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Author
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Topic: Why a T5 may be worth it...
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BornInAFord
Gearhead Posts: 610
From: Bend, OR, USA
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 09-12-2006 12:42 AM
 
I've been getting in the neighborhood of 20-22MPG in mixed driving in my 66 5.0L coupe with a Z-spec T5 and 3.00:1 rear (soon to be a 3.40:1 trac-lock), but had never had it out on the open road for more than 30 miles at a time. My brother (25YO) borrowed the car and drove it for a 360 mile round trip to Portland, Oregon over the mountains. Many of you aren't familiar with Bend or the mountains here, but we live at around 3600 feet and there are curvy roads and several mountain passes that gain (and lose) 2-3000 feet between us and Portland (which is essentially at sea level). I had him keep track of the mileage despite his youthful driving and his hitting rush hour in Portland and road construction on US 26. After 360 miles, he got right at 25MPG, and he felt he could have gotten quite a bit better had he had flatter terrain, fewer miles in rush hour, and had an exhaust donut not come undone and provided a severe exhaust leak for the last 100 miles or so.  Can you tell I'm stoked? I know it's old school, but there's something cool about having a lot of power, ease of tuning with a carburetor, and being able to get 25+ MPG in a car that's 40 and has 438,000 miles... Oh, and it can chirp at 50MPH shifting into 2nd.
Daniel
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indyphil
Gearhead Posts: 3394
From: Senoia, G.A. USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 09-12-2006 07:36 AM
Thats good going.
Its sad but I saw an ad for the baby hummer that advertised its 20mpg as if it was something to be pleased about.
For me economy starts at 25, and goes from there. Anything less than 25 just cant be called economical. Its great to be able to do that in a classic with a V8.
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 3969
From: Va Beach
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 09-12-2006 08:00 AM
Makes you wonder how after 40 years of tinkering why Ford can't engineer a car with even better gas mileage. We just keep asking for more and more power. What's wrong with a strong 200HP engine that gets 35 mpg instead of 300HP that gets the same 20-25mpg Mustangs have been getting for 40 years?
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 3237
From: Stanton, Michigan, zip 48888
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 09-12-2006 11:37 AM
quote:
Originally posted by sigtauenus:
Makes you wonder how after 40 years of tinkering why Ford can't engineer a car with even better gas mileage.
I suspect they could if they REALLY WANTED TO, but they get their morning cup of Starbucks from the same coffeestand as their friends - the oil tycoon bigwheels - and they don't want to cause the oil industry to 'get their panties in a bunch' with a huge reduction in product demand at the pump... 
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indyphil
Gearhead Posts: 3394
From: Senoia, G.A. USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 09-12-2006 12:34 PM
Ford could have engineered a more efficient product. People just didnt want it when gas was $1 or less a gallon no-body cared.if people truly cared about gas mileage then the SUV would never have happened. Truth is gas was TOO cheap. Created a swing in the market that wasnt sustainable, now everyones moaning and groaning. It could have been avoided with sensible taxes on gasoline 10-15 years ago, gradual increases to keep prices in line with inflation, instead of falling way below. Could have done away with pointless CAFE limits and gas guzzler taxes. Of course the SUV boom certainly benefited both Big oil and the car companies. No-one would have supported gas taxes in the 90's - but it would have been the prudent thing to do - the money could have been spent developing alternatives like ethanol and biodiesel - and their infrastructures. Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda...
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senzstang
Gearhead Posts: 530
From: perry, oh, usa
Registered: May 2002
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posted 09-12-2006 01:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by indyphil:
Truth is gas was TOO cheap. Created a swing in the market that wasnt sustainable, now everyones moaning and groaning. It could have been avoided with sensible taxes on gasoline 10-15 years ago, gradual increases to keep prices in line with inflation, instead of falling way below. Could have done away with pointless CAFE limits and gas guzzler taxes.
Not to pick a fight but, I have never understood that mentality. Gas prices are set by the supply and demand on the open market. Just because other countries tax there citizens into oblivion on gas and artificially drive the price up to $5 liter I am supposed to feel guilty that my gas it too cheap? The reason there are a lot of SUV's is because people wanted them. They weren't foisted on us by a great Big Oil/Big Auto conspiracy. People decided that they will live with crappy mileage and pay the price at the pump. Well today, they are really paying. As such, many are selling their SUV's for more economical cars. Artificial price increases due to taxes only take money out of the hands of the common person and the national economy. I trust my money with me - not Washington. Would I have been better off today if we as Americans had been paying an extra $2 a gallon in taxes for the last 10 years. No way! Do I like the current gas prices. Heck no. I understand free market economies and realize that pricing will change. I think speculation buying has driven the cost of crude to unsustainably high levels. I also believe that you are seeing the market correction of that speculation buying as gas prices come down. Just another $.02 opinion. Wow - this thread is a long way away from why a T5 is worth the money!! 
