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Topic: Trans options (Read 4267 times) previous topic - next topic

Trans options

Hello, I haven't posted in awhile as life is in the way. Long and short is that I want to actually drive my Tbird and with the c4 in it its a bit of a bear.

So trans options
AOD
4r70w
T-5
or
M5R2 5-speed

I have the M5R2 5-speed, and the 4r70w but the the auto would need a tail swap and a rebuild (out of a 4wd explorer) as well as a full manual vb which is like 500 dollars.

The M5R2 5-speed is in the trunk of a SC that a road grater smashed and I believe is good, we didn't get a chance to drive the car before we sold the motor out of it. I can get the clutch stuff of this car or I have another TC that was a stick to nab the parts off of.

T-5 and AOD I would end up buying. I have a couple of cores I could rebuild an AOD from and eat my shift has super rebuild kits for around 775.

SO if you owned my car which route would you go, I'm torn between stick and auto as I'm in alot of stop in go traffic and my leg gets tired (don't mind manual vb trans as that is what I have now.) Car is in my sig below, only new thing since then is addition of Mass-Flo system on car. I'm leaning more towards the auto, but price is a factor as well. If it costs the same for a reliable stick vs auto then I'd just assume to go lazy left leg. And there is a blower in the future for my car so I want something that will hold up hopefully.
88 Turbocoupe: Coast High Performance 331 kit 28oz balance, Comp XE264HR14 cam, 58cc 185 afr heads, 1.7 roller rockers, Mass-Flo EFI (was POS to setup and their techline is a joke at best)
Full 1 5/8 primary equal length headers, 2 1/2 exhaust, Full manual reverse VB c4 and baked off clear coat "BECAUSE RACECAR"

Trans options

Reply #1 –
I would go either a built aod, or the 4r70w, both good trannies when built properly. :)
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

Trans options

Reply #2 –
From what I seen it will be cheaper to go the AOD vs 4r70w route, would need full manual vb for the 4r70w and that thing is like 500 bucks. The detent cable is the only snag I see so far, don't have a spot to hook it on my TB so will have to fab something.
88 Turbocoupe: Coast High Performance 331 kit 28oz balance, Comp XE264HR14 cam, 58cc 185 afr heads, 1.7 roller rockers, Mass-Flo EFI (was POS to setup and their techline is a joke at best)
Full 1 5/8 primary equal length headers, 2 1/2 exhaust, Full manual reverse VB c4 and baked off clear coat "BECAUSE RACECAR"

Trans options

Reply #3 –
As for the trans out of the super coupe, I never heard of people useing these before. Are they pretty tough? Will it hold up as it is or do I need to go through it and upgrade parts of it?

If its pretty stout I might put it in now and save up for a dart block and replace the trans later.
88 Turbocoupe: Coast High Performance 331 kit 28oz balance, Comp XE264HR14 cam, 58cc 185 afr heads, 1.7 roller rockers, Mass-Flo EFI (was POS to setup and their techline is a joke at best)
Full 1 5/8 primary equal length headers, 2 1/2 exhaust, Full manual reverse VB c4 and baked off clear coat "BECAUSE RACECAR"

Trans options

Reply #4 –
To build an AOD the right way and get a good converter (ie Dirt Dog or Precision Industries) is going to cost in excess of about $2.5K. It's really the only way an AOD is going to live behind that 331 though.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Trans options

Reply #5 –
Check the below kit, I think only thing it would need extra is a hardened input shaft.
http://monstertrans.com/store/products/AOD-SS-Mega-Monster-Transmission-Complete-Rebuild-Kit%3A-1983%252d89.html
88 Turbocoupe: Coast High Performance 331 kit 28oz balance, Comp XE264HR14 cam, 58cc 185 afr heads, 1.7 roller rockers, Mass-Flo EFI (was POS to setup and their techline is a joke at best)
Full 1 5/8 primary equal length headers, 2 1/2 exhaust, Full manual reverse VB c4 and baked off clear coat "BECAUSE RACECAR"

Trans options

Reply #6 –
i've seen stock SC 5 speeds handling 450rwhp.. i'd throw the AOD idea in the garbage.. if you're looking to build a dart block, that means you're going to go after more power than a stock block can handle.. if that's the case, an AOD is going to cost more than you're really going to want to spend to build a trans.. my vote goes for the 4r70w if you want an auto or doing some research over on SCCoA for the M5R2.. my final vote, if the research proves the M5R2 is as good as i believe it to be, than i say go 5 speed.. stick is more fun to drive, in my opinion
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

Trans options

Reply #7 –
I like grabbing gears, hate mashing clutch in traffic. And for more power, yes. I'm some where north of 425 horse now (pretty sure any way), and thinking a cam change and blower are in my future. Undecided if I need to swap heads yet or not.

