Another thought on the 1500 5spd...

[mgblue79]

Just thinking the other day about some of the discussion regarding the T-5 into the 1500 and wondered, if the T-5 will fit is there a possibility that the T-56 would also? I have beeen unable to find specs on the 56.
I have found these on e-bay in the $500 - $800 range. Not bad, but wether or not it's worth that much over a T-5 to go from a .82 to a .76 (just a guess at the o/d ratios)top gear I don't know. Maybe if I were driving the car from Wisconsin to one or the other coasts???? I lean toward thinking if there is the possibility of getting a 6 speed installed for around $1000 it might be worth it.
Any thoughts or idaes?
Thanks,
John

 

[budk1953]

After much thought on used transmissions, adapter plates, driveshaft modifications,etc., and putting all these things together, I've decided to take the plunge and get the whole T9 kit.

 

[derf]

You could do the Spit overdrive tranny.

 

[Bugeye58]

Wharever route you take, make sure you've got plenty of blades for the Sawzall. You're going to need them.
Jeff

 

[Morris]

You would have to do a lot of cutting to get the t-56 in there, but the t-5 should go right in. According to wikipedia, the t-56 top gear is roughly .60-.50 depending on the car you take it from. The t-5 range is roughly .82-.75.

This thread reminded me that I took some crude measurements from a t-5 from a Mustang v-6 that was sitting in my neighbor's front yard ( I live in an interesting neighborhood ).

The input shaft extends 8" from the front of the case. It's diameter is 1.15" and it has 10 splines. The pilot bearing is roughly .77" in diameter. The housing for the seal extends 1.5" from the front of the case.

The center of the shifter is 19.5" from the front of the case. The case is 9.25" long and the tail piece is 15.5" long. In short, the dimensions are very close to the stock gear box.

I think the only real challenge to adapting the t-5 is the input shaft. There was a t-5 adapted for use with the a-series on ebay recently. The seller told me he created the adaptation by welding the a-series input shaft to the t-5 first motion gear. He claimed to have raced a full season with this set-up.

I wonder if there is a version of the t-5 that has the same spline count as the t-9. I have heard that a Hillman Avenger clutch dues a fine job of mating the t-9 to the Sptifidget motor.

Everything else should be pretty elementary. A custom drive shaft would have to be built. A housing for the seal could be machined into the aluminum adapter plate. And a custom mounting bracket that uses the Midget's and the t-5's stock mounting points could be welded up pretty easy.

 

[derf]

The guy on ebay welded a Spridget bell housing to the front of the T-5:

url if my image doesn't work.

 

[mgblue79]

Yes, this is what I was looking for. The T-56 is too big. Ok, back to the original problem, makint the T-5 work...