T5 Rebuild Advice Please

[mburger]

Hey all.
My engine and transmission are out of my Mk1 as part of a complete refresh/update/rebuild.
My T5, with I think about 80,000 miles on it, has been working great.
It shifts like butter, smooth and a joy to drive with it.
I am replacing the clutch and the engine with a 347 advertised 410/410.

My issue: The transmission whines in 4th and 5th gear, and starts almost exactly at 50 mph.
The whine never goes away while going faster.
Unfortunately I don't recall if it whined with the clutch in. I am thinking no it didn't.
With my top on, the whine is REAL loud but otherwise not very intrusive on the driving experience and as I say, except for the whine, it shifts and feels great.

My question: Since the T5 is out of the car sitting on the shop floor, and an engine with about 160 more HP and torque is going in, should I have the T5 rebuilt or leave well enough alone?
I don't know what a T5 rebuild cost is.
T5Z? Is that necessary mated to a 347? I don't race the car or drive it hard.
I've spent a ton of money on the old girl so far, but I'm getting to the point where I need to spend my money a little more wisely on this project.

[Norm B]

Since the whine is speed related are you sure it is from the transmission and not the differential? Forth gear is a direct connect by the shift collar between the input shaft (coming from the clutch at the very front of the transmission) and the primary shaft or output shaft connected to the drive shaft. There is no load on any of the other gears on the primary and secondary shafts. Fifth is a weak, spliced on, set of gears at the back.

Maybe some expert can chime in with more info.

Norm

[Mike N]

Astro Performance or G Force can provide a nicely upgraded rebuild on your current T5 or you can buy the parts and do it yourself. If you do it yourself I suggest getting a copy of the Bob Hanlon T5 rebuild video / DVD. I had Bob rebuilt my T5 with a few upgraded parts and I have never had an issue with it. Not sure if he still offers rebuilds. The nice thing about the upgraded T5 is that it still shifts like a T5 and it is smaller and lighter than a TKO. Bell housing and driveshaft also bolt right up. Depending on the options you pick you will likely need a new clutch as the spline count may change. I did roast a RAM heavy duty clutch but a SPEC Stage 2 took care of that issue and is still working great. Whether you upgrade the T5 or go TKO you are going to be spending some decent coin so choose wisely.

[Mike N]

Norm has a good point. My 8.8 whines noticeably especially as road speeds increase. It always has. Tough to ignore when it's pretty much under your elbow.

[FFRSpec72]

If you use GForce gears the T5 will whine in 2nd and 3rd and is quite in 4th and 5th. I use the road race gears with a first gear of 2.42 and a close ratio 2nd, 3rd and 4th

[Derald Rice]

You have a 410/410 motor going in and the old T5 is needing work.

I see a couple of options, but remember, good and cheap cannot be used in the same option.

1- Just put it back in and drive it until it blows. You will be replacing this in the future.

2- Rebuild it to T5Z specs, then hope it is enough. A T5Z is good for 330 ft/lbs, probably a 50/50 chance of survival.

3- TKO 600, g Force, or Liberty T5, good for 500-600 ft/lbs, and then don't worry about it. Drive it with confidence and have fun

I went with a TKO600 when I went through a similar upgrade a couple of years ago.

What does your local advisor (aka Henry) suggest ??

[65 Cobra Dude]

My $.02 is to drive it until it breaks. Sure, it would be much easier changing it while it’s all out but I know the way you drive and you won’t be using all those ponies or ft/lbs. But, if you decide to change or rebuild, we can do that.

Henry

[mburger]

Thanks everyone.

One of the reasons I posted the question is because I tend to second guess myself and I feel I can make the best decision for myself the more informed I am.
For example, I never considered the noise could be coming from the differential. Norm has a good point about 4th being 1:1 as well as the gearing in 5th. And since both gears whine starting right at 50 mph, it could be the differential. I've had the fluid changed in the diff but know nothing of the inside except it's 355. Mike is correct about the location of the differential too. My cup holders sit in holes I opened in the rear of the transmission tunnel. One of them popped out while at speed on the highway. I looked down to see the back end of the drive shaft right next to me spinning like a banshee. You don't think about how close these components are to you when you're in the car. Derald as usual has great input and I'd likely go the T5Z route if needed ONLY because I love how smooth the T5 is, and I've never driven with a TKO. Once everything is put back together and I'm on the road, I'll see if it whines at 50 mph in 3rd. (No I haven't worked out the RPMS yet)
Again, thanks guys.

[scottiec]

I rebuilt my t5. It whines a bit but could be the diff. drive it till it breaks honestly is what I would do. pulling the trans on this car doesn't seem unreasonable.

[Derald Rice]

[QUOTE=scottiec pulling the trans on this car doesn't seem unreasonable.[/QUOTE]

Mark's car is a MK1, and does not have the removable A-frame under the trans. There is a non-removable crossmember. I remove my trans by lifting up through the interior, but it is still possible to wrestle it out from the bottom.

