5-Speed swap

94m5

94m5

Dmaup's Daddy
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Well, I seem to have lost my old thread related to this, so I'll start a new one.



As some of you may know, I have one of the 2 markVIII's in America with a manual transmission. This was a project for me and dad that we finished almost 2 years ago.


The transmission is a T-45 out of a 2000 mustang GT, and the clutch is matched to that. Hydraulic clutch, and hand fabricated shifter linkage. Other than the piece of crap T45 we are VERY happy with the swap results. with stock gearing and the steeper OD, along with the more effecient transmission, it gets over 31 MPG out on the highway. To pass 2nd gear is what you want :)


For now, the car has been put on the back burner because I am preparing to move out to colorado, and with 2 other VIII's money has to be shuffled around. :)


Anyway, here are the pics if you have any questions......Ask them HERE, so we can begin to build a database for this subject.
 
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this is something I have wanted to do since the day I bought my Mark VIII in 1999, put in a 5 or 6 speed manual tranny, I knew that someone out there has done this. I still want to do it. it would be cool to have a data base for a step by step process. I'm looking forward to it.:cool: :cool: Thanks, Mike!!
 
Honestly its not that hard. Just make damn sure its what you want before you start permanently modding stuff.
 
Yea the car is running. Pig rich, but running. I've been looking for a new job, and saving money. If I work on the car I want to spend money and I cant do that right now. when I get a job alot more updates will coming.
 
Did you need to do any computer modifications, like doesn't the PCM detect that it has no connection with the transmission? and how the heck did you mount the clutch?
 
It's funny how alot of you want to swap manual tranys in your Marks and I'm planning to swap auto trany into my 5-speed T-bird SC:D
 
I want to swap to a 5-speed auto. The LS trans shifts are very tight compared to the MarkVIII. Till someone makes a stand alone controller, the swap would be challenged by controlling the trans properly. Seems the 5R55W, 5R55S and 5R55N are mostly controlled by electric servos instead of a valve body making it more of a challenge.
 
02LSE96LSC91SE84TC said:
I want to swap to a 5-speed auto. The LS trans shifts are very tight compared to the MarkVIII. Till someone makes a stand alone controller, the swap would be challenged by controlling the trans properly. Seems the 5R55W, 5R55S and 5R55N are mostly controlled by electric servos instead of a valve body making it more of a challenge.
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They shift good but aren't they crap.I know 3 people with new explorers and mountaineers having problems with those tranys.
 
95sc said:
It's funny how alot of you want to swap manual tranys in your Marks and I'm planning to swap auto trany into my 5-speed T-bird SC:D
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Yeah... I've decided I want a T45 VIII because it would make the car more fun to drive, and I don't plan to do more than headers/exhaust and the nitrous I have on it. So it will still benefit from a manual, and heck I can get a T45 for the same price as a stall for the 4r70w. If you're going for an actual like 11 second car then yeah I can see swapping an auto.
 
95sc said:
They shift good but aren't they crap.I know 3 people with new explorers and mountaineers having problems with those tranys.
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Maybe. All I know is the most obvious performance/power difference between driving my LSE vs. my LSC is the fast ratio trans on the LSE. Throw size, looks, age, etc. aside. To me the Mark stock trim or near as mine is would benefit from such a swap, without the need for high stall or real high gears. It would be like 4.56 gears in 1st but 3.73s in overdrive if you had 3.73s which I'm installing. As far as durability I don't think I'm going to go that far to push it. My guy has his 5R55W from his 03 Explorer sitting on the garage floor as he has moved on to a older 4speed. The 5R55W has handled 8-9psi of 2.2 Kenne Bell fine. Hes switched to the old school because of the 20psi its now packing. I think it'd be a incredible mod for the MarkVIII. Bolting in is a piece of cake, controlling is a different story.
 
02LSE96LSC91SE84TC said:
I want to swap to a 5-speed auto. The LS trans shifts are very tight compared to the MarkVIII. Till someone makes a stand alone controller, the swap would be challenged by controlling the trans properly. Seems the 5R55W, 5R55S and 5R55N are mostly controlled by electric servos instead of a valve body making it more of a challenge.
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That's not what the thread's about.
 
MediumD said:
Yeah... I've decided I want a T45 VIII because it would make the car more fun to drive, and I don't plan to do more than headers/exhaust and the nitrous I have on it. So it will still benefit from a manual, and heck I can get a T45 for the same price as a stall for the 4r70w. If you're going for an actual like 11 second car then yeah I can see swapping an auto.
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have you considered the T-56? It's alot stronger, I don't know of a single T-45 that hasn't crapped!! Unless you're gonna drive it like a pussy.


Pricewise you have some good options on the T-56. Check ebay.

www.t56rebuilds.com
 
First off I know plenty of T45s that haven't crapped, I don't think a T45 will have a problem with a vehicle with only ~250rwhp (maybe 375 w/N2O.)

Have I considered a T56? Of course, they're a good trans, however I like the 3.37 first gear ratio of the T45 more than the 2.66 of the cobra T56 since the overdrives are similar (T45=.67 vs T56=.62) meaning I can't totally make up for the T56s low first with high rear gears. Can I afford one? Barely if I eat Ramen noodles and Mac and Cheese for a year. Can I justify a $2k T56 over a $800 T45? No. Maybe I'll steal one when a terminator owner isn't looking :shifty:
 
I paid 250 for my T45......




Check modulardepot.com, and some of the bigger stang forums. You might want to consider a 3650 also.
 
If I can find a .62 5th ratio TR3650 I'd be all over it, then I could run 3.55s and in 1st it would act like 4.21s with the auto, and in OD it would act like 3.15s with the auto. That would be sweet. My $800 price was what I could get a rebuilt one for.
 
MediumD said:
First off I know plenty of T45s that haven't crapped, I don't think a T45 will have a problem with a vehicle with only ~250rwhp (maybe 375 w/N2O.)
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Really..?. Hrm, different experiences!


MediumD said:
Can I justify a $2k T56 over a $800 T45? No. Maybe I'll steal one when a terminator owner isn't looking :shifty:
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Well unless you like giving money away they can be had for a grand, freshly rebuilt. Granted you have to look and research, but guaranteed you'll find more than a couple if doing so.

I guess it's a preference thing, though.!

..don't compare a built T-56 to a non built used t-45 on pricing.
 
poniesviii said:
..don't compare a built T-56 to a non built used t-45 on pricing.
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And don't put words in my mouth.


I told him I paid 250 for my piticular tranny, to check the mustang forums, and to widen his search to a 3650. nothing more, nothing less.

Since you seem to be so good at finding deals on T56's, and building 5000 dollar 600+Hp terminators, why don't you share your secrets? I am in no need of any of it as I have already "wasted" my hard earned money.

Some of the other guys on here could use it.
 
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