I was just curious if anyone has swapped in a 5 speed to their dentside. I'm thinking about putting in a T-5 from a later model 5.0 mustang and of course having to fab up the crossmember and so on.

 

I'm currently wrestling with this idea myself.

Your cheap options are: T-5 or M5OD. These both have normal first gears and overdrive. No granny gears. Everyone keeps saying that neither trans will hold up though. The weight of the truck (1000 lbs more than a Musty if you have a 5.0 F100), and the chance of having to tow anything put these both in danger of failure. I've read that the tail shaft on the T-5 is too weak. The T-5 also burns through syncros. The M5od has these plugs that pop out, and the trans dumps out all it's fluid (there is a fix for it though). I've only driven one M5od, and it was terrible, which turned me off to it (I may have just hated the I-6 it was connected to, I can't be sure), but I have heard that they aren't that bad if you find a good one, quieter and smoother than a NP435 or a T18, they say. If you do get a T-5, it has to be from a 5.0, and it has to be WC (around '93). Keep in mind, the majority of used t-5's you find will be abused and neglected by countless previous owners. The shifter on the T-5 will require you to install bucket seats (It comes through the floor under the bench seat), or I've heard you can use the tail shaft from a t-5 out of an S-10 and keep the bench. If you get an M5od, it has to be from a 300 - 6 or a 5.0. The stock 351w is beyond the torque range of either of these trans. Also, make sure you don't get the M5od Hd, I hear it's got a granny gear. Then you'll need to make sure you have the right rear end gear and tire size for what you want.

All this info is just a summary of what I've come up with so far from asking questions and reading other people's information. I've found that the average response to your question is "try the T-5, but it probably won't last". On the positive side, There are two or three members of this forum who have installed t-5's and had a good experience with them ('79F150guy for one). There are also guys who swear by the M5od. I want to drive a couple more M5od trucks before I make my final decision.

I'm doing an engine swap from a '92 F150 with a bad E4od, and I'm trying to figure out my easiest, cheapest, most reliable setup. I've either got to get another E4od with a vss on the tail shaft and a new computer; swap the rear end into my truck and keep my computer (didn't want to downgrade to an 8.8); or put in a manual trans. I'll probably go with the manual trans, because I eventual want to convert to MAF as well.

Be sure to post anything you come up with as well. I'll be watching.

 

The t-5 will not hold up to the weight of a pick up. The mustangs chew them up and spit them out, The mazda one is not that much better.

The Zf-5 is your best bet

 

My dad's friend owns a tranny shop so I could have easy access for a rebuild. If I was to upgrand a T-5 what areas would need to be messed with. Also I will never tow with my truck, the wieght concerns me a little but I was gonna try to lighten her up a little bit.

 

the zf 5 will hold up, and can be had for a reasonable price. Get one from a 300 - 6, or a 351w and it will bolt right to the 302. The problem is that it has a granny first gear, so you might as well call it a 4 speed OD. I like having a usable first gear, it really helps you get going from a stop. Everyone complains that the 302 isn't truck worthy, because it makes torque further up in rpms. A good set of gear ratios solves this.

 

To be honest with you, I think the T-5 is just gonna break when it gets stressed, everything does, but in this case it will happen faster. You can rebuild it with a good kit, before you install it, but that's the best you can do. Getting a 90-93 WC from a 5.0 will give you a better chance, the gears are hardened. Taking it easy on it (no clutch dumps, towing, or hard shifting) should make it last much much longer too. Honestly though, for the price of a T-5, you could put one in, drive it, break it, repeat... As many times as you like. They're about $80-$200 around here.

You can go with one from Cobra, but it's a waste of money, and the ratios are different. Just get a TKO 500 if you're going for the Cobra trans.

