Hey guys this is a thread my friend wanted me to start because he needs some advice about the T-5 tranny he would like to hook up to his Mopar. Here's the email he sent me:

Hey guys,
Im a mopar guy (I know im a brand xer to you guys lol but i respect all brands and used to actually big pretty big into foxbodys) who wants to put a T5 behind a mild 340 that should net me low 13/ high 12 ets at best. I have been looking at info about all T5's, mainly mustang t5's and s10 t5's in particular, and figured it would be best to ask a bunch of mustang guys first hand how the transmission holds up. Looking at specs for the t5 in the mustangs, i read that from 83-89 the world class and non world class t5's can handle 265lb/ft and from 89-93 they could handle 300lb/ft. Now put that transmission behind a 3400lb rear wheel drive car that is minitubbed and at most is making 400 horsepower at the crank (desktop dyno) would it hold up? Im specifically talking about the earlier units from 83-89. How far have you guys gone power wise before you have broken this version of the t5? the car will see 95% street duty, but i would still like to pound on it and take it to the track once in a while. Also, for those of you running high numerical gearsets in the rear end (3.91, 4.10, etc.) how do you find the gear ratios of the transmission for drag strip performance(ive read that 1st gear is a 3.35 ratio and i am personally running a 3.91 gear in my rearend)? If the transmission cant hold up to this kind of power I am planning, what type of upgrades do you guys recommend for the transmission, and approximately how much would it cost me? Id like to keep the transmission as stock as I can for the sake of saving money since the actual conversion for putting it into a mopar isnt exactly cheap, however a new clutch, shifter and conversion bell are likely to be for sure. If you guys could answer these questions for me i would really appreciate it as it would really help me figure out if this swap is right for me in terms of the benefits vs. cost vs. performance usability.

Thanks in advance and happy new year
Matthew

 

I've had a World Class T5 in the 10's with 530+ rwhp. It'll hold but it's all in how you drive it and how often you beat on it with traction.

 

TELL HIM z-spec t-5 will hold driven appropriately off the line but his best bet is a tremec

 

a buddy of mine has a stock junkyard 302 with a 144 blower on it. He can go through a new t-5 in 2 weeks. He will launch anywhere between 4500 and 5000rpm. I would go for a tremec if I was going to see the track.

 

Tell your buddy to get a shifter and/or learn to shift and he won't have this problem.


To the original poster - There is no getting around the Tremec being a better piece, but they cost money. He can get by with a T5 just fine.

 

Hey guys thanks for the opinions so far. Now when you guys say it should hold up with proper traction, would poor traction really contribute to ruining the tranny that much? also, what are good clutches and shifters that wont break the bank to help beef her up a little, or do you guys think a stock T5 would be fine for me for now? If I could run it stock for now id really like to, but the occasional bangin through the gears may be in place every once in a while (or more than that)...is powershifting going to be a no no? If and when a T5 goes, what would you guys say i do- upgrade the tranny or put in a new unit and if so which one? Years down the road i plan to have the car in the 5-600hp range, so I want to know what my options are if the tranny breaks. and one more thing, with a rearend gear like 3.91 and the T5's first gear of 3.50, how is off the line acceleration and traction?

thanks so much guys for all the help
Matthew

 

Stuff breaks when you get traction. Low traction issues will make it last longer. Get a quality shifter like a Pro 5.0 which are my favorites. I was cutting 1.6x short times at the track with a stock T5 other than a Centerforce dual friction clutch and the Pro 5.0 shifter and it held up to 500+ RWHP. Power shifting is no good on a T5, you will break it a lot faster.