How Long Will My T5 Last

Gear grabber

Well-Known Member
May 23, 2016
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Probably 550+ torque f/w,n/a. Mcleod super street pro clutch(organic ceramic)
Was not overly concerned at first,lots of wheel spin. With some chassis
improvements and grippy tires,it is starting to put some power down.(street only)
Any chance the T5 will last a few months ?
 
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Do the TKO you'll pay for it by not having to keep replacing and rebuilding a T5 of any flavor.

Don't waste your money on a T5 in any form. Everybody talks about super T5's from various vendors and how they are supposed to be so good and hold up under all sorts of driving. The trouble is they usually don't own one. You never hear from anyone that has a super T5 that they have driven for 10,000-20,000 miles or more and not had problems. The T5’s problem of the case spreading so the gears engage only at the gear tooth tips is still present. That causes them to fail anyway, even with the stronger gear material.

I have a Tremec 3550, the little brother to the TKO, that I have driven for more than 10 years. It still shifts fast, and smooth, I never lift off the throttle to shift and it never complains or gives me problems. As long as you run the correct lubricant and the right amount of it, they are almost bulletproof.

With your engine and rear axle gears you will need a lower numerical set of gear ratios for best performance.
See http://www.tremec.com/menu.php?m=103 for more information

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Do the TKO you'll pay for it by not having to keep replacing and rebuilding a T5 of any flavor.

Don't waste your money on a T5 in any form. Everybody talks about super T5's from various vendors and how they are supposed to be so good and hold up under all sorts of driving. The trouble is they usually don't own one. You never hear from anyone that has a super T5 that they have driven for 10,000-20,000 miles or more and not had problems. The T5’s problem of the case spreading so the gears engage only at the gear tooth tips is still present. That causes them to fail anyway, even with the stronger gear material.

I have a Tremec 3550, the little brother to the TKO, that I have driven for more than 10 years. It still shifts fast, and smooth, I never lift off the throttle to shift and it never complains or gives me problems. As long as you run the correct lubricant and the right amount of it, they are almost bulletproof.

With your engine and rear axle gears you will need a lower numerical set of gear ratios for best performance.
See http://www.tremec.com/menu.php?m=103 for more information

?temp_hash=750f4d74256ca05ad32e5e6fcacd388f.gif

I have a 10 year old G Force T5. I have put almost 10,000 miles on it, not sure how many were on it when I got it. I have probably made 60+ passes on it. It is time for a refresh though. I only make about 415hp. For the OP's power level, I would agree that a TKO would be best. I would love to try out a fully built A5!

Joe
 
I have a 10 year old G Force T5. I have put almost 10,000 miles on it, not sure how many were on it when I got it. I have probably made 60+ passes on it. It is time for a refresh though. I only make about 415hp. For the OP's power level, I would agree that a TKO would be best. I would love to try out a fully built A5!

Joe

Thank you for you input, I will certainly consider it in the future. You the first person that I have heard from regarding a super T5 transmission in any form. If there are others whose actual experience mirrors yours or is different, I would like to hear from them.
 
If you are just trying to get by for a bit you can just baby the car off the line. The guys are right. Shock load is the big killer. One good clutch drop is all it would take at your power levels.
 
After lots of thought...and before the T5 goes ka-boom.
I pulled the trigger on a D&D T-56 Magnum,swap kit.
With Mcleod RXT twin disc.
Will be nice to have a usable 1st gear,and two O.D.'s
 
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After lots of thought...and before the T5 goes ka-boom.
I pulled the trigger on a D&D T-56 Magnum,swap kit.
With Mcleod RXT twin disc.
Will be nice to have a usable 1st gear,and two O.D.'s
Jeeeeez man! Nice isn't a good enough adjective here.

From what the other guys here say after they did the T56 swap, they can't believe how much nicer it is.

Plus that sixth gear on the highway won't be a bad thing either.
 
My st5 was new from a vender when I put it in and now has 50k on it. That was 12 or more years ago and still go'n strong but I knew from the get go what I had and what they were good for. First, they don't like speed shifting buzzed it a couple times in second gear, they don't like sticky tires and hard launches, they will spit their guts out. I have a 89 gt 355 gears long tubes 70 mm tb and gt40 tubular intake. I use a pro50 shifter. Will be putting gt40p heads on it soon so I am only about 275 horses or so with the heads on. T5 is ok if you know how to treat them but if you beat on'em they will gladly puke their guts.
 
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I killed a t5 in less than a month from buying the car about a decade ago. Car had 3.73 gears, not to drag radials (still didn't hook great), and a little power dyne blower. Clutch went first. Threw in center force, then tranny died about 2 weeks later. Went to a tko 500 with a centerforce and never looked back. I gave that thing absolute HELL for over a year. Running 15 laps at the 1/4 in a row. Occasional missed 2-3 shift. Power shifting all the way. That thing didn't seem to care one bit.
 
The six speed is in. Some headaches...
But all worth it,when you push in the light pedal, (rxt twin disc)
and nudge it in to 1st with no drama. Clutch release is smooth,with lots of feel.
The taller first gear (2.66) feels nice,compared to the tire fryer 3.35,in the T-5.
Shifting feels smooth so far. The .80 fifth is nice for lower cruise speeds.
Not many miles on it yet. (rain)
 
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