Mark, while your trans is out, this will be a good time to have it looked at to confirm that the syncros, shift pads and forks are OK. Easy to do now, more difficult later on This will help its longevity, and should not be a major expense. You are not alone with your love for the T5's smoothness.

[Rdone585]

Mark, I lived in north Tampa for many years. If you want to have the tranny looked at, and don't know of a shop, and don't mind driving a couple of hours... I have had a lot of tranny experience with a certain shop in Lutz, FL, he's very good. They stopped advertising work on manual transmissions but said they would take care of us if we needed it. If you want his info let me know.

[EZ$]

Mark, I had never rebuilt a transmission, but using Paul Cangialosi's book from the Workbench Series, and some videos that he did with "Eric the Car Guy" on Youtube, I was able to rebuild my T-5. Paul has a website 5speeds.com where I purchased all the parts for the rebuild and some other supplies. I even called him direct at one point, and he was willing to speak with me on the phone, and answer some questions when I ran into an issue. Paul is in Tequesta, Florida I believe, and I couldn't give a higher recommendation if you were to choose to do this yourself.

[Avalanche325]

I rebuilt and did upgrades on my TKO 600. Anyone that can do basic mechanical work and follow instructions can do it. Youtube has all the instruction you need. This guy also has great videos.- https://www.youtube.com/c/GearBoxVideo/videos

Keep your workspace clean clean clean, keep things in order and turned the right way, and you will be good.

[EZ$]

Avalanche, That's Paul Cangialosi. He's great. Explains the steps so that even I could understand!

[emoore924]

Stock T5 is rated for 300hp iirc. I too blew mine up (pretzeled the main shaft due to a 365/425 hp/tq motor replacement) and I too had Bob Hanlon rebuild mine. Hardened gearset, strengthened case, and a few other bits and bobs to sturdy up the original T5 design. Very happy so far. Not cheap but rather than burn through stock T5s like chips at a new year's party, I thought I'd add a little preventive medicine to the mix.

And, Bob is a super nice and knowledgeable guy. He will steer you right.

[j.miller]

If the whine is the same at 50mph in 4th and 5th gear it's not coming from the gears. If it shifts smooth in all gears it's not the synchro's….and that's what ya gots is gears and synchro's and bearings. 80K isn't a lot of miles but if you lean towards a rebuild with upgrades (Hanlon) now would be the time...da bat

[rich grsc]

If the whine is the same at 50mph in 4th and 5th gear it's not coming from the gears. If it shifts smooth in all gears it's not the synchro's….and that's what ya gots is gears and synchro's and bearings. 80K isn't a lot of miles but if you lean towards a rebuild with upgrades (Hanlon) now would be the time...da bat

Advice from the professional trany handler? The whine too?:rolleyes::p or is it wine?

[Derald Rice]

Advice from the professional trany handler? The whine too?:rolleyes::p or is it wine?

Now you're in trouble. He's probably going to tell his mom.

After all, he and Captain O-ring did pick up a toothless tranny at LCS a couple of years ago.

[rich grsc]

I think it was the 'toothless' part that was important:rolleyes:
Now I know I'm in trouble.

[mburger]

After all, he and Captain O-ring did pick up a toothless tranny at LCS a couple of years ago.

I’m not going to ask...

[Big Blocker]

You guys are in trouble now . . .

Doc

[j.miller]

ok, you asked for it...…. "I'M TELLIN MY MOM!!!!".....and in Ohio I'm not the one who found out the difference between a Garbonzo bean and a Chick Pea. You're all a bunch of bastages….god I loves ya !...da Bat

[scottiec]

Mark's car is a MK1, and does not have the removable A-frame under the trans. There is a non-removable crossmember. I remove my trans by lifting up through the interior, but it is still possible to wrestle it out from the bottom.

Mark, while your trans is out, this will be a good time to have it looked at to confirm that the syncros, shift pads and forks are OK. Easy to do now, more difficult later on This will help its longevity, and should not be a major expense. You are not alone with your love for the T5's smoothness.

AHHHHH Didnt realize. Thanks for the info!

[Avalanche325]

Trannys and wine........
Is it Friday night already?

[rich grsc]

Trannys and wine........
Is it Friday night already?
At the Miller house?

[FFRSpec72]

You have a 410/410 motor going in and the old T5 is needing work.

I see a couple of options, but remember, good and cheap cannot be used in the same option.

1- Just put it back in and drive it until it blows. You will be replacing this in the future.

2- Rebuild it to T5Z specs, then hope it is enough. A T5Z is good for 330 ft/lbs, probably a 50/50 chance of survival.

3- TKO 600, g Force, or Liberty T5, good for 500-600 ft/lbs, and then don't worry about it. Drive it with confidence and have fun

I went with a TKO600 when I went through a similar upgrade a couple of years ago.

What does your local advisor (aka Henry) suggest ??

Don't forget about the wieght difference when going from T5 to TKO500/600, in my case the extra 50lbs matters

[CraigS]

For reference, I used a bone stock TKO500. The shifting isn't quite as low effort as a T-5 but it is perfectly acceptable.