Here are the ratios I came up with:

90-93 T-5:
1st 3.35
2nd 1.99
3rd 1.33
4th 1.00
5th .675

ZF-5:
R: 5.24
1: 5.72
2: 2.94
3: 1.61
4: 1.00
5: 0.76

M5od:
1st 3.90
2nd 2.25
3rd 1.50
4th 1.00
5th 0.80

As you can see, The M5od actually has lower ratios, and a milder OD, which is better for moving a truck. In turn, it has a wider ratio, which makes your shifting slow and boring. The T-5 is much tighter, a good close ratio. The tight gearing with a high OD will let you use a lower rear to turn out your torque. The Zf-5 isn't bad, but for our purposes it's not quite it, it's a 4 speed OD wide ratio truck trans, it will shift slow.

The TKO 500 is actually what we both need, it's rock solid, but it costs a ton. The ratios are near identical to the T-5, and the shifts are better.

Your rear and tire size are also extremely important. You'll need a 3.73 or lower rear ratio to run a T-5 or Tko. The bigger your tires, the lower the rear: 27.5 tires, 3.73 rear; 31.5 tires, 4.33 rear; etc.

 

The low first gear does the same thing as the lower gears, it just doesn't increase RPMs at highway speed. The ZFs "granny gear is not as low as the traditional 4spd granny and it is synchronized. If you are building a hot rod then you will not want the M5 or the ZF as both are slow shifting and in my experince the T5 is better than the M5 when it comes to hot rodding. You can step up in to a Tremec but it will cost you, you could also consider a toploader 4spd it would be bullet proof and very quick shifting but no OD. What do you plan to do with this truck? Cars and trucks came with different transmissions because they each have their own completely different set of priorities.
-Johnboy

 

If it not gonna be reliable I might just have to put in a 4spd. My truck is mainly for when I want to have some fun, so the no hardshifting and hard take are going to happen. A T-56 is out of a late model F-body right? I couldn't remember. Maybe I get really lucky and my friends dad (condridicts me before I typed it wrong) will have one laying around (tko 500).

 

All my info is hear say and research, I don't have a lot of first hand experience. I've driven one F150 300 I-6 M5od, one F350 351w Zf5, and two I-4 t5 Mustangs. You should ask the trans shop guy. He should know way better than me. Let me know what he says.

 

There are companies that can build them with stronger components to handle more abuse. Here's an article about one that's rated to handle 600hp. I'm sure magazines tend to "hype" things up a bit and I'm sure they're not cheap, but I just thought I'd pass it on.

 

All right guys heres one for ya, I have a 59 f100 styleside that have been planing to swap out the 223 for a recently bought 302. This 302 lowerend has just been rebuilt, after 4 sleeves and 900 bucks later Ive bought some twisted wedge 170 heads to put on it, thats whare iam at with the engine. I found a rebuilt wc 5 speed and hopefully i didnt jump the gun on buying this tranny. This truck is only 200 or so pounds heavier than the stang the tranny was ment for. Will set up be legit or should i sell the trans for something else?

 

The previous posts here debate the merits of the T5. You gonna run it hard? If so, you'll probably spit the T5 out pretty quick. I'd run it unless I was going to drag race it all the time. Then I'd probably run it anyway. What axle ratio you gonna run?

 

All i really want to do with this truck is cruise.Some weekend camping with some around town and some freeway trips. Dont get me wrong I fn love fast and will surely wind it up but raceing and drag wouldnt be on the menu.As far as ratio I guess iam just wingng it and learning as i go.

 

I have a non-wc t-5 that was upgraded to wc components in my 84 mustang. Ive beaten the snot out of the tranny for 8 years now. Replaced 2 centerforce clutches and one pressure plate. Each time I pull the tranny I bring it back to the guy that rebuilt it for an inspection. And each time he looks at it he asks "Do you even drive your car"? Knock on wood the tranny has been great!

I wouldnt think twice about having one built and intalling one in a F1.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Allright, 302 stage 2 mild cam, trick flow 170s with 1.6 rockers mated to a wc t5 is the set up so far. Now for some more fun. Axle ratio? Intake? I know you gents cant resist a 1959 f100 build up.lol