T4 to T5 swap

[Maury Novak]

I want to swap out my T4 for a T5. I have a '78 302 clutch and bell housing set up from a Mustang II. Are there any problems I should plan for when doing this? Or is it a pretty easy swap? I am planning to get a T5 from a late '80s 5.0. Are there any flaws I should be aware of when looking at use T5s?

Thanx in advance for any help and/or comments.

Maury

[Cobra20646]

Maury,
I think the the input shafts on those two trannys are different lengths. If you can also get the bellhousing, flywheel, clutch (and starter too), go for the whole package and you'll be sure that everything will bolt up right.
I'm at work now and don't have the exact measurements at my finger tips, but seems I remember this to be the case.
- Jim -

[Jack21]

Have same setup only using 351W instead of 302.

Your 302 has all the late goodies, 10 1/2" clutch?

You'll need a late '84 up Mustang 5.0 bellhousing and clutch fork.

The CR clutch cable setup sux. If it's working for you OK, I guess leave it alone. If not, I grafted a late Mustang aftermarket clutch quadrant so it could use stronger late aftermarket cable and firewall adjuster. Have digital pix, not difficult. Smooth, easy clutch action.

If you're using stock rear gears, 2.74, and you never push the car, a junkyard T-5 is still a roll of the dice. Early non-World Class T-5's were only rated for 260 fptq. It will blow if you screech it.

It's not uncommon to pay $500 - $700 for even a used T-5. Then you have to at least put new synchros and a steel throwout bearing retainer in it. To do it right with new gearset is another $500. Hate to say this, but the only safe way to get a good T-5 is to buy one new. The close ratio, heavy duty "Z" models were not used on any production vehicles.

If you need a starter too, the Powermaster is about 1/3 the weight and 3x the service life of even a new OEM Ford starter. $159 from Summit.

[Bill Wells]

Not sure I can relate to this 'exactly' as my SPF has a Tremec 5 speed as standard . However, in my 65 Mustang K code I converted from a 4 speed toploader to a Tremec 5 speed using a conversion kit from California Mustangs (other suppliers have them too). It consisted of a 1/2" adaptor/spacer to the bellhousing , new crossmember and some other minor adjustments. However, the trans was also 3/4" longer with the output shaft and the driveshaft had to be shortened 1-1/4 inches ( spacer as well as trans length) as well as changing the speedo from gears to a variable ratio box. As I said, this might be apples and oranges to what you are going thru or have to do, but suspect that the driveshaft will require adjustment in length as well as speedo gears and perhaps some other misc items too. The 5 speed vs 4 speed made a big difference in performance from 0-60 as well as when in 5th gear on the highway and was well worth the investment for improved performance and overall driveability. Good Luck. Bill.

[Satanpez]

Just remember that Mustang II bellhousings are smaller than normal bellhousings. They MAY have chosen that bellhousing because it was smaller. Probably not, I don't know what kit you have.


Btw, those bellhousings are sort of in high demand. IE, dont' throw it out. Since they're small many people like them.

-steve in nj-