T5 question

[sprint67]

Not exactly a Mustang question but here it goes:

I'm upgrading my 67' Firebird to a 80's WC T5 out of a Camaro but I'm running into some issues. The GM T5's were rotated 17 degrees clock wise and used the bell housing to turn them back to level. The problem becomes when bolting to my stock bell housing the whole transmission and mount are at that 17 degree angle. Someone mentioned that the Ford T5 didn't have that angle, can anyone verify that for me?
If that is true I can swap a Ford tail housing and get my straight mount back which would allow me to purchase a pre-made cross member instead of fabricating one up. Since I'm running a pretty rare motor in the Pontiac buying an after market bell housing is not an option.

 

[Gingerbreadman]

wel i just put a new t5 in my stang and it runs straight and level the whole way,theres no twist or anything being off by 17 dagrees on fords trans,ford t5s bolt holes r 4 in each corner and level, with shifter and crossmember..im kinda not understandin your questions,everything shoud be pretty close to level when u put everything in,,,,did u bold up bellhousing first,dont try to install as an assembly cause its just to terrable,, maby put some pics up,, do u mean that the trans when installed its twisted and not lining up with the shifter hole and cross member,if so ull need a new bellhousing or ull have to fabricate ur existing one,everything from motor to tailshaft should be pretty level with the rest of the car,maby tilted back towards firewall a bit

 

[sprint67]

Looks like the GM five speeds rotated/twisted their bolt pattern from the ford. If you use a stock bell housing the shifter wont line up but if you take a T5 bell housing it rotates it back into position. I was wondering if by swapping on a ford tail onto the trans if I would get a level mount to the crossmember. I think I'm going to have to look at one in person to be sure. The ford t5 has a different bolt pattern than gm right?

 

[ShelbyGT]

you just need to swap a tailshaft housing and top cover from an s10 on to it. this will straighten out the mount and move the shifter farther forward. my father did this to his 49 chevy truck and it worked perfect!

 

[sprint67]

Are you sure he didn't have a T5 bellhousing off a 80's v8? The S10 shift location puts me too far forward unfortunately. The camaro t5 I have puts me 4" back but thats ok if I use a straight shift arm.

 

[ShelbyGT]

no, he used a 55 chevy car bellhousing. in the truck with a bench seat the s10 shift location was perfect. i think the ford tailshaft housing will bolt to your gearbox, you'll probably need to use the ford top cover also as the shift location and shift rod length and mechanism may be slightly different. the only thing that might be different is the ford trans mount style, i'm not sure if its the same as gm. if i was you i'd buy a busted mustang t5 for the housing parts to see if it will work, atleast if it won't you didn't spend alot of money on a good but useless trans