NWC T5 Gear Ratios

[55 Fargo]

I  have a transmission thread on the car forum, and have not had a lot of feedback on the MWC T5 trans gear ratio issues.

A bit of background a friend of mine has a 52 truck, and is determined to install a T5 in it, the trans is a very low geared type, but the question is will it work being geared so low in 1st?

I am going to help him with the swap, he is not sure which way he wants to take this at this point. He is an older gent who does not do internet, so I told him I would gather any info I can.

Okay had some time to investigate this T5 trans, its a 1983 NWC 033 series, so 4.03 1st gear, and .86 5th overdrive.

Now this is quite the low gearing for 1st and 2nd somewhat, this 1st gear with a 3.73 or lower diff, would be useless, and .86 reduction in 5th ain't nothing to "walk in high cotton" about either.

The later NWCs are 3.76 1st and .73 5th overdrive, might make a little more sense.

I told my pal, I hope his diff is 3.55 or higher, I explained what gear ratios this is, and not sure where this is going yet.

Any of you T5ers, running the older 4.03 geared trans, if so, tell us about them?

[55 Fargo]

After 25 views, guess those viewers don't have a T5 or don't know their gear ratios.

Guess will have to assume not too many T5 transplants in the trucks.....LOL

[Ram Man 02]

johnT53 has a t5 in his truck. i havent read through his info in a long time but i know its around here. for reference hes running 4.10 axle and says its perfect with the flat head. with a higher rear ratio in OD the engine might not be able to pull your truck around.

[55 Fargo]

7 hours ago, Ram Man 02 said:

johnT53 has a t5 in his truck. i havent read through his info in a long time but i know its around here. for reference hes running 4.10 axle and says its perfect with the flat head. with a higher rear ratio in OD the engine might not be able to pull your truck around.

A NWC T5 with 4.03 1st gear and a 4.11 rearend would suck, again you would be starting in 2nd, and .86 in 5th gives you a 3.53 final drive, nothing to write home about.

Now if he has the 3.76 1st gear, not as bad, but again might as well start off in 2nd gear, but at least 5th overdrive is .73, so a much better reduction.

The T5 gear ratios were darn low fior the early S10s meant for 4 cyl engines, and could be a bit of a pain.

[ggdad1951]

1 hour ago, Rockwood said:

A NWC T5 with 4.03 1st gear and a 4.11 rearend would suck, again you would be starting in 2nd, and .86 in 5th gives you a 3.53 final drive, nothing to write home about.

Now if he has the 3.76 1st gear, not as bad, but again might as well start off in 2nd gear, but at least 5th overdrive is .73, so a much better reduction.

The T5 gear ratios were darn low fior the early S10s meant for 4 cyl engines, and could be a bit of a pain.

I'm advising you to stop the witch hunt.  You will stop.  Offer opinions, but the witch hunt on the T5 will stop now.  John's truck runs perfectly well and he is happy with it.  It's HIS truck and HE likes it so don't belittle it.

[Young Ed]

1 hour ago, Rockwood said:

A NWC T5 with 4.03 1st gear and a 4.11 rearend would suck, again you would be starting in 2nd, and .86 in 5th gives you a 3.53 final drive, nothing to write home about.

Now if he has the 3.76 1st gear, not as bad, but again might as well start off in 2nd gear, but at least 5th overdrive is .73, so a much better reduction.

The T5 gear ratios were darn low fior the early S10s meant for 4 cyl engines, and could be a bit of a pain.

You do realize those aren't the only 2 combinations right? You can get a 4.03 1s with either OD ratio same with the 3.76 first. There is also a 3.5 first gear. 

[55 Fargo]

Yes I sure do, but those are the most common and staple for the NWC S10 T5s with the sought aftyr mechancial speedo, and shifter location.

Many Many others were built, for more powerful applications in the WC class.

Yes you can do the tail shaft swap, and that sorta thing too.

Believe me, I have done a lot of research on this Trans in the last little while.

I have very little Data and info though with this trans and a Chrysler flathead 6 combo, using the 4.03 1st gear and .86 5th OD.

Don Coatney should be able to verify, as he had the 4.03 trans possibly.

All I can tell you Ed is this, I have ridden in a Flathead powered 32 Chrysler with the 3.76 1st gear, and a 3.9 rear gear, and it could take off easily in 2nd, 1st gear was being shifted to 2nd almost immediately.

