Let me open with an apology, as this is my first post, so I'm still getting used to all this. My current ride is an '86 base model with the 305 (lg4, vin code H) and the T5 manual. I recently, acquired an L31 Vortec 350 that had been in a '98 1500 pickup. Problem is I've heard alot about the T5 being made of glass. (Clutch is worn besides) I'm wondering what would be a suitable transmission for it on a budget. I'm not going racing but I don't want gear soup either.

 

If you best the snot out of the t5, it will break. Don't use a super aggressive clutch and drive like a normal person and it will hold up just fine.

Replacement options would be a t56 or tkx. Neither are super cheap but both will hold up to much more abuse.

 

Yep, what 86TA said. The T5 isn't the strongest transmission, but they'll hold up surprisingly well if you aren't doing clutch drops left and right. Plenty of road race Foxbody folks run 'em behind 400+ HP just fine, but they've gotten a bit of a bad rap from the drag racing folks. Cases tend to crack if you shock 'em too hard on a launch; for daily driving, should hold up just fine.