taguy16

I'm wondering if Ford WC T5 internals can go into a non-WC T5, and if so what's involved. I've searched in vain for an answer to this question but the only thing I found was on the T5 thread mentioning that the case might have to be machined for different style thrust bearings for the WC countershaft, and obviously having to change out the input shaft. Making this swap is something I really would like to do since I ended up with an early T5 with a lousy gear ratio and a later WC Ford T5 (that I bought for another project but changed my mind about using it) with a much better ratio. Seems like there would be a way to make this work. I really don't want to spend the insane prices of the upgrade gearsets that are available for T5's. Having to pay ridiculous prices for car parts takes away from the fun of this hobby IMO.

1983LU5TA

Nothing is interchangeable. The bearings are different, the gears are different. Not to mention the Ford mainshaft is completely different, as well as the output spline count/diameter.

taguy16

Good to know. I guess I'll just have to look for new gears for it.

taguy16

This statement in the "everything we know about T5" thread gave me hope the gears would interchange: "Mustang V8 T5's are different externally, with a 10 spline input shaft and a straight up bellhousing, while the F-body V8 T5 is a 27 spline input and slanted to the right about the 2 o'clock position. They are not compatible with each other externally, but the gears inside are the same."

taguy16

Is there a database somewhere that lists which NWC cluster gear was used with which gear ratio? I've been searching the web for this but haven't had any luck.

Thanks for any help.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

To quickly answer what I think your question is:
There is no GM clutch compatible input shaft that is geared to work with the 3.35 first gear Ford V8 T5 guts.

Changing a countershaft means you're changing the maindrive (input,) 3rd, 2nd, and 1st gears. When the maindrive and countershaft gearing ratio changes, that changes 5th gear ratio too. You can do a fair amount of research, come up with a spreadsheet and see what happens to 5th ratio if you match it with another 1-4 headset.

re: gearing, I don't agree with the Ford gearing being "better." However, if you look at their starting point of T5 Fox bodies, Ford ran the 2.95 first gear T5 ~83 to 84(?), then they went to the 3.35 first headset. Ford was dead set on the 0.67 5th, and they wanted 2.73 to be their standard rear ratio.

And I would take a 2.95 first gear / 0.63 5th T5 and 3.73 gears over Ford's gearing every time. GM had it right in 1984 L69 F cars.

If you had to buy new parts only, the hot ticket to stay stock T5 would be a Ford T5-Z, a GForce GM case, an aftermarket GM maindrive, an offset shifter, and a 28-spline yoke, figuring out the crossmember, and speedo gearing. The T5-Z is effectively the 88-92 WC V8 GM gearing.