The 4.03 1st NWC was used almost excelusively on S10 for the 85 and under years,

This might play well with a 3.0 to 3.23 rear gear arrangement.....PS I have 1 of these transmission on my bench, it is for another mopar flathead owner, but with his 3.73 gears, do not think it will be a pleasant combo.....

[55 Fargo]

Available with a few different gearsets, the most common gearing was from 1985 through 1995:

1st- 3.35 2nd 1.99 - 3rd 1.33 4th - 1.00 5th - 0.68

The other V8 gearset used was the NWC 1983-84:

1st - 2.95 2nd - 1.94 3rd - 1.34 4th - 1.00 5th - 0.62 

Ford rated their T-5 anywhere from 260lb/ft to 335lb/ft depending on the application. In 1989, stronger alloys were used upping the torque rating from 260lb/ft to 300lb/ft. The 310lb/ft rating belonged to the 1993-94 Cobra spec T-5 and an aftermarket-only Z-spec T-5 was available with 335lb/ft.

The late-model (1994-95) 3.8 V6 T-5 was rated at 265lb/ft, had the slightly longer input shaft, and had the following ratios:

1st - 3.35 2nd - 1.93 3rd - 1.29 4th - 1.00 5th - 0.73 

Ford did use the T-5 in later V-6 Mustangs, but there is very little data on them. I do not have a list of production tag numbers, but they are challenging to swap due to their linkage-based shifer and lack of a slip-yoke using a flanged mating surface. I have never held one of these in my hands, but I suspect they could be used in many swaps with a remote linkage and a different driveshaft.

Tag Numbers

NWC V8 034, 065
3.8 V6 220, 236
V8 260lb/ft 126, 165, 169, 141 
V8 300lb/ft 199, 204, 208, 246, 218, 219
Z-spec 335 249, 251 
SVO 200, 202
Cobra 239, 242, 253

GM F-BODY

GM used the T-5 in F-body cars behind all engines. In general, the I4/V6 got the following ratios:

1st - 3.50 2nd - 2.14 3rd - 1.36 4th - 1.00 5th - 0.78

Although some 4-cyl cars got the 3.76 gearset as used in the S10 & a few V6 cars actually got the 4.03 gearset.

The V8 F-bodies typically got the following Gearset:

1st - 2.95 2nd - 1.94 3rd - 1.34 4th - 1.00 5th - 0.73

It is worth noting again that the 1993-95 F-body V6 cars got a Ford case with a GM input shaft. There were no V8 T-5 during these years.

Tag Numbers

V8 2.95 NWC 028, 062, 070, 072, 157, 185
V8 2.95 WC 159, 160, 175, 176, 195, 196
3.50 NWC 015, 027, 061, 156
3.76 NWC 054, 083, 158
4.03 NWC 181
4.03 WC 177
NWC Other (unknown app/gears) 071, 084, 150, 166, 178, 182, 183
WC Other (unk app/gears) 197, 212, 213, 214
WC Ford Pattern 210, 245, 247

[55 Fargo]

1 hour ago, ggdad1951 said:

I'm advising you to stop the witch hunt.  You will stop.  Offer opinions, but the witch hunt on the T5 will stop now.  John's truck runs perfectly well and he is happy with it.  It's HIS truck and HE likes it so don't belittle it.

Are you threatening me? Because it sure seems that way to me.

This is no "witch hunt" and I do not have any issues with Johns T5 swap, nor did I bring up his name or his swap into this thread.

Do you have a dislike a discussion about gear ratios, this is very important to me and some of my friends.

I plan to take this up with Gerald, I want to you to demonstrate how this is a "witch hunt" or how I am Belittling Johns T5 swap.

I have no issues with his or any other.

But I am tying to find out who has used the oldest NWC with a 4.03 gear set in this swap, and with what rear gears and with what results.

Hey go ahead and lock the thread, but again, how do you justify it.

I don't get this, no freedom of discussion on this topic, who is this offending?

I am printing all screens to verify and substantiate my posts.

I feel you are picking on me and singling me out, and you have no reason to do this.

There is no malice or negative intent matter in this thread

[55 Fargo]

BTW Johnt-53s T5 is a Camaro box 3.35 1st and .71 5th overdrive, a completely different movie, and would work well with 4.11 rear gears.

He did an S10 tail shaft swap for shifter location I am gathering....

[adminstrator_p15d24ph]

Time for everyone to step back from their keyboards for a bit.

Remember it's just a forum about old cars, so lets keep some perspective by not assuming.