Stangatic

Hello All,
I frequent the classic model forums often but thought my question would be better answered here.

I am about to buy a new crate engine and really want to go with a 351w that has 426hp and 407tq and basically want to know in a nut shell, will my T-5 survive?

The t-5 is a stock cobra version. I don’t race and don’t plan to take it to the drag strip. I don’t have sticky tires either. There maybe the a not so frequent launch from the stop light and that’s about it.

Opinions?

mjr46

nope....this was behind my 347 in my 85, it blew not on launch, not between shifts and not at the track, it blew under a full hard pull in second, lost the output, cluster and 3rd gear get a tremec

Stangatic

Oh wow. That must have been expensive to replace. What is a safe range for torque on the T5? 350 ftlbs?

mjr46

not to bad, I had a tremec 3550 sitting in wait , that I picked up on a deal in case this happened, if it's not gonna be a track car 300-330 ft lbs is an ideal range to stay within, over that and it's a matter of time = a roll of the dice, where in md are you??

Stangatic

southern maryland. Calvert county.

I am stuck in between a rock and a hard place right now.... I really would like to go with the 351 but can get a 330hp/337tq 302 for $2,700. but can get the 351 426/407 for $3,900 (tuff tawg engines).

mjr46

I assume all the hp numbers are flywheel??? if so the t-5 would survive for a little while but it all depends on how you drive it, there are no gaurantees when getting into those hp ranges and using stock t-5's, the t-5 stock was never designed to handle such for extended periods

Bubba 95SN

That transmission missing teeth like a crap talking rice burner rider in a real biker bar.

projectresto83

Lets put it this way OP, stock setups can trash t5's all day long if driven hard enough. Might as well spend the extra cash on a good trans.

Stangatic

Are T-5s and a 3550 interchangable? How much torque can a 3550 hold?

mjr46

3550 is no longer made but it was suppose to handle 350 ft lbs at least the standard version was, they make the tko 500 and 600 now = denotes torque capacity, you will need a bellhousing for such when switching.