wgreenlee4

I was hoping to replace my 89 GT's T5 trans with a T5 from an 85 GT. When installing the 85 trans it would not go in the last half inch so I pulled back out and realized the input shaft end was thicker then the input shaft on my 89's T5 which I have assumed means the pilot bearing that I purchased (with kit) was too small (which would explain the last half inch not going in).

At first this mean to me: get new pilot bearing that is wide enough. BUT: after doing more careful measurement it appears that the notches on the input shaft of the 85 T5 would only go into the clutch half way which I worry would risk the clutch falling out of alignment or stripping (because not fully threaded onto notches).

Who knows about T5 years and can tell me if I should get a different trans or different pilot bearing???

I admit, my mistake not doing careful enough measurements before getting hands on this 85 T5, but this is my drivetrain project, I'm learning. It came with a bellhousing that was exactly the same as the one on my current 89. I believe the trans is 85, no guarantee.

tohoopty

well a 85 and a 89 has the same input shaft length and same input shaft diameter.does each transmission have a tag on it.if they do i need a number that starts off in 1352 XXX.

wgreenlee4

Gear box: 13-52-065-908
Output shaft bellhousing: 13-52-066-919

Thanks for the response.

tohoopty

those arent the right ones.after the 1352 the last 3 digits will range from 114 to 253.and from re reading what you wrote,it seems like the one out of your 89 is out of a 4 cyl car

wgreenlee4

Oh oh I see the tag:
13-52-126

I see what you are saying, I just measured the inside diameter of my old pilot bearing, it is 15mm, I then went to autozone.com and saw that 15mm only matches the 4cyl car and not my 89 GT (my 5.0 takes a 17mm which I believe I have installed now). So idk the problem again :/

tohoopty

well it is a 85 5.0 t5.so without looking at the car i really cant help you anymore now

projectresto83

Sounds like someone put in a 4 banger t5 in the 89 before you got it. To use one you need the pilot bearing from a diesel ranger in the early 90's. You obviously need to remove everything and replace the pilot bearing with the correct one.

nitrous_bob

yes an '85 is the same dimensions as a '89 and will swap perfectly

pretty low torque rating though compared to the '89 trans

tohoopty

85 to 89 t5's were 265 torque,90 to 93 were 300 torque

Brett Shick

Could you use the trans out of a gt and put it in a lx with a 2.3?