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Topic: what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap... (Read 2803 times) previous topic - next topic

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

:evilgrin:

So, I had my buddy that drives a 2001 mustang gt try out my clutch. He did a couple clutch dumps and banged on the gears a bit. He says it feels like I doubled my hp. I think that's a bit of an overstatement. It "feels" faster and more powerful, but there's a couple things I don't like. Having no tach, I have no idea how far I can take first. Having no speedo, I can't duplicate shift points. Haven't gotten close to the rev limiter, but you can feel its winding up too high and losing power.

Other then that, the car is awesome! I've got over 10hrs drive time on it right now. It feels like a completely different car, and is so much more fun to drive. It definately is getting way better gas mileage, when I keepp my foot out of it. You can tell 5th is an economy gear, but 4th is good for any freeway speed or grade. I took the car up parleys canyon, its a 3-6% grade the entire way. Car sucked it up at 1/4 throttle in 4th. 5th was basically useless for most of it.
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

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #1
Why no speedo
87 TC
HO Swap, T5 Swap, Mach Springs, CHE Upper and Lower control arms, Mach Chin spoiler, soon to be Procharged.

:evilgrin: Nitrous is like a hot chick with an STD you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences. :evilgrin:

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #2
Congrats on the swap! I can totally relate:D

turbo charged 94 Cobra engine/440cc injectors/megasquirt /5 speed swapped (T5)/maxbox upper intake/70mm PP throttle body/AJE coilovers/2003 Mustang control arms/S.T. sway bars/ES rear control arm bushings/11" brake conversion/manual rack conversion/8.8 TC rear with rear discs and a welded diff/3.73 gears/PLX wideband/199mph speedometer/Aeromotive FPR/CNC hydraulic hand brake/cobra R wheels/....ect.

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #3
Well a stick over auto you will pick up some hp but not a whole lot

And unless you want to do this again any time soon I would take it ez lol

T5's are pos

But glad you got it all to work good

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #4
I agree a T5 cant pull a FAT GIRL OFF A BIKE WITHOUT BREAKING!! But the swap was good and thought out to a point. Just a point if i may. Fourth gear is one to one. But with an auto in high gear all that is different is converter slippage. But i think you did a good job on the project. Now the 68 thousand dollar question. What is the gear ratio of the TRANNY. That is the deciding factor on the difference in performance. Thanks
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #5
3.35 first, .68 od. Same 2.73 rear.
Auto should have been very close to the t-5, don't remember off of the top of my head.

No speedo because the 99+ mustangs combine the oss and vss speedo sensor. My dad is going to work on a basic stamp controller to convert it to a different frequency. Either that or a 1999+ dash swap ;).

I know that t-5's can let go fairly easy, but generally its someone with sticky tires drag racing. With stock sized tires and stock 190k 5.0 s.o. I'm really not worried about it. My boss actually has a stock t-5 behind a supercharged 5.0 mustang. He's put over 50k on it and beats the  out of it and its fine. The 99+ v-6's are rated at 330lbft and are actually the strongest t-5's from the factory.

I like it because I no longer have a failing auto and it only costed me about $400, start to finish. $150 for the trans, $120 for the clutch kit, $50 for clutch cable and free pedals, $30 for a junk yard starter. I was only getting 200 miles of range on the auto city, and it overheated freeway with no overdrive. I have no accurate odometer, but I drove 222+ miles to the nevada border and back, and used less then half a tank, down shifting everytime I got the chance and beating the  out of it in the city.

I'm going to brim the tank before the drive to montana, and shoot for a 550+ mile range. When I did freeway at 55mph with the auto in my last bird, I could average 35mpg freeway with a range of 650-700 miles. Total drive is approx 893 miles.
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

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #6
It's really rated at 330 ?

I just sold a z spec that's rated at that

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #7
You might have cooling issues if it's overheating on the highway with no OD. I've got a non lock up converter in mine so it spins about 2800 rpm in OD at 70mph. The engine never gets over 195* even in 90*+ weather on the highway. At 190K the original radiator might be shot ;).
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #8
Quote from: thunderjet302;410745
You might have cooling issues if it's overheating on the highway with no OD. I've got a non lock up converter in mine so it spins about 2800 rpm in OD at 70mph. The engine never gets over 195* even in 90*+ weather on the highway. At 190K the original radiator might be shot ;).