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 22791
From: Reno Nv M&M #1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 09-12-2006 02:28 PM
Thats awesome 
It'll be a lot more fun to drive once you get those 3.40 gears in there.  ------------------
oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs HOOD HACKERS DELIGHT!
My Pics 13.563 @ 108.64
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JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 918
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 09-12-2006 02:54 PM
I think the only problem people have with them is that they seemed limited in their ability to take on more power and survive for any length of time. That is why I went with the Richmond 5spd. I would have preferred the T5. Now that the Gforce version is available I will likley go back if this one ever breaks.
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BornInAFord
Gearhead Posts: 610
From: Bend, OR, USA
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 09-14-2006 03:23 PM
Jaazy, Ihear you about the power limits. But...
Although the T5 isn't as strong as a T56 or even a Toploader, I think it is plenty strong for a lot of us. The weak links of the T5 seem to be aluminum shift forks (can minimize breakage of these by using shift stops like found in many aftermarket shifters), the pre-1993 aluminum front bearing retainer which can gall (can install a steel one fairly inexpensively) and the stock countergear stabilizer (aftermarket upgrades available for ~$50-60). Strength for stock T5s went up every couple of years, so that the 1984-1987 non-world class ones are weakest, 1988-1989 world class ones are stronger, 1990 and later are even stronger with improved alloys in 1st and 2nd and improved synchros. Aftermarket T5s like my T5-Z have many of the upgrades and often include the steel bearing retainer, "cobra" pocket bearings, and the 2.95 1st (which is stronger than the comparable 3.35 due to improved headset ratio--fewer teeth = more strength). As long as you don't dump the clutch at 5K with slicks or power shift or overshift, a 1990 and later T5 should hold up to at least their rated 300 ft-lbs over thousands of miles. With the G-force gears, the case now becomes the limiter for power production. Daniel
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jeffstar
Gearhead Posts: 161
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 09-16-2006 04:27 PM
Re previous post, and now G-Force offers a much stronger upgraded case for the T5. Started using the new case this summer.------------------
65 Mustang fastback
Stroked 351W, G-Force 5spd
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Tom G
Gearhead Posts: 1069
From: Bethlehem, Pa USA
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 09-16-2006 11:47 PM
quote:
Originally posted by jeffstar:
Re previous post, and now G-Force offers a much stronger upgraded case for the T5. Started using the new case this summer.
Have a new Gforce in "junior's" 88 sitting behind 353rwhp 393rwtq. I dealt directly with Gforce as they are only an hour away. Great guys and gave me a great deal, included a dual friction cltch and pressure plate and bearing for 2500 Slicks are now "Not a Problem"!Still breakin in new motor and trans though. i love running alot of gear with the T5's make the car reasonable on the highway. I have 3.89 in 67 with zrated T5 and son is going 3.73 or 4.10 in his 88------------------
67 Mustang F/B 302 GT-40X FMS engine RPM Air Gap 650 Holley DP Crane 1.7 roller rockers, Performer Nitrous, ceramic headers WC T5, cable clutch MagnaFlow SS kit W/X Pipe 3.89 9". SSBC 4 piston frdisc Clearwater Aqua, Vintage 40 series 16X8 215 front 255/50 drag radials 308 RWHP@5800rpm 300 tq NA 385rwhp 380 w 75 shot 13.11 @111mph
88 GT (FiveOfastback's ride)347 Twisted wedge custom HYD roller 565 lift 282 duration Street Heat, BBK headers X pipe Gforce 353 RWHP 393 RWTQ Red and Silver New Project 69 Boss 302 Acapulco Blue
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JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 918
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 09-18-2006 04:55 PM
That's great! Is it wrong to hope my Richmond 5spd breaks?  Nothing really wrong with it, I would just like an overdrive. First gear is getting a little loose so it is bound to happen sometime. quote:
Originally posted by jeffstar:
Re previous post, and now G-Force offers a much stronger upgraded case for the T5. Started using the new case this summer.
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