ok after countless problems with my t5 swap, i am to the point where i need to pick a clutch and pressure plate, it has the stock 289 clutch what i am wondering is can i use a newer pressure plate in its place, once again i am using the 289 bell housing and stock fly wheel with the adapter plate and t5 trans

 

I used a late model clutch in my TKO swap without issue, just make sure it is the right diameter. I used an 11" clutch on the 66, but I used a scatter shield, I don't think you will have an issue with the stock bellhousing though.

 

The clutch you need depends on your linkage. Original mechanical linkage will require an early style clutch, if you have hydraulic or cable release, you'll need a clutch that has the correct size/spline for the tranny input shaft that's designed to work with a later car that has cable/hyd release. It has to do with how far the fingers travel to accuate the diaphragm, different linkage moves a different amount which requires a different clutch

 

I might be wrong, but I think that the linkage difference is solved solely by the release fork that is used. I think that the early release fork can be used with a late clutch and visa versa....

I think that someone will let me know if I am mistaken, butI thinkyou can use either the early or late style clutch with your stock z-bar setup as long as you use the early release fork and coresponding release bearing..

 

If the forks are different lengths that'd make sense, it'd change the distance moved at the TOB in relation to the clutch linkage. As long as it engages and disengages reliably, that's all that matters

 

JMD is correct that you can use a diaphragm pressure plate with the early z-bar linkage. I originally had set up my 351W in my '65 this way. The only difference was that the pedal required less travel you'd feel more free play in the pedal before you felt it make contact with the pressure plate. The pedal was definitely much easier to depress, though the effort didn't exactly feel linear. I'm not sure exactly how to describe it other than it felt a bit different. That said, it worked well.

 

ok so i will try an 88 gt clutch and hope for the best

 

Don't hope for the best as it may not bolt up to your flywheel! Your best bet is to bring the flywheel into a speed shop and make sure what they have will mate up. The 5.0L pressure plates use dowel pins. The pressure plate I used did not use dowel pins and used different holes on the flywheel.

 

2:30 am finished assembling the t-5 , of course we hit a snag, lets see, first we had a problem with the shift forks then we forgot the speedo drive gear, then we opened her up and , had to clean all the sealant off again, then we pulled the shifter rod to far and it had to come apart to fix it, then of course forgot the spedo gear again, opened her up and installed speedo gear , shift lock, and shimmed up the bearing retainer....... good to go! ! !

have to work 4th of july so i will be installing july 5th in the morning, hope to have it running by noon

 

t5 is installed with 11 inch clutch , loving it