Need Transmission Opinions

[redsn95gt]

My project started out as a budget build weekend warrior, so I got a WC BW T5 from a 94 Cobra with B+M shifter off Craigslist for $350 awhile back, guy said it was a solid tranny with no problems, ready to go. Anyway, I finally got to drive my project this last week, 2nd gear won't stick at all, you really have to jam at it to get it to shift. Also hearing some really funky friction noises going on when driving. I'm thinking i got suckered on the deal.

Anyway, if 2nd is bad, that means teardown and rebuild kit. My options are:

TKO500 + Bellhousing + clutch - $2500-2800 - This is my last resort, I was NOT planning to drop this much on a tranny, do I even need a TKO500?

Rebuild the T5 - $1300 ish? - Would this be a waste of money? I've already dumped a lot into buying brand new clutch, brand new pilot + throw out bearings, brand new clutch fork, bearing retainer, tailshaft seal...

My car is stock block shopped and rebuilt for NA with ported AFRs, Holley Systemax, 70mm TB, 70mm Pro-M, 30# injectors.. i'd like to think i could make 300hp when tuned, so torque would be in that neighborhood. I don't see my setup changing much from here.

Thoughts or ideas?

Thanks!

 

[revhead347]

An original World Class rebuild kit for a T-5 is $250 plus you are going to want to get a steal retainer which is $39. I can't imagine it costing $1300 to do it. You're talking 4 hours of work if you do it yourself. You probably didn't get the best deal on that transmission, but it's actually pretty close to core value. If you pull off the top and it's got good gears in it, I would just rebuild it. If it's got more than one broken gear, you might as well sell it for parts, because those gears cost a fortune. I'm not convinced you need to go for a TKO500. There are actually quite a few decent parts that can make that T-5 stronger than a TKO500 for about the same money.

Kurt

 

[rio95]

This is easy. Sell that one and buy another T5.

 

[revhead347]

If he sells it as a broken transmission, he'll lose money big time. If he claims it's in good working order, he's no better than the guy who sold it to him. Not to mention in might end up going through his front window some day.

Kurt

 

[redsn95gt]

Thanks guys. Thought about getting another t5, then transferring my new parts. Would cost same as rebuild kit apparently. Wasnt sure on difficulty here. I built my own engine, I did well, but tranny had so many more parts I was concerned on the amount of tollerances id have to get accurate. Good thing on rebuild also is I could change 1st gear ratio too. I love how light it is too.

 

[rio95]

If he sells it as a broken transmission, he'll lose money big time. If he claims it's in good working order, he's no better than the guy who sold it to him. Not to mention in might end up going through his front window some day.

Kurt

I wasn't suggesting that he try to scam someone!

All I'm saying is he only has $350 into it and rebuilding it isn't that cheap and will take some time to learn and to actaully do the work. I'm just saying it might not really be worth messing with. Maybe buying a different one would be easier. Fors instances, when I broke my T5, I sold it broke for like $100 and then bought a new used one for $250. I think that is a much better route than messing with rebuilding it yourself and paying someone to reuild it I wouldn't even consider an option personally.

My main point is stick with the T5 rather than buying a TKO that he doesn't need with his power.

 

[revhead347]

Thanks guys. Thought about getting another t5, then transferring my new parts. Would cost same as rebuild kit apparently. Wasnt sure on difficulty here. I built my own engine, I did well, but tranny had so many more parts I was concerned on the amount of tollerances id have to get accurate. Good thing on rebuild also is I could change 1st gear ratio too. I love how light it is too.

You have to decide if you can do the transmission yourself. There really aren't too many tollerances to deal with. The only place you set tollerances is on the front bearing retainer. There are usually 2 shims on the forward main bearing to set the tollerances on the input to output shaft compression. You check it with a gauge on the input shaft. I have never run across a transmission that didn't have the same number of shims going back together as when you took it apart. There are a lot of little pieces, but if you take your time and keep track it's not too bad. The overhaul manual is available free in PDF format on the TTC website.

Kurt

 

[redsn95gt]

Thanks Kurt. Sounds like it might be manageable if thats all that is involved. I saw a guy on ebay re-selling T5s that he claims can withstand 375hp (thats hp, not tq) and another that can take 415hp. I'm guessing hes using an off the shelf rebuild kit, but I'd like to figure out which one. I'd like to have that little more insurance by putting in better quality parts to make sure it will be that much tougher.

I'll be pulling the tranny off today if the weather is good and opening the case to see whats wrong.

 

[revhead347]

The two companies that make gear kits and T-5 parts are Astro and G-Force. Most of those parts are pretty pricey.

Kurt

 

[redsn95gt]

Thanks. Astro isn't too far from where I am actually. I'll give them a call, looks like it will run me about $600+ in parts to refresh everything. Or I could go with one of their core trades for about double that which would have a 2.45 first gear and worthy of 350ft/lb torque.

 

[redsn95gt]

I ended up working out a deal with Tony at Astro Performance for his 94-95 Level 3 transmission package. Its being built right now and I should be able to pick it up next Tues or Wed. I'm pretty excited, Tony is a great person to do business with. I will be trading my current BW WC T5 and transferring my Ford Racing bearing retainer and also my pilot bearing which will be modified slightly to use the input shaft he has (1/4" shorter) with the 2.49 1st gear. It will also have the reduced 5th gear to help out on mpg when cruising highways. I'll let you know how it is when I drop it in. I also have my engine torn apart to fix a few leak problems, I hope to have it all back together by next weekend.

 

[revhead347]

I ended up working out a deal with Tony at Astro Performance for his 94-95 Level 3 transmission package. Its being built right now and I should be able to pick it up next Tues or Wed. I'm pretty excited, Tony is a great person to do business with. I will be trading my current BW WC T5 and transferring my Ford Racing bearing retainer and also my pilot bearing which will be modified slightly to use the input shaft he has (1/4" shorter) with the 2.49 1st gear. It will also have the reduced 5th gear to help out on mpg when cruising highways. I'll let you know how it is when I drop it in. I also have my engine torn apart to fix a few leak problems, I hope to have it all back together by next weekend.

Sounds like a good choice.

Kurt

 

[rio95]

I ended up working out a deal with Tony at Astro Performance for his 94-95 Level 3 transmission package. Its being built right now and I should be able to pick it up next Tues or Wed. I'm pretty excited, Tony is a great person to do business with. I will be trading my current BW WC T5 and transferring my Ford Racing bearing retainer and also my pilot bearing which will be modified slightly to use the input shaft he has (1/4" shorter) with the 2.49 1st gear. It will also have the reduced 5th gear to help out on mpg when cruising highways. I'll let you know how it is when I drop it in. I also have my engine torn apart to fix a few leak problems, I hope to have it all back together by next weekend.

Tony is an awesome guy to work with!

Out of curiousity why did you decide to upgrade? What are your future plans?

Also, are you sure that's the 1st gear ratio you are going to have? If so how and that is HUGE!!! That would be the longest first gear I've ever heard of being in a manual stang.

Is this the tranny you bought more or less? Not sure what level 3 means. This is the tranny I had.
Astroperformance.com - Your Manual Drivetrain Specialist