear.

 

Yeah that transmission looks like it wont work.......how much you want for it?
I need a brake job then Im thinking transmission.

 

Well, it took a while, but I finally got a new trans in her. I sold the T5 for what I had into it, and ended up finding a M5OD-R2 out of a 1996 F150. Was able to use the front section of the driveshaft from the 96 along with the rear section of the drive shaft from my 70 with a conversion U-joint between them. Drilled a hole in the firewall to mount the clutch master cylinder and fabricated a new lever arm to actuate the clutch, and she's off and running. was a real pain in the neck getting it in, but I cut hole in the top of the trans tunnel and managed to squeeze it into place. I'll post pics when I get a chance.

 

Congrats NooB. Was "Git er Done" echoing in your noggin'?

 

I definitely kept hearing "Git er Done," but it was mostly from my wife

 

It is surprising what one can do when you ponder a project for a while then the beam of light flashes before for eyes with an idea.

Great to here you got it worked it all out.
I guess you used something like a 1310/1330 u-joint for your drive line hookup.

Orich