My WC T-5 has 143,000 original miles on it. After putting it behind my LT1, I've started to notice that it is just isn't shifting that great anymore! A broken tranny raised a question: Should I spend a lot of money on a T-56 swap, or should I spend a lot of money on a TKO swap? After much thought, I've decided to rebuild my T-5. My car is just a street / strip car, so I don't need a $2500 transmission. On my quest to find a reputable company, I found a great source for WC parts, Hanlon Motorsports: http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com/ Hanlon offers alloy gear sets, complete rebuild kits, which are all brand new parts. I can get my WC T-5 rebuilt to handle 400 HP for less than $900.00 ($819 to be exact). So, I will be doing the rebuild here in a month or two, so I'll keep you all posted on the progress and outcome.

 

i personally would recommend a different trans. There is no question that the t-5 can hold absurd power but we both know that you will break the one you have after the rebuild. Maybe in a year, maybe less or more. HP does not kill a manual trans, torque does. If you had a 600 hp 4 cyl that spins to 9000 rpm, that t-5 would last much longer. So the question is one t-56/tko or two t-5s?? That is what I asked myself. I personaly spoke with Hanlon and they steered me away from the t-5. Good luck b/c I know this is a hard choice. The rebuild isn't too bad, but tedious.

 

Well, I have a rebutal for that. A lot of my LS1 buddies have broken their T-56 trannies with stock engines. Also, my buddy who literally has a 500 horse mustang went 11.19 with a stock 150,000 mile T-5. It is all in how you drive your car. Since I don't powershift, I don't think I'll have any problems.

 

Broke the trans gears? Or broke the synchros?? There is a difference between breaking b/c it is the trans fault and breaking b/c of driver error. I have done both. I would fine a used t-56 for a little more money.

 

I don't know specifically what is wrong with it. I would have the T-5 compeletely overhauled. If I buy a used T-56, there is no guarantee that it hasn't been abused or might need rebuilt soon after I start hammering on it. Then, I've spent at least a $1000 for a used tranny, $500 for rebuild, $$ for the parts to rebuild it, $300 for a electronic to mechanical speedo converter, and $$ for a new cross member. My point here is that the T-5 is quite capable of handling descent power. As I stated before, I have many friends who have broken these infamous "bullet-proof" T-56's with stock engines. Just look at how many individuals on this board are running T-5's. Most of the people talking bad about these trannies are the same people who powershift w/o using the clutch, miss gears left and right, and pretty much have destructive driving patterns. DavidT is still running a T-5 with drag radials and low 12 second passes. Seeing is believing. BTW: My tranny is not showing any symptoms of wear other than not being able to slam third gear. I believe the main culprit of that problem is the notchy pro 5.0 shifter, which I want to get rid of ASAP. In fact, I've powershifted my tranny with the stock shifter and never missed a gear until I put the pro 5.0 shifter in. Then, I was missing third left and right. So if anything is to blame for my transmission dying, it is the missed shifts due to the shifter, not because of an excessive amount of power.

 

First, what cars broke their t-56s and what broke???

Second, Go my route, buy an aftermarket t-56 1900 and an x member 100. shorten your shaft 80. I think there is a cheaper way to get a speedo hooked up. And have another gear. You are being absurd comparing the T-5 to a T-56. Why do you think people are running t-5s? B/c they are better? No. B/c they originally came with them or they are cheaper. I was in your position a few months ago too.


Also, signs if wear?? There usually are none. Look at my car, I went some of the fastest 1/4 mile mphs I have seen. I believe, I have done, I have broken. I had no signs of wear. Can you feel fatigue in gears inside your trans?? Neither can I.

 

I once contimplated the T-56 swap also. After adding the cost, I decided to take it easy on my T-5. If I were to break my T-5, personally I would like to have Liberty do their new Pro-Shift process to it, mainly to see what it does, and how it helps. For $264 it is worth it to me. Since I have got my engines swapped, and the car is drivable, I have driven it about 700 miles in maybe 9 months. I just don't have a lot of time, with work, kids, and family stuff.
89, if you have the money, and the car is driven hard a lot, get a better trans. If either one of the above don't apply, get the T-5 ran through.

 

If you break your t-5 it will cost more than 264 dollars. The countershaft is one piece!!. Good points though.

