my own T5 install thread

[Young Ed]

Finally made some progress towards installing a t5 in a pickup. Truck is in a billion pieces but hopefully will become a 40 plymouth pickup. Main question I have so far is does anyone know how to pop the top off this T5? When I had it standing up there was a small puddle of water on the table under it and I think the only place the water could have come from is inside the trans.

And while I had it up there I marked the holes. Just a preliminary marking to make sure they are far enough away from the old holes. All 4 look good that way but the lower pass side one looks like it might need the Coatney treatment.

[Dodgefran]

Could you share the info on how you did your centering on this T5? I want to get as much info as I can before I dive into mine. I have the truck bell housing too. Thanks

[Don Coatney]

What are you calling the top? I have a book at home on complete disassembly and assembly. I will loan it to you if you need it. But I will not be home for another week or so.

[Rodney Bullock]

Hey Don, so does this mean you are building a 1940 Plymouth truck?

[Rodney Bullock]

Hey Joe, take a look at that, remind you of anything?

[Young Ed]

Don the piece I was going to remove is #32 in the drawing. That seems like the best way to get a good look at the guts to ensure no visible water damage.

[Rodney Bullock]

Hey Don, so does this mean you are building a 1940 Plymouth truck?

Oh, ED this your truck? I have never seen a 1940 Plymouth truck

I don't thunk.

[Young Ed]

This is Dads 40 plymouth truck. First pic is before the work started. Second is in progress. Sadly the shop is really dragging their feet now. This picture is probably 4 years old now and I think the only change is it has a tail gate now.

I'm going to redo his parts truck. Sadly we didnt take a picture of it when we bought it from the junkyard.

Edited January 8, 2010 by Young Ed

[Young Ed]

Ok and for a picture of my actual "truck" Hanging in my basement are the upper and lower grill and plymouth tailgate (upper grill and tailgate are plymouth only) plus both front fenders and doors. This picture is old(the blue fender is from the 55 dodge) and since then I have added 2 sets of box sides a box front and the rear fenders. Plus 2 more doors Also if you look in the background of the T5 shot you can see a shelf full of little storage containers. In there are a bunch of the little parts like the gauge clusters switches etc

[Young Ed]

And my actual truck is under the tarp. All that is really there is the cab and frame. Plus another parts truck

[Young Ed]

Could you share the info on how you did your centering on this T5? I want to get as much info as I can before I dive into mine. I have the truck bell housing too. Thanks

I haven't actually centered mine yet. This was just a mockup to make sure I was going to have enough room to drill the 4 new holes. The bottom right one might be too close to the corner of the bellhousing and require drilling a new hole through the t5 case. The install kit I have has a spacer ring to make the input of the trans a tight fit into the bell housing. After that is installed I will have to figure a way to level the trans to the bellhousing. I bought a set of transfer punches thanks to Merle for that lead. So then I can mark the 4 holes and drill them.

Anyone have tips for drilling and tapping holes in cast iron?

[Young Ed]

Just decoded the tag for my T5. This is the specs. The first ratio is Reverse and then 1-5

1352-145 GM 1985-86 S-Truck 2.5 L4-2.8 V6 R3.763.782.181.421.000.72

[james curl]

Ratios for 1352-145 = 1st=3.76:1, 2nd=2.18:1, 3rd=1.42:1, 4th=1:1, and 5th=0.72:1

[Young Ed]

Thanks James that was all in a nice little chart which I see disappeared when I posted

[Don Coatney]

Ed;

From my failing memory I believe the tailstock as well as all the shifter forks must come out when you remove the top. Do you want me to loan you the book? I can send it when I return home.

[Young Ed]

If Im going to pull it apart that much I better have a book. Thanks for lending it to me.

[Don Coatney]

If you are going that far into it why not replace the wear parts too. I bought my parts from a local source linked below.

http://web.inetba.com/futuretransmissionparts/contact.ivnu

[Young Ed]

I'd really rather not take it apart at all but with the puddle of water that came out I feel its prudent

[Young Ed]

Few more pictures

3spd that my truck would have had vs 5 spd. the extra length is what really worries me as the trucks have a frame crossmember behind the trans

and a picture of the disgusting gooo that came out of my 5spd. mix of water and ATF. I got this puddle and a second one this size. The water in there is a little concerning

[Young Ed]

and an updated picture of the pile of parts

[Flatie46]

Nice pile:D. It would be nice if you could just pull the guts outta the T-5 and put them in the in the 3 speed case. On older Harleys you can buy a 5 speed gear set that's made to fit a 4 speed case.

[Young Ed]

Ooh looking through my PC I found a couple pictures of the truck that is to become my 40 plymouth pickup. Oh and you can't quite tell in the picture but that engine is a long block installed with 2 angle iron pieces welded to the frame.

[Young Ed]

Made a little more progress today. Went out to the garage and found my throwout bearing. Finally understand how the spacer for that works. I was thinking it was to move it forward but it actually makes up for the difference in diameter between the old input shaft and the new one. Anyone know how tight of a fit that should be? Also got the metal band installed on the T5. It is a nice tight fit in the bellhousing hole now. Next step is to transfer the bolt pattern for the T5 to the bellhousing. Did some more comparing between the new and old too. The T5 input is 3/8 shorter. The front carrier I think its called-the piece that goes over the input is much longer on the T5. May have to give that a little chop.

[Young Ed]

Ok next hurdle. I have all 4 holes marked in the bellhousing. One of the lower ones is too close to the edge as far as I can tell. Don C I believe you moved some or all of your bolt holes. Whats a good way to get the hole started? The bellhousing side would be the easiest to get access to but the area where the hole needs to go is webbed not flat. Does it need to be filled in? My other question is how to drill the 4 holes in the bellhousing straight. I have access to a bench press but the base of it is way smaller then the giant truck bellhousing and Im not sure it will support it.

[55 Fargo]

Ed ,I think Don C welded on a 2 ears for the bolts to go through on his clutch housing.

I would say to drill very straight holes, you need a to set-up a jig, or use a large drill press, or maybe have it done at a machine shop.

The holes need to be somewhat precise I would think, as to allow the trans to mate very tru onto the bellhousing........