Aaron R.

Just wondering how many miles you guys have put on your T5 and 350 engine combination and how that is working out for you. I get the impression some of you drive gently enough to get a lot of miles out of your WC or NWC T5, even with a 350.
I'm NOT trying to start a debate here about whether it's a good idea or not to run a T5 behind a 350, just wondering who is doing it right now and how that is working out for you. I know most who have tried it ended up blowing up their T5. Now I want to hear from the few (if any) who are doing just fine with it.

Jeffs82TA

iTrader: (1)

I had one, NWC behind a 350. driven casually they will last forever. It's a brutal 1st to 2nd shift that grenades them. I ran mine about 40,000 miles and sold the car.

UNCLE TOM

iTrader: (1)

if you drive like a resonable human they will last . if you drive like an animal , oh well . i like to play with the gears , but i'm a cruiser not a racer . good luck .

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I've enjoyed the combo--non-WC behind a 350 HO Deluxe--since June of 2005. Driving as reasonably as I do, I don't expect any problems whatsoever.

JamesC

92droptopws6

iTrader: (10)

I am a hard manual driver,when i did my first wc T5/5.7 conversion the tranny lasted 6 months before the cluster broke free from the case,however that was driving a bolt on 5.7 HARD running 1.8 60' times and powershifting.....
When i realized a 5.7 and T5 was the combination to KILL mustangs i swapped every car i came in touch with! The T5 is a very good tranny it will last if you show it some respect...i did DESTROY 9 T5s beyond repair but i have had over 33 that i can remember that were just fine.....
Get a good clutch
be sure the hydr.system is perfect and use sunthetic fluid
use synthetic fluid in the tranny some T5s are gear oil and some use auto fluid
get a good shifter like HURST so you dont break the shift forks as easy
use a pilot bearing not a brass bushing
'88 Iroc 5.7 700r4,3.27gear,headers,K&Ns,pulleys and chip
14.1@97 26mpg
'88 Iroc 5.7, T5 conv.same mods
13.3@105 28mpg

rjmcgee

I beat my NWC T5 like I hate it. 300 rwhp and 4.10 gears. In 7 years I have broken one shift fork. One of my favorites is to go up to 3500 rpm in 1st and then just dump it hard into 2nd and go sideways until 40 mph.

I am a believer that the best mod is to get the torque arm off the back of the transmission.

92droptopws6

iTrader: (10)

Yes sir i full agree!

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Certainly can't hurt, but for a reasonably driven car, I don't think it would have much impact.

JamesC

92droptopws6

iTrader: (10)

It sure does the stress on the tailshaft is not good for the seal,bushings or bearings.....

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

And yet, many T-5's have survived for years, including my 25-year-old, with the torque arm on the tail shaft--thus, not much impact.

JamesC

Aaron R.

Does the car feel/drive different with the torque arm removed?

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

I kinda find this time change hard to believe... Would a t56 go faster? And what were your 60ft times on those runs with the Auto and T5?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

The more rigid mount (of a torque arm relocation kit) will increase road noise, at the very least. This from Ryan at UMI:

"What we were trying to say was we found the polyurethane mounts such as the Energy Suspension or Prothane ones to offer vibrations. When in installed with our tunnel mounted torque arm the vibrations seem to increase and we do not recommend using these two items together on a street car. For a street car we do recommend the stock rubber transmission bushing."

And this from UMI and BMR concerning the OE configuration:

"General Motors tail shaft mounted design works great for a stock driven vehicle however it is not designed to take abuse and hard launches."

"The OE torque arm mounts to the tailshaft housing of the transmission. For factory horsepower levels and average street driving this works fine, but drag racing combined with more power equals broken tailshaft housings."

JamesC

92droptopws6

iTrader: (10)

18 yrs ago many mustang owners have said the same! i have no reason to pull your chain. sea-level was the best racing ever.
i had many 700r4s switching to 5spds got the car to react much better good weight reduction..i was 60'n 1.9 w/A4 stock stall and launching gooood my best w/T5 was 1.7 on comp ta's we did not have DRs (1990-1992)and was not about to put M&H racemasters on there to break stuff

a T56 is a heavier tranny.

v10viper04

I would take the extra what? maybe 50 lbs? I like to know my tranny isn't going to break.... Sure T5's are cheap but do you really want to change them all the time? I know i don't.... My T-56 is holding up like a beast.. I would never run a T5 behind a v8. I have seen too many crap out....

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

JamesC

Alphius

iTrader: (6)

30,000 on my NWC T5 behind a 350 with the TQ arm still mounted on the tailshaft. I am trying to kill it so I can upgrade to a T56, but it won't die! I am going to a dyno soon, but should be around 260-270rwhp.

92droptopws6

iTrader: (10)

LOL, i know that feeling...
i
I set out to break a T5,ran hard all night "FLAWLESS" all night ran roughly 15 hard runs tranny was a trooper even made some cash racing....the next day just leaving a stoplight tranny broke destroyed the cluster,broke the bearing retainer...

Aaron R.

Thanks for all the input guys. It's pretty encouraging that there is at least a few other guys out there having great success with their T5/350 combo. Now I'm not nearly as concerned about bolting up my lightly modified 305 to my T5 again. Considering I just had a bunch of work done on the T5, and I'm a pretty gentle driver anyway, I am betting it works out pretty good for me. Can't wait to get it all back together with the rebuilt engine!

v10viper04

You are one of the few lucky ones! Hey if its not broken don't fix it.

92droptopws6

iTrader: (10)

You should be fine especially with a 305, the killer of T5 trannys will be TQ they are rated at 300tq....I realize i am harder on manual trannys than most.
The 4th gen in my sig pic i have had for over 6 years and have broken the t56 twice....

Instal your T5 enjoy the manual rush,save your money for a T56 conversion, don't buy USED hydraulics get new for 150.00 from www.ws6store.com and you will be set.