I can get one fully rebuilt for $850...assuming my core is good.

I could probably get one that came out of a 89-92 RS for like 300-400 bucks. I want the RS one because the 5th gear is more freeway friendly.

What should I do? Money IS a factor here.

 

There are basically 2 reasons why these trannys fail.

1) (uncommon reason) Lack of oil or maintenance

2) (common reason, why my tranny is screwed ) hard launches/ power shifting /driver abuse

I would get the junkyard tranny. If you spend the money on a rebuilt unit, you're almost all the way to having enough for a good used t56.

If you fall under category 2, then either you'll just break your t5 again (something like I would do ) or you've learned a lesson and won't bust this one.

If you fall under category 1 and it's no good just due to all out high mileage, then maybe a rebuilt might be right for you. Give things a fresh start. But I personally would go with the one from the scrap yard anyway.

 

From the mods you have listed in your sig, you seem to know your way around a car. So why don't you just rebuild the trans yourself? I had to replace a cluster in my T5 because a bearing went bad after 144k miles. I had over 1000 hard autocross runs, and 5 road racing schools with two drivers taking the school at the same time on my trans. My cost to go through it was $300 and I have a completely rebuilt trans for that price, and it shifts better now than when I drove it off the dealers lot brand new.

Instead of buying a used trans that you have no idea of it's condition, get the T5 video from www.hanlonmotorsports.com for $17, tear your trans apart using the video, then make a informed decision as to rebuild, or replace your trans.

 

Yeah, what he said

 

I can get a used one from Pick-a-Part fo $97.00, Maybe I can just rebuild one of those.

 

That's not a bad idea at all. Just make sure the trans turns over and shifts ok. Hopefully if it's junk, they will exhange it for another good core.

If you do go that way, make sure you have the correct input spine count for a v8 car and not a 6cyl. They are different. The v8 has a fine spline, and the v6 a course spline. They do not interchange due to the spline difference. You can get a special clutch disk to put a v6 trans in a v8 car, but that's another added expense.

I don't remember the exact count for the splines, but do a search and you should easily find that info here.

 

v6's had 14 spline input shafts
v8's had 26 spline

 

Thanks for posting the spline count. I just couldn't remember what they were off hand.

 

Ok the video is $17 bucks, and acCording to you, the parts for the rebuild are $300. Where did you get your parts and how long did it take go to go over the entire job and rebuild the trans? Can I do it in a day? Easy? The trans shifts good, except for a grind in the synchro from 1st to 2nd at high rpm, and the main problem is leakage from high mileage and it makes a loud whining noise=bad bearing/bearings.

 

Can it be done in a day? Yes. BUT, you have to have all the parts and tools you need there. And most likely something will come up that you don't have, or can't get locally. A rebuild kit has normal wear items, bearings, snap rings, and seals in it only. If you have a bad shift fork, bad gear, etc. it will not have the parts you need in the kit.

So, the best way is to get the video first, tear the trans apart and assess the damage, then order parts. I understand that you may need to car to drive to work, but if you pull it down and find broken parts, you are still stuck without a ride. I have no majic answer for you on this.

My cost to rebuld my trans was just over $300. But I lost a cluster bearing and it tore up the front of the cluster where the bearing rides on it. The rest of the cluster was in perfect condition, but by the time I had the cluster repaired I was within $20 of a new one, so I just put a new one in and called it good. If I hadn't needed a new cluster, I would have gotten away with about $150 plus the cost of the video.

I considered buying another trans ( a WC instead of my NWC) and rebuilding it for my car. But there was no way for me to know what shape a used trans is in, and I may have been worse off that I was with the NWC I already had. So considering I put 144k on my trans before it went out, I couldn't see taking the chance of throwing my money away on another trans without knowing it's condition.

In my case I ordered the video, watched it, made sure I had the tools I needed, then tore the trans out and took it apart on a saturday. On monday I ordered may parts and made sure they would be here by friday. In then mean time I cleaned everything up, replaced my pilot bushing, and waited for my parts. I got all my parts on thursday and worked on it that evening and some of friday evening. On saturday morning I was ready to install the trans back in the car.

By 2pm on saturday (after a shower), I was driving the car around thinking I'm so glad I didn't pay the transmission shop the $1300 they quoted me for rebuilding it.

I've now got around 5k on the trans and it still shifts like a dream. And with the $1000 I saved, I went out and bought a new hurst billet plus shifter and put in the car. This made a world of difference and I highly recommend getting one for your car. ($165 from summit)

So I still think your best bet is to go with your idea of getting a T5 for $97 at the "pick a part" and go through it. Hopefully if it's bad you can exchange it for another one. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to pull the tail housing off so you can get the top of the trans off and inspect the gears very quickly and return it if necessary.

These transmissions aren't that complicated. You just have to know the steps in taking it apart, and putting it together and how to set the bearing preload. There are certain tools you need to do this, and the video covers all this step by step.