Confuse, I currently have a 289 with stock 3 speed manual trans, looking to put in a WC T5. I have searched the net but one give specifics if it will bolt to my bell housing. From what I get no it wont, I need to bet it drilled and tapped to the trans. But from what vehicle and what year? I know ill need a spacer and yoke for the drive shaft and a support brace. Any thing else? Rear end is stock also, I don’t plan to drag mostly for cruising but if the need to get up and go is needed what do you recommend?

 

Um, an easier way to make the swap would be to bolt on the T5 with it's 289 compatable bellhousing, instead of trying to modify your existing bell to mate to the T5.

Dave

 

Thats what i am saying the mod must to be done (from my reading). not the issue. from what year car for the WCT5 that will task the least mod on the bellhousing and bang for the buck?

 

85-93 Mustang has the bell and trans. 90-93 is the stronger trans. All the bellhousings are the same from 85-93. the 93 starter is OEM mini and will work on all the bellhousings back to 85. To make it work you can modify the clutch fork to use stock z-bar, or you can go with a cable clutch from MustangSteve, or I sell the bracket to put in a hydraulic clutch.

 

Let's try this again.

Find an 85-93 Ford Mustang with a 5.0 V8 engine. From this car, take the bellhousing, block plate, clutch fork and transmission. Grab the starter if it looks to be in okay condition if you want to.

This block plate/bellhousing/transmission will bolt right up to your 289 engine without any modifications. I recommend that you install a new clutch pack. Your existing one will not work and the used one is probably on it's way out.

Dave

 

if yopu have no way of finding one there's another method which I used.
Not as clean, but works as well
use the old bellhousing and get an adapter plate that mounts to your old bellhousing and accepts the T5.
They sell them everywhere (NPD, moderndriveline.com and I guess about 100 other mustang shops)
You will need to identify if you have a 5bolt or a 6bolt bellhousing to get the correct plate.
I live in Europe, so I bought a rebuilt T5 with the adapter plate and T5 yoke and trans crossbrace and shifter stick
I didn't want to chance any mightwork parts ...
So as you see there are two options:
either get the lot as described above or use the old bellhousing with adapter plate.

The common problems you can run into:
the 3spd is 25 spline outputshaft and the T5 is 28 spline. So you will need a new transmission yoke if it doesn't come with the trans
once you have the thing out you can get as well 2 new u-joints (make sure they fit the new application)
you might need to shorten the driveshaft
A transmission yoke from a mustang that used a C4 should also work (they're 28 spline as well)

Kalli

 

Thanks for the advice all, exactly what i was looking for.

 

I have an adaptor plate for sale ($80.00 + shipping which is half the price of new) if you want one, but IMHO you are better of using the T5 bellhousing

 

you are better off with a new T5 bellhousing. It all just fits better and you don't need a machineshop modifying your bellhousing.
With the adapter some have problems with alignment. So that the trans is not perfectly straight in relation to flywheel causing vibration.
If you want to go down the adaptor plate route check your type of bellhousing first.
There's 5 bolt and 6 bolt and for this there are different plates. Either count the bolts
(6 bolt is 2 on top and 2 on each side. none at bottom). No idea what a 5bolt looks like
they changed from 5bolt to 6bolt late 65or early 66.
Easiest is to get the number off the bellhousing. It's on right hand side at half height when you look from the back under your car.
here's the info:
http://www.4speedtoploaders.com/bellhousingidchart.htm

 

Did a swap with the plate - no issues at all, even kept the original yoke and did not have to cut the driveshaft .... this w-e I am doing it on my FB too, not expecting any trouble .... well.... will see about that