Posted by 72Grabber (IP: 206.71.78.101) on May 31, 2000 at 01:18:57:
In Reply to: T-5 conversion kit in the making posted by Brian Volk on May 30, 2000 at 22:12:05:
I put a T-5 in my '65 mustang last year, and it IS pretty much a bolt-in swap. If your Mav already has a manual trans you can go two ways: (1) buy an adapter plate (about $90 ??) from Mustangs Unlimited or other supplier, and you can use the stock pressure plate/Z-bar/Throwout/etc. and all you have to worry about is making or modifying your existing crossmember. (2) you can use the T-5 bellhousing and use the reverse pull clutch fork with a cable setup. or you can use the conventional fork if you use the original pivot and make a block moving it 1 inch forward.
I'm not sure about the hydraulic clutch idea, a cable seems much simpler, and is adjustable. Jegs sells a cable and fork kit for about $40, and all you gotta do is weld a flat piece of steel on top of your clutch pedal (on the other side of the pivot, so it pulls the cable) and drill a hole in it to attach the cable to. then make a hole in your firewall to pass the cable through, and secure the cable housing.
I would have just used the T-5 bellhousing, but my engine has the early (pre-'65) 5 bolt bellhousing, so I went with the adapter plate and it works pretty sweet. I didn't even have to shorten my driveline (some people do, depends) and the shifter came up through the stock location.
I believe the hardest part of the whole T-5 swap thing is actually locating a T-5 in the first place for a decent price, I mean, if your gonna spend $1100 for a new T-5, why not spend $1500 for a Tremec?