Here's my question. I just bought a T-5 to repalce my existing toploader and was wondering whether or not to buy an original bellhousing for the T-5 or use the adapter plate with my Lakewood bellhousing. Thanks guys.

 

How hard do you drive it and how powerful is the motor? If I were you, I'd finance the project by selling the Toploader and bellhousing and going to a late model bellhousing, flywheel and clutch with a cable conversion. BTDT except that I alreadyhad a late model Lakewood bellhousing that I used along with the Mustang Steve cable conversion. Couldn't be happier.

 

You can use your existing linkage, aka, clutch actuation method, by keeping the Lakewood. Also, if you're not having shiftin problems now, most likely the bellhousing is already pretty close to be within .005 of concentricity to the pilot bushing. The T5 is senitive to that, otherwise the input shaft is preloaded because the input shaft is not perfectly centered in the input bushing/bearing.

 

I would look at it this way: 1. do you drive hard or take it to the races ever? If yes, proceed to 2. 2. Do you like having feet?

Its not like flywheels blow up all the time, but if you like to drive hard or race, an explosion is always a possibility. For me, I like driving hard, and I like having feet, so a couple hundred bucks for a new Lakewood (or adapter in your case) is money well spent. If its more for show and cruising, the stock bellhousing is fine.