rebuilding my WC T5
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 52
From: Newtown, CT
Car: 1987 IROC Original Owner
Engine: LB9
Transmission: M39 MM5
Axle/Gears: G80 G92 J65
Re: rebuilding my WC T5
Seriously, there isn't really anything you can do to make it stronger - the case is the weak point and will flex on you.
Swap in a T56 or live with it.
Swap in a T56 or live with it.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,530
Likes: 94
From: Aridzona
Car: `86 SS / `87 SS
Engine: L69 w/ TPI on top / 305 4bbl
Transmission: `95 T56 \ `88 200-4R
Re: rebuilding my WC T5
high alloy gears don't solve the ACTUAL problem(s) with the T5. Coarse tooth revised gear ratios don't either.
Marketing by Ford Motorsports that FINALLY giving the T5 the V8 ratios (AGAIN; they had them in the early 80s) doesn't mean it is stronger than the SAME ratios and gears used in the 88-92 GM V8 T5.
I could maybe see doing the tapered roller bearing at the mainshaft pinion end but a lot of the rest of the stuff . . . is fluff.
Marketing by Ford Motorsports that FINALLY giving the T5 the V8 ratios (AGAIN; they had them in the early 80s) doesn't mean it is stronger than the SAME ratios and gears used in the 88-92 GM V8 T5.
I could maybe see doing the tapered roller bearing at the mainshaft pinion end but a lot of the rest of the stuff . . . is fluff.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,996
Likes: 2,485
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: rebuilding my WC T5
High alloy gears
If the case doesn't hold them in the correct orientation, they'll EAT themselves.
THE CASE is the weak point. Nothing else matters. Unless you replace THE CASE with something that doesn't stretch and flex, it is all in vain.
Don't put A DIME into a T-5. Keep it all in your pocket until such time as there's enough in there for a T-56. EVERY PENNY you spend on that T-5 just puts the final solution to your problem ONE PENNY further out of reach.
Trending Topics
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 20
From: PNW
Car: 91 Black Formula KR
Engine: 305 TPI R69/G92
Transmission: Astro A5-Pro 5.0-McCleod
Axle/Gears: US Gear 3.42 Eaton True Trac
Re: rebuilding my WC T5
Check out Astro Performance in Florida.
They sell parts, kits or whole upgraded T5's...
Their gears are thicker (stronger) and have less angle (causes less flexing force).
Depends what your goals are power wise & use... I did upgrade to GForce case (stronger than stock), they have cars running in the 10's with their Astro A5 setups... I'm happy with mine... It's about 4 lbs heavier than stock T5 and bolts right in...
They sell parts, kits or whole upgraded T5's...
Their gears are thicker (stronger) and have less angle (causes less flexing force).
Depends what your goals are power wise & use... I did upgrade to GForce case (stronger than stock), they have cars running in the 10's with their Astro A5 setups... I'm happy with mine... It's about 4 lbs heavier than stock T5 and bolts right in...
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 62
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Car: 1988 camaro "SS"/ 1991 305/T5
Engine: 383 LT1 in progress/LT1TBI 355 soon
Transmission: Probuilt 700R4 3600 stall/ T5
Axle/Gears: Moser axles, 3.42 Eaton Posi
Re: rebuilding my WC T5
You can make it stronger but how much stronger depends on what the transmission is behind. I just rebuilt my T5 myself and it was actually very simple with the right tools. To help with the flexing in the case I bought the steel counter shaft plate from www.5speeds.com. the creator of the plate literally wrote the book on the T5. From what I've read a T5 can take some punishment with GForce gears and the steel counter shaft plate but the cost of the GForce gears is ridiculous and money better spent on a good working T56 or swapping to a TKO T5.
Re: rebuilding my WC T5
Less angle on the gears, stronger case, reinforcement plate, V8 ratios. Not much more that you can do to make the T5 itself stronger, but there is another way to get more power thru any T5- add a device to control the hit of the clutch!
Adding the ability to control the hit of the clutch makes it possible to significantly reduce the impact of inertia on the gearset/case when you launch the car. At the same time it actually makes the car quicker by increasing the amount of power that the engine is able to produce. Also increases the overall amount of torque that you can put thru the transmission on the shifts.
If at some point you were to decide to upgrade to a TKO or T56, that same device would improve their power handling capabilities as well.
Grant
Adding the ability to control the hit of the clutch makes it possible to significantly reduce the impact of inertia on the gearset/case when you launch the car. At the same time it actually makes the car quicker by increasing the amount of power that the engine is able to produce. Also increases the overall amount of torque that you can put thru the transmission on the shifts.
If at some point you were to decide to upgrade to a TKO or T56, that same device would improve their power handling capabilities as well.
Grant
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
junkyarddog
Carburetors
4
Dec 18, 2001 11:28 AM
firebird305
Carburetors
7
Jul 5, 2001 09:26 PM












