[Amc-list] Re; Reasons To Use a T-5 and Why?

["John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx>]

Snip
some of us would like all 5 gears, eg. -not- a -deep- overdrive 5th.
Snip
If that is the case then a relatively stock Mustang T-5 is not an 
option. Be prepared to look at other transmissions and comparatively
expensive rebuild situations to accomplish this. 
While doing this also keep in mind the almost total lack of being 
able to mount alternative transmissions on an AMC block due to
the lack of an available bell housing or in some cases the transmission
options are very old and almost impossible to find. 
 
 
Snip
g force set is all the gears.  iirc 1st is about
2.43, 5th is about 0.93.  made of strong 9310 nickel steel and $$$$.
Snip
As pointed out the $$$$ is the operative option, not one to use 
if you are attempting to accomplish a transmission on a budget, but 
certainly do-able along with various individual components from 
other vendors. For me I would limit myself to changing the ratio 
of 1st and 2nd gear clusters and they are available but at a cost too.  
 
Snip
fwiw 5th in the ford 2.95 t5 ['83-5 mustang, svt '7003' series] is
0.63; in the '86-up mustang 3.35, 0.68 with v8s and 0.73 with v6s.
in camaro/firebird 2.95, 0.73.  ironically the tallest 5th are on t5s
with the tallest 1st too, but maybe not a coincidence they're all
teamed with big [for the era] fuel-hungry v8s.
Snip
While the above might be true, non of these things are available 
in the W/C line of 5 liter Mustang application T-5 transmissions
which of themselves have the highest strength rating with no 
modifications from the factory and are bolt on compatible with 
AMC engines. 
Some to these other less strong transmissions will work in one
fashion or another or parts can be intermingled to make what 
you want up to a point and will function with lower hp rated 
engines reliably but to make them work there is an assumption
that you have access to these parts or assortments and it is 
worth your while to deal with them.  Where as pulling a W/C 
Mustang T-5 out of a wrecked Mustang gives you an AMC 
engine compatible transmission requiring no further modifications
to allow it to work in good fashion. 
 
 
SNIP
btw in the t56 both 5th and 6th are overdrives, with 6th 0.50.  iirc
1st is 2.66.
 SNIP
 
Also true, but as these were never available as OEM on any
thing that I am aware of, 'specially a Mustang an as such, not
something I have covered in this discussion. 
 As in all options, additional monies and additional components may
be available but you would have to go to additional vendors to 
find them, if they are AMC compatible. 
 
SNIP
got a bit of cam, eh?
SNIP
 
Yes!, The car will idle on random 5 cylinders at 450 rpm all day long.
 
SNIP
3.55 and 3.73 are popular swaps into the 'stang, even with the 3.35
1st.  but then even the drag racers are mostly running only a 302.
SNIP
 
I'd put good money on a guess that they would be starting in 2nd gear
with this set up. Sort of a waste of a good 5 speed if they are. 
To properly set this up and use the full capability of the transmission
you have to take a look at modifying the gear sets to be compatible 
with final drive and or rear wheel diameter. 
Other wise this is just a "crutch" application with the end result of 
a mostly unusable Grannie low if driven on the street. 
If this is not a street application then whether it is popular or not
it is of no interest to me. 
 
Snip
 but 400 hp doesn't guarantee 400 ft-lbs;
Snip
Never said it did, I said I build horsepower motors, it is of concern to

me where and how much the horsepower is. From horse power 
torque gets generated and when it does I will see to it that the 
transmission of choice will be able to handle it. 
I-6 motors don't have much torque, mountain motors do!
 
SNIP
" ... if I were to build a Purpose Built
" 400 HP drag racer, and budget was not a problem I would go with the
" TREMEC.
 
is there really enough time to go through all 5 gears in a 10s
quarter?  that's why i thought an iron case 4sp toploader would be a
good solution, much cheaper than a tremec and stronger than a t5.
SNIP
 
I can not see a situation where one would want to shift into overdrive
on a drag strip. As a T-5 can be considered a wide ratio 4 speed 
with an overdrive function it makes a good compromise for a street/strip
application and a reasonable alternative for a pure strip application 
'specially where an iron Case 4 speed Top Loader may not be 
available easily. Don't know the availability of an old top loader 
but I don't think they are kicking around for $20.00 any more and 
in some parts of the country probably have not been seen for 2 or 
3 decades, where the newer transmissions are available in a 
variety of applications and may just be able to be picked up cheaply. 
The just require a slightly different approach to thinking about them 
then the older transmissions did. 
Lack of availability easily of replacement T-10's when I lunched mine
vs availability and benefits from using a T-5 were significant decision
makers when selecting the T-5 for my applications and still is.
 
Sort of like  I saw a well built RAT Rod parked at 1st Fridays in 
down town Phoenix last week. T-Bucket body, p/u bed, rear 
air suspension, front tube axle with suicide spring and a 
Chebby I-6 all dressed up to go to town with triple chrome things
mounted on the engine. At least that is what more than 1 person 
was trying to figure out. They had never seen a carburetor before 
and had no clue what they were. 
 
The great Stroker McGurk
http://canneysgarage.canney.net/www/stroker/main.html
 before his memory faded off into dream
land had a sign on the wall that changed from You can't beat 
cubic inches to; You Can't Beat Cubic Money!
Unfortunately that was probably the last epitaph as applied to 
the automotive hobby and set the stage for the future which is 
now. 
John. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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