Well, so i was searching through our shed at my dads house (that houses varrious motors and trannys, along with other crap) and i come accross a tranny that looked like a T-5, so i asked my dad and sure enough it was! I guess it came off our 2.3L Turbo motor we scrapped from a SVO a while back... so i was thinking about converting it in my mustang... anyone know what the difference was between the 2.3 turbos and the 5.0 T-5's? if any... and what would i have to change to convert it?... I'm still contemplating the idea. I like my AOD right now, but its aready starting to make clunking noises and i know i would have to rebuild it soon. And since we already have a T-5 it might be cheaper just to convert it than to rebuild the AOD with a new converter... I have also heard horror storys about people who rebuild their AOD's and then 3 months later they blow up again.... so let me know what you guys think, so far i think i'm leaning towards converting it but who knows what will happen...
Well if u do convert the T-5 is not the strongest of trannys u will be replacing the old T-5 pretty quick. I would get a killer ADO, or adoe with overdrive built with a 2600 stall and save the hassle of taking apart the tranny multiple times.
Well, so i was searching through our shed at my dads house (that houses varrious motors and trannys, along with other crap) and i come accross a tranny that looked like a T-5, so i asked my dad and sure enough it was! I guess it came off our 2.3L Turbo motor we scrapped from a SVO a while back... so i was thinking about converting it in my mustang... anyone know what the difference was between the 2.3 turbos and the 5.0 T-5's? if any... and what would i have to change to convert it?... I'm still contemplating the idea. I like my AOD right now, but its aready starting to make clunking noises and i know i would have to rebuild it soon. And since we already have a T-5 it might be cheaper just to convert it than to rebuild the AOD with a new converter... I have also heard horror storys about people who rebuild their AOD's and then 3 months later they blow up again.... so let me know what you guys think, so far i think i'm leaning towards converting it but who knows what will happen...
If you can afford it get a TKO-500 or 600. Otherwise try to find a 94/95 T-5 and convert the input shaft (slightly stronger than the 93s)
Whether or not you should do the swap depends on you and what you use the car for. Bracket racers love the consistency of the AOD, but many, including me, claim the T5 is more fun on the street.
I ordered my car with an AOD in 1992. I didn't know how to drive a stick. I lost overdrive at 78,000 miles and paid $1,800 for a Jasper replacement. T5 Mustangs were beating me on the street and track. At 172,000 miles, the Jasper leaked and died. I replaced it with a rebuilt AOD and it lost the ability to shift into 2nd a year later. I decided to do a AOD to T5 conversion. Without a doubt, the BEST decision I ever made. I gained 5 tenths at the track and driving on the street is soooo much more fun. Plus, the swap was done for $700 in used parts.
Whether or not you should do the swap depends on you and what you use the car for. Bracket racers love the consistency of the AOD, but many, including me, claim the T5 is more fun on the street.
I ordered my car with an AOD in 1992. I didn't know how to drive a stick. I lost overdrive at 78,000 miles and paid $1,800 for a Jasper replacement. T5 Mustangs were beating me on the street and track. At 172,000 miles, the Jasper leaked and died. I replaced it with a rebuilt AOD and it lost the ability to shift into 2nd a year later. I decided to do a AOD to T5 conversion. Without a doubt, the BEST decision I ever made. I gained 5 tenths at the track and driving on the street is soooo much more fun. Plus, the swap was done for $700 in used parts.
My advice: do the swap.
Good luck!
Thanks for the advice bro! so far i haven't had any problems with the AOD, and i do race it often, but i know problems are bound to occur. I do want to make the car a bad @$$ street car as well as a good for the drag strip. I do like the consistancy of the AOD, but i think once i get used to shifting, it'll be pretty close. I also want to make it better for handling too (since i already have the cobra brakes) while still being able to hook up off the line. I think i may end up just doing the swap. I'm also interested in whether or not it'll make my times better, so far my AOD is keeping up, or beating, most of the other T5 5.0's out there with similar mods. Thanks again for the advice...
-Brian
Brian, AODs can be made stronger and better performers with one-piece input shafts, shift kits, torque convertors and valve bodies, I just was SO broke, I couldn't afford it. I did manage to get a 3000 stall converter, but really didn't notice much of a difference. If you're gonna stay AOD, get a cooler - they're not that expensive and not too complicated to install. Also, I thought a pan with drain plug was a good idea but never got that far.