It's possible he meant the transmission overheating. That's how I read it. Perhaps it was puking fluid.

Quote from: Haystack;410741
3.35 first, .68 od. Same 2.73 rear.
Auto should have been very close to the t-5, don't remember off of the top of my head..

The AOD is 2.4 first and 0.67 overdrive. 2.4 with 2.73s didn't provide much acceleration from a stop.  Going to a wide ratio transmission like the 4r70w sure helps getting going with its 2.84 first gear. It gives me better torque multiplication in 1st gear with a 3.08 rear as an AOD with 3.55s in the back.

With a stick, I'd want a six speed with a really tall 6th gear while using 3.73s in the rearend. I don't remember if they go beyond 0.62. I'd love to get back to 33-34mpg while getting more gearing in the lower gears.

Edit: Yep, they go down to 0.5 for the 6th gear in the T-56...that's similar to running a stock AOD and 2.73s in terms of highway rpms.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #9
Yup, 1st gear is fairly short. Still at least 35mph I think.

But no, the car never actually did overheat, but was close to the red freeway. I have a new thermostat, but it doesn't get above the r in "norm" now.

And yes, the v-6 trans is fairly close to the "z" spec trans. I think I'll blow up the 7.5 rear or u-joints before the trans will let go. I beat the  out of it and haven't even smelled clutch yet.
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

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #10
Quote from: Haystack;410752
And yes, the v-6 trans is fairly close to the "z" spec trans. I think I'll blow up the 7.5 rear or u-joints before the trans will let go. I beat the  out of it and haven't even smelled clutch yet.

Yeah, around 2000 Ford's v6 and v8 transmissions got pretty  strong. I have no complaints about the 2003 v6 4r70w bolted to my 306. The aftermarket controller on the other hand...
1988 Thunderbird Sport

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #11
I think the t-56 is the ultimate upgrade trans. Before the magnum series came out, I really wanted the viper spec tranny so I could run low gears and get a good od with the .5 ratio 6th.

Now I think I'll want some more engine before I need to worry about anything too much beefier. Gonna stick with stock sized tires and the 190k engine is a bit tired. I think if this job works out, I oughta be able to afford the trick flow top end kit, but now I'm thinking just a ford explorer intake and some aluminium heads and stock h.o. cam. But pleanty of little things I can do before that. I'm thinking full length subframes and replacing the shocks and dropping my sn-95 springs in the front to drop the nose a bit. I routinely have 500-600lbs of work tools in the trunk, and working out of town will only make that a more common occurance. Think I'm going to get air shocks and maybe a small -500lb sized trailer as time goes on. But we will see how this job works out.

As it sits now, i'd be happy with a 550 mile range, but calculating mileage will be about impossible till I get the speedo/odometer worked out. Hoping to do the 893 mile drive in about 2 tanks, gonna try to make it all in one solid run, only stopping for gas. I have managed 650-700 miles on a tank with the aod in my last bird. But that was 55mph and a reletively all flat highway run over the course of about 4 days.
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

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #12
Meh. Don't really need a tach - just shift when it stops pulling. After driving it for a bit you'll figure that point out just by the feel, and you'll know to upshift just before it happens. Few people that drive standards daily watch the tach while driving, it's all ears and ass. An SO 5.0 will pretty much smother itself before it spins itself apart (can't get enough air to rev high enough). About the only way you'd spin one apart would be to miss a shift or downshift into the wrong gear
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #13
I am doing the same swap on my Sport Coupe. Where did you find the harness connector to plug in the interlock switch on the pedal assembly?
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

what my mustang buddy thinks of my t-5 swap...

Reply #14
I initually tried to hook the nss from the aod to the sensor on the quadrant. It was the opposite of what I needed though. It wouldn't start with the clutch down that way. I actually have a partial manual trans harness from a foxbody mustang, I only used the reverse lights plug and jumped the nss.

I have part of the sensor that goes right above the clutch pedal, but it was broken and didn't function so I just left it off.
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