 

Gofaster: Read up a few posts, I mentioned that my LS1 buddies broke their trannies with stock motors. Also, I have LT1 friends who have trashed their Borg-Warner T-56's. I'm not trying to compare the strength between the T-5 and the T-56. There is no question about it though, stock for stock, the T-56 is 1000 x stronger. *BUT* my main point is that the T-5 can handle abuse if you aren't being a moron driver. If I bought a T-56, it would be brand new: $2300, new cross member for my spohn torque arm $100, shortened driveshaft, and no, there is no "cheaper way" to hook the speedo up because my speedo is cable-driven. The only other option would have a custom gauge cluster put together with an electronic speedo, which I guarantee will be a lot more than $300. You do the math. $800 as opposed to close to $3000. For the $2200 I'd save, I could put a new paint job on my car!! This car isn't my daily driver. Hell, it isn't even my weekly driver unless the weather is perfect. Besides, I may be upgrading to a LS1 SS in the summer time, so dumping almost as much money as I paid for the car into the transmission alone isn't feasible.

 

Could you please read my post more carefully. I asked questions that you have not responded to. You keep saying the same thing and I understand those things.

Also, for some reason you chose to ignore the prices I mentioned for my brand new t-56. Also, you can sell the t-5 for pretty good prices. Remember to subtract that!

 

Go to spohn.net and lookup the price for his aftermarket T-56's. As for your questions: My gears are grinding sporadically. For instance, I could be driving normally, press the clutch to the floor, and try to put it in second or even fifth, and it either grinds, or donks. This doesn't occur everytime I drive my car. Also, my 2-3 shift will grind / donk. By "donk," I mean that it is almost like the shifter hits a stop and wont allow it to go into gear. It may be that the pro 5.0 isn't adjusted, or the transmission isn't alligned properly. I'm just trying to plan ahead if the tranny is going south.

 

I will ask this question one more time. What parts on your friends T-56s broke??


Also, I have my old t-5 with a hurst shifter that I no longer need. It has a broken 3rd though. Is anyone interested?

Also, since I just bought an aftermarket t-56 please do not try to tell me the price. Spohn told me not to buy the trans from him b/c he cannot get good prices. He buys it from liberty trans and then marks it up.

 

Where, in any of your posts, did you ask me what my friend's broke in their T-56's? You never said who you were referring to, you just said - Be a little more specific because I thought you were referring to what I had broken. From what I know, they've broken gears, destroyed synchros, and forks. I'm not hear to argue, get your approval, or try to make sense from any of your posts. I.E. - What does this mean?? I simply was informing WC T-5 owners that there is an alternative to an expensive T-56 swap.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GofasterFirebird
[B]First, what cars broke their t-56s and what broke???

above is the question I asked. I thought it was pretty clear. I do not believe that they broke gears with stock engines. Forks, and synchros are driver error. If they did break gears that would be a defective trans and thus a warranty claim.

Also, I meant there are usually no signs of wear. Mine broke with no hint of damage. I was just saying I have experience in this subject. If you don't want to listen that is fine.

 

I do want to listen, I just don't want to argue about petty things. You confirmed my entire point: "Forks, and synchros are driver error." If you get someone behind the wheel that knows how to drive, a beefed up T-5 should withstand abusive punishment. It's all how you drive your car. A buddy of mine's 99 firebird wouldn't come out of 4th gear while at Edgewater 2 weeks ago. He has a STOCK LS1 w/ a tranny that has already been rebuilt once, but there is no telling how many gears he's missed. I'm not trying to be rude to you. I'm just annoyed with everybody saying "anemic WC T-5's" B.S. The WC T-5's in the thirdgen's have the exact same internals as what FoMoCo is passing off as "Super Duty." Sorry for the harshness.

BTW:

What part of Ohio are you from? Maybe you could show me that T-56 in action.

 

If you search I have posted numerous times how strong the t-5 is. I even had the weaker version with a shorter first gear! I live in Toledo.

 

Hmm... I might be interested in that tranny of yours. What is wrong witht the T-5? Also, how did you like the hurst shifter? I would like to ride in your car and see how that T-56 works. Do you ever come down to the Dayton area? I could meet you at a halfway point. Im familiar with the Lima area, how far would that be for you? Let me know.

 

i have a hurt on my T-5....LOVE IT.....stong, short throws with positive stops...its nice....very

 

Well, the 56 works like the t-5 except no 4th to 5th bog. I like the hurst pretty good. I broke out third gear in my t-5. It can be rebuilt. I would probably have done that if I didn't get 1.7 percent apr on my card. I am currently trying to build my 406 but I haven't taken my car apart yet.