[Porchsitter]

I want to change my BW 3 speed to a five speed manual. I heard I could swap in a T5. I got one from a wrecked mustang svo. Does anyone know where I can get adapter parts?
Thanks

 

[LloydDobler]

Ask over on turbobricks, the bolt patterns are available and shaft lengths are discussed in great detail. Not sure if there are actual adapters made by anyone, they are more commonly for the later cars. You do need to include the year of your car, what engine it has, what clutch style you want to use, etc.

 

[Phil Singher]

I've converted BW35 cars to M41 4-speed + OD, and I've converted M41 cars to T5 several times. You'll need to do most of the first conversion, and all of the second. You'll obviously need a brake and clutch pedals, bell housing, flywheel and clutch cable from a '70-'73 1800E/ES for a start.

T5 adapter kits may still be available from Vintage Performance Developments, although delivery times can be frustrating. I don't know of another source. That consists (consisted?) of a T5-to-bell housing adapter plate, a different clutch, throw-out bearing and pilot bearing from what the M41 would use, and modifications to the release fork. You'll need to have a driveline shop modify the drive shaft -- the T5 uses a splined shaft that slips into the tranny rather than a flange that bolts on.

Having taken care of all that, you'll discover that the 5th gear on that particular T5 is w-a-y too tall for a B20 to handle comfortably (even a supercharged B20). In fact, none of the many variants of stock T5 have appropriate gearing -- the 4-cylinder versions have suitable 5th gears, but the lower gears are stump pullers. Modern Driveline in Idaho can rebuild yours as a hybrid that does have good gear spacing all the way around. Of course, nothing I've mentioned so far is exactly inexpensive...

Then you'll find that the T5 is really noisy. Depending on the individual car, it ranges from somewhat annoying to "this thing is about to fly apart" noisy. There are harmonic issues with the T5 behind a 4-cylinder engine that even Ford was never able to cure that in the Thunderbird SC, or whatever else they might have used it in.

If you can put up with that, it works great. But if it was my car, I'd definitely do the M41 conversion instead.

 

[Porchsitter]

P1800 tranny swap or upgrade?

I've converted BW35 cars to M41 4-speed + OD, and I've converted M41 cars to T5 several times. You'll need to do most of the first conversion, and all of the second. You'll obviously need a brake and clutch pedals, bell housing, flywheel and clutch cable from a '70-'73 1800E/ES for a start.

T5 adapter kits may still be available from Vintage Performance Developments, although delivery times can be frustrating. I don't know of another source. That consists (consisted?) of a T5-to-bell housing adapter plate, a different clutch, throw-out bearing and pilot bearing from what the M41 would use, and modifications to the release fork. You'll need to have a driveline shop modify the drive shaft -- the T5 uses a splined shaft that slips into the tranny rather than a flange that bolts on.

Having taken care of all that, you'll discover that the 5th gear on that particular T5 is w-a-y too tall for a B20 to handle comfortably (even a supercharged B20). In fact, none of the many variants of stock T5 have appropriate gearing -- the 4-cylinder versions have suitable 5th gears, but the lower gears are stump pullers. Modern Driveline in Idaho can rebuild yours as a hybrid that does have good gear spacing all the way around. Of course, nothing I've mentioned so far is exactly inexpensive...

Then you'll find that the T5 is really noisy. Depending on the individual car, it ranges from somewhat annoying to "this thing is about to fly apart" noisy. There are harmonic issues with the T5 behind a 4-cylinder engine that even Ford was never able to cure that in the Thunderbird SC, or whatever else they might have used it in.

If you can put up with that, it works great. But if it was my car, I'd definitely do the M41 conversion instead.

Wow. This is so helpful! Thanks for taking the time to share. I'm doing this as a mentoring project with a couple young guys and we are learning as we go on this fantastic car. I was trying to convert to a five speed without spending the $1800.00 to get the M41 from Don Thibault. Sounds like I could easily spend that much and end up with a less than desirable situation anyway.
Have you ever souped up the BW35? I'm leary of having only three gears and the fact that my initial drives (before tear down) felt very slushy and unresponsive. Plus - automatics are not as fun.
Thanks again. I appreciate any direction you can give us.

 

[John Douglas]

While getting increasingly hard to come by, you shouldn't have to spend $1800 on an M41. Since you're just north of Vantucky, pack up your two young buddies and head to the IPD Garage Sale on May 16. You'll get plenty of inspiration for your P1800, see lots of nice cars and interesting characters ...and you just may find an M41 for under $500.

 

[Phil Singher]

The IPD garage sale is a great idea -- I never missed a single one back when we lived in Hazel Dell. Good M41s are getting hard to find, but you never know...

I don't think there's anything to be done to make a BW35 perform better.

 

[Porchsitter]

Garage sale

The IPD garage sale is a great idea -- I never missed a single one back when we lived in Hazel Dell. Good M41s are getting hard to find, but you never know...

I don't think there's anything to be done to make a BW35 perform better.

Thanks Phil,
I've got the garage sale on my calendar. It's great that we have something like IBD so close by!
I also found a couple possibilities in the classifieds.

Thanks again for you help.