Article may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- The T5 is a 5 speed transmission that came in a very large variety of gearset options. One of the common gear ratio selections in the high power option is 2.95 in 1st, 1.94 in 2nd, 1.34 in 3rd, 1 in 4th and 0.63 in 5th. The reverse gear was given a ratio of 2.76 in this application. Materials, Size and Weight.
- We have a large line of T5 transmission parts for Ford,Jeep,Chevrolet, from gears to syncro rings to bearing kits and more.
The T5 Transmission was developed and produced by Borg-Warner beginning in 1980. Borg-Warner continued to produce and develop this transmission until 1998 when Borg-Warner sold off its transmission division to Tremec.
Ford T5 Transmission Dimensions
The T5 transmission is a manual five-speed transmission manufactured for Ford, by Borg Warner (now Tremec.) The T5 was offered in Mustangs, Thunderbirds, Capris, and possibly other Ford vehicls from 1983 all the way up to 1996, but you have to be careful -there are different specifications for 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder, and V8 cars. This Tremec T-5 transmission from Ford Racing is the latest, heavy duty version designed to fit 79-93 5. Featuring 300ft/lb torque capacity, Double moly 2nd speed, 3rd speed and countershaft cluster gears, carbon fiber 3-4 blocker rings, and the following gear ratios.
The T5 transmission had an extended lifespan and was installed in a multitude of car applications.
The first application that the T5 was offered in was the AMC Spirit and Concord. From there the transmission was offered into manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, and even the Nissan 300 ZX Turbo.
By far the most popular application for the T5 has been in Ford cars, particularly the Ford Mustang.
As mentioned, the T5 was introduced into production beginning in 1980. At that time the transmission was under a classification, or internal name, called the “Non-World Class.”
The “World Class transmission” was designed to be able to meet standards from across the world. The World Class transmission first became popular beginning around 1985.
While this transmission can still be purchased and many aftermarket companies offer this, the application in normal production vehicles ended in 2010.
Pros and Cons
The Tremec T5 was a very popular transmission and used in over 200 applications over 30 years. Some of the reasons for its popularity were its overall reliability, light weight and the overdrive gear available in 5th gear.
One of the more common issues reported was difficulty shifting into reverse as the reverse gear is not synchronized. There are some ways to resolve the issue after some experience, such as shifting into a gear before shifting to reverse.
T5 Transmission Performance Specs
While the T5 transmission is not weak, it is also not meant for high-powered performance applications. A more common application would be paired to a V6 engine.
Ford T5 Transmission Rebuild Kit
The peak torque that this 5-speed manual transmission could handle was 265 lb-ft upon introduction. This power rating was the same for the non-world class as well as the original world class T5 transmission.
The power rating did increase in 1990 thanks primarily to a stronger gear set, increasing the peak torque to 300 lb-ft, with later applications getting up to 310 lb-ft.
The T5 is mounted longitudinally so that it can support rear wheel drive applications. The T5 is a 5 speed transmission that came in a very large variety of gearset options.
One of the common gear ratio selections in the high power option is 2.95 in 1st, 1.94 in 2nd, 1.34 in 3rd, 1 in 4th and 0.63 in 5th. The reverse gear was given a ratio of 2.76 in this application.
Materials, Size and Weight
The main housing of the T5 is made of cast aluminum. The top cover is also made from Cast aluminum.
The length of the transmission varies significantly depending on the application. The overall length of the transmission in common Ford applications in is 31.6 inches, while the length from the front of the main housing to the output shaft is around 15.4 inches.
Ford T5 Transmission Yoke
The transmission is quite light, with reported weights being between 70 to 75 pounds. The transmission fluid capacity of the T5 is 2.8 quarts.
The T5 transmission was a 5 speed manual transmission that was first produced in 1980 by Borg-Warner. Some significant modifications were available beginning around 1985 as the transmission made the transition from the non-world class to the world class model.
In 1998 the transmission was taken over by Tremec, and this transmission was used in a variety of production cars until 2010. This 30 year usage makes it one of the longest lasting overdrive manual transmissions of all time.
While the T5 was applied in a number of applications, it is most well-known for its applicability to Fords. The transmission was able to handle a peak torque of 265 lb-ft upon introduction but reached up to 310 lb-ft in certain applications during its lifecycle.
Ford T5 Transmission 4x4
| Dedicated racers have associated the G-Force marquee with superior products for years, and now we bring that reputation to the street enthusiast as well. |
| G-Force offers a street 5-speed T-5 kit for an entry level price. These kits allow for substantially increased horsepower handling capabilities while utilizing the factory T-5 location and mounting dimensions. This simplifies installation tremendously and assures the stock look for many cars if so desired. For vehicles not already running a T-5, an installation kit may be available for your specific application. While the G-Force Street 5-Speed conversion may look identical on the outside to a stock T-5, rest assured that they are vastly different on the inside. |
The kits are available in synchronized and feature high nickel gears, a heavy duty 26 spline input shaft, and an available 9310 mainshaft upgrade. There is even an optional shift fork upgrade. The synchronized kit features helical-cut gears for better noise reduction while still retaining extra gear width.
|
If a used T-5 is available to you, it can be sent back for the upgrade installation and all worn out or broken parts will be repaired or replaced, at our discretion, with new or remanufactured parts. As long as the case is good, we can use it. Every upgrade kit even comes with the required oil. This oil must be run with the upgrade kit to insure optimum performance and durability. Also, the shifter installation on our conversions is identical to a stock T-5, so any existing stock or aftermarket shifter can be installed. The stock T-5 is rated at about 300 ft-lb of torque capacity. While this is fine for stock or lightly modified engine combinations, especially running small street tires, it isn’t generally enough for most of today’s high powered street/strip engine combinations. This is where the G-Force Street 5-Speed kit comes into play. Although we do not like to put torque or horsepower ratings on our products due to the vast differences in clutch, engine, chassis, tire, and mounting combinations, we can give a very rough estimate. There are simply too many variables to consider when trying to figure out how much power or torque a transmission will take in a particular application. Generally, it can be assumed that with the available upgraded mainshaft, the G-Force Street 5-Speed kit will handle roughly 600 hp or 500 ft-lb. of torque in a 3300 lb. vehicle running drag radials at the track with a moderate clutch upgrade. Obviously this is just a rough estimate regarding the power and torque handling capability, but it should give some idea as to what the G-Force Street 5-Speed kit will handle in your particular application. Our Street 5-Speed kits are currently available with the preferred 2.94, 1.94, 1.34, 1.00 ratios in gears 1 thru 4, and because most performance enthusiasts run a relatively steep rear gear, our synchronized kit utilizes a stock .63 overdrive in most applications, which allows the engine to turn less RPM at cruising speed. This equates to less engine wear and better gas mileage while still maintaining incredible acceleration in the first 4 gears -We currently have a 2.42 ratio available as well.