Now here's a double-edged sword: you can improve your ET with the legendary 1-2-1 shifting, and you'll get a tenth or two faster, but in the end, after a few years (or months) you will damage the OD band doing this and need a rebuild. I couldn't resist and eventually, my AOD did fail. Some guys do it and never have a problem.
I'm in the process of doing the swap now. I just finished my pedals today which was a big pain in the @$$. I'm doing the rest sat morning and should be driving it by sat night. About the (94-95 T5's) i heard they were junk and to find one from an 89 or 90. But i'm not 100% sure on this.
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Real cars don't power the front wheels, they lift them!
1989 Mustang Lx 5.0. 5spd, 3:73's, Mac CAI, Timing 15*, Pro 5.0 short throw, 9mm spark plug wires, 245-45 r 17 cobra r's....really just begining.
Need to install. bbk long tube headers, bbk x pipe, ud pullies
The svo tranny had a 3.50 first gear(compared to 5.0's 3.35) and were only rated at 250lbs. of torque, and you would need to put in a pilot bearing for a 4cyl. stang. Basic stuff but I think you're goin to run into trouble with the tranny being kinda fragile. If you have a turbo tranny out of a t-bird you might as well sell it, they came with a 4.03(yikes!) first gear and were only rated at 235 lbs. of torque. Oh damn I jus noticed how old this post was I guess this info is useless to this guy now, my b.
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93 LX 2.3 to 5.0 conversion. 60% of the time it works every time.
VTEC - All the lag of a turbo............None of the boost
If its Fast and reliable, it ain't cheap.
If its Cheap and reliable, it ain't fast.
If its Fast and cheap, it ain't reliable.
Last edited by samotrx7; 03-21-2008 at 03:01 PM.
Reason: Forgot info
first off IF you do decide to swap, I would make sure the T-5 is in good condition. Don't just assume it's all good and slap it on your car, then the next day you cant get into 3rd. But somebody makes a rebuild kit for it with stronger gears. There is a tech article in 5.0 mustang and Super Fords or Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords, that shows how to do it and who makes it.
But if you like the automatic then stay with that. I myself don't like driving automatics, I like to be in as much control of the car as possible. and definately go through that T-5 before putting it on.
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-1994 Mustang GT... K&N filter,GT40 tubular intake,BBK Full Length Headers,modified midpipe & Flowmaster muffs, timing at 12*. Best time- 14.74 @ 93.16 -Check profile for pics of our car collection! -Member of MBMCustoms Car Club - AmericanMuscle ROCKS!! - "Save a horse, drive a Mustang!"
I like the AOD...made a world of difference with the valve body swap, and as all can see, I played around with the AOD a little more this winter. Had enough years of shifting after shifting after shifting. Am I getting old?
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1988 GT Vert 70K
BBK Fender Cold Air, Ford E303, Cobra Intakes, Kirban Adj Fuel Reg, FRPP 65mm TB, 19# Explorer injectors, MAF Conversion, TF Valve Springs, BBK Equal Length Shorty's, KYB's all around, Magnaflow 2.5 high flow cats H pipe, American Thunder's, 3.73's, Speedo gear, AOD w/Performance Automatic street/strip valve body, Overdrive A+ Super Servo, 2-3 Accumulator upgrade, Urethane motor and tranny mounts, Smog, EGR and A/C delete
Rule #1 make sure you have all the parts that you need before you start taking stuff apart. I made this mistake and had to make about 5 trips to advance and made the job take forever.
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Real cars don't power the front wheels, they lift them!
1989 Mustang Lx 5.0. 5spd, 3:73's, Mac CAI, Timing 15*, Pro 5.0 short throw, 9mm spark plug wires, 245-45 r 17 cobra r's....really just begining.
Need to install. bbk long tube headers, bbk x pipe, ud pullies
Here's the trick when running a T5: Order a shop manual, performance manual, and read up. A stock T5 is very weak but it's very possible to build a T5 to hold 700hp+.
The reason I say this is because they are very easy to build yourself once you understand how they are setup. Thats where the manuals come in.
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There is no replacement for displacement.
'87 Coupe - My "Eleanor"
Stock '91 Bottom End - Anderson Built TFS Heads - TFS 1.6 Roller Rockers - E303 Cam - Weiand X Intake - Barry Grant Race Demon 650 - UPR K-member - UPR A-Arms - UPR Upper & Lower Control Arms - Strange/UPR Coilovers - 5-lug Conversion - Strange Axles
Just found a T-5, should I convert from my AOD? 
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, my b.
and definately go through that T-5 before putting it on.