Will go check out s'more on the sc 5 speed. Also will look more into a 4r70w, I haven't rebuilt a trans other than a c4 before, and even then it was with some one holding my hand.

I appreciate the input guys.
88 Turbocoupe: Coast High Performance 331 kit 28oz balance, Comp XE264HR14 cam, 58cc 185 afr heads, 1.7 roller rockers, Mass-Flo EFI (was POS to setup and their techline is a joke at best)
Full 1 5/8 primary equal length headers, 2 1/2 exhaust, Full manual reverse VB c4 and baked off clear coat "BECAUSE RACECAR"

Trans options

Reply #8 –
I don't believe the M5R2 interchanges with a fox body, something about the shifter being in the wrong spot. Same reason the MN12 guys don't swap T5's. I could be wrong.
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo
 

Trans options

Reply #9 –
shifter placement looks relatively the same, but it really depends on the actual length of both transmissions.. i never really considered using the M5R2 behind a small block, because i never really knew the 3.8 bellhousing was the same.. so i don't know any of the measurements

the M5R2



T5

ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

Trans options

Reply #10 –
Its been awhile since I laid eyes on it but the M5R2 was HUGE I thought, as in big around. I don't have a t5 laying about either :(.
88 Turbocoupe: Coast High Performance 331 kit 28oz balance, Comp XE264HR14 cam, 58cc 185 afr heads, 1.7 roller rockers, Mass-Flo EFI (was POS to setup and their techline is a joke at best)
Full 1 5/8 primary equal length headers, 2 1/2 exhaust, Full manual reverse VB c4 and baked off clear coat "BECAUSE RACECAR"

Trans options

Reply #11 –
it's not that much bigger than the T5.. usually, it just looks that way, because the bellhousing doesn't separate lol.. if i had either laying around, i'd help you out with some measurements.. but alas, i don't
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

Trans options

Reply #12 –
They blow up behind 300's, can't handle the torque. Supercoupe guys are basically stuck with them. All have truck gear ratio's.

Gotta pay to play. I would run a beefed up t-5 or a toploader. Toploaders are reletively cheap, and hold up to a lot of power.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Trans options

Reply #13 –
They blow up behind 300's, can't handle the torque. Supercoupe guys are basically stuck with them. All have truck gear ratio's.

Gotta pay to play. I would run a beefed up t-5 or a toploader. Toploaders are reletively cheap, and hold up to a lot of power.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Trans options

Reply #14 –
Sweet Jesus why are manual trans so expensive? I thought manual vs auto that the manual would be cheaper. Seems a built 4r70w or AOD is a bit cheaper then a t5 or t56.
T5 gforce gears 1200, plus 300 for rebuilt kit, or buy one for around 19-2400.
AOD 795 for SS kit from monster trans + 300 for hardened input shaft from Broader or 1400-2200 for built one.
4r70w 1900-2200 from broader with full manual VB (I think by far the best choice for handleing abuse)

Looks like I'll probably go 4r70w, with t5 trailing. I can use my ratchet shifter I have now with the 4r70w and less work.

Well I appreciate everyone's feed back, I'm still open to oppinions as it will be awhile b4 I do a swap.
88 Turbocoupe: Coast High Performance 331 kit 28oz balance, Comp XE264HR14 cam, 58cc 185 afr heads, 1.7 roller rockers, Mass-Flo EFI (was POS to setup and their techline is a joke at best)
Full 1 5/8 primary equal length headers, 2 1/2 exhaust, Full manual reverse VB c4 and baked off clear coat "BECAUSE RACECAR"