Vintage Tow vehicle - Now in service, Again!

[prohandyman]

The problem I had with the 216 6 cylinder is that it had a poor bearing design,
"babbit" style and with 80,000 miles, the engine was nearing the useful end of it's life. And a local rebuilder was guessing $2000-2500 to rebuild it, not counting any items to increase horse power. Yes, I wanted to remain close to stock, and I drove the tar out of it for a year, even towing my '57 Metzendorf
3 hours to a show in Illinois, but that engine didn't like it much. Hell, my light weight '47 Kit teardrop made it struggle in the hills of Brown County Indiana.
Enter a friend who just rebuilt this 283, and had nothing to put it in, and sold it to me for less than half of the 6 rebuild price. Since it is still a fairly vintage style engine (not a 350...which in my mind would have been sacriligious) I jumped on it. A 250 or 261 would have been cool. but the timing was great on the 283. I still have the T5 5 spd and just love the heck out of that.

[Facemeltingly Epic]

<snip>

Since it is still a fairly vintage style engine (not a 350...which in my mind would have been sacriligious) I jumped on it.
<snip>

I still have the T5 5 spd and just love the heck out of that.

A 350 is sacrilege, but a 5-speed gearbox is not?

OTOH, if you're using a T5 it's a good thing you didn't go with a 350. From everything I've heard, that tranny can barely handle the stock 302 in an early '90s Mustang.

I've been bouncing around ideas similar to this for a vintage/classic tow vehicle for a little while. Mine involve a Ford product of some sort with the aforementioned 302 from a later Mustang GT paired up with a T56 (which, among other things, can handle a Viper V10). As for which Ford product, I'm thinking probably either a Mustang or a Falcon Ranchero.

[mvperini]

A 350 is sacrilege, but a 5-speed gearbox is not?

so it begins i am a chevy man untill i drive my ford

[prohandyman]

If you guys are car nuts, you are probably on the H.A.M.B. board. 164,000 members, and most of them agree that the T5 is a very widely used and liked transmission. They were in Camaro's and Mustang's, and could handle the power just fine. They are being installed in almost every conceivable hotrod. Now I am not saying racing, or even near the same level as a Tremec, just normal street time.

[Facemeltingly Epic]

You're right that they could handle the 5.0L Camarobird and Mustang GT, but there was a reason GM didn't offer a T5 behind a 350.

For my hypothetical hot-rod, I'd like a T56 for two reasons: higher torque capacity (in case I decide to do something really crazy like a big-block or slapping some Cleveland heads onto my 302) and the stupidly tall 6th gear. All of this, of course, is dependent on the purchase of a winning lotto ticket.

[rand_98201]

If you guys are car nuts, you are probably on the H.A.M.B. board. 164,000 members, and most of them agree that the T5 is a very widely used and liked transmission. They were in Camaro's and Mustang's, and could handle the power just fine. They are being installed in almost every conceivable hotrod. Now I am not saying racing, or even near the same level as a Tremec, just normal street time.

You created this thread and are just getting feedback.Cant start it and as soon as something is said you dont want to hear just say you guys should go to another forum,lol.

[prohandyman]

Oh no I wasn't saying that. Just that there is alot of interest in the T5 by gearheads!. Not much discussion on here about vehicles as there is on other forums. I am glad we are at least allowed to post them here. The subject goes hand in hand with campers.
And yes, winning the lotto would ease all things, campers and tow vehicles.

[rand_98201]

thanks for explaining what you meant