Sorry if this is a repeat, but I've searched without finding the answers.

I have a WC T5 in my '88 Formula. My beefy 400 seems to be eating it up. Main thing it does is make a "chunk" going from 4th to 5th after heavy acceleration.

Cost and hassle tell me not to try putting in a T56. Other choice is to build a 700R4 to take the power, but not sure I want to give up the manual tranny, or that wonderful 0.63 5th gear.

I've found T5 upgrade kits that cost more than I paid for the car. OUCH!

So, can anyone come up with a list of the specific weak points in a WC T5?
If I know what to go after, I'll build up my T5 myself and be happy. For that matter, I'll be happier 'cuz I'll know exactly what I've done to it.

About the only thing I have found so far is a beefed-up stabilizer plate. It makes the low end rigid, and saves the counter gear bearings. I also found some redesigned shift forks.

Are those about the only real weak points? If so, I'll open-er up, check/replace the synchronizers, check/replace the bearings, beef the stabilizer plate, replace the shift forks if they look tired-- and figure it's good for my 400.

Any and all input on what to go after is appreciated.

 

theres really not much you can do to the T5 aside from what you mentioned to hold any kind of power, there is a geforce kit to put inside of them, i've never used them and it's pretty pricey, i changed out my T5 in favor for a Tremec TKO-600

 

There is this option but it aint cheap, and it aint weak (so they say), you're getting into t56 price range but there is no modification needed.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/astr...per-t-5-a.html

 

The most significant weakness in the T5 is the length of the main shaft and it's lack of support. I would guess that this would be an impossibility to improve on with a stock unit. Aftermarket units like the Tremec TKO have addressed the problem. Still...if you rebuild the unit with a good kit like the high end one sold through Hanlon Motorsports, the stock unit can be reliable on the street and Ok for the strip if you don't use slicks. I've got a Hanlon Motorsports modified T5 and it lived a reliable life behind a 400 horsepower car but I was running a set of Toyo Proxies and they blew off fairly easy if you hammered it too hard....kind of like a safety valve.

http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com/