I just finished putting a T5 in my 56 Fairlane and couldn't be happier the way the car performs now but the tranny has a slight howl in it. I realize this isn't a Y-block issue but does anybody know of a chat site that I can get some info from? I have a good 94 Mustang T5 that I just acquired but it has the longer input shaft. Will the short input shaft and tailshaft housing from the 86 T5 fit the 94 gearbox?  Thanks  Dave

SE Wis

They do make some noise. The best I can think of as to a normal sound is the "whine" you hear from the Delorean in Back to the Future when it's accelerating to 88mph. When I got my Firebird which also has a T5, that's the first thing I thought of when I first drove it and I hear the same noise with the truck.


Lawrenceville, GA

That surprises me to hear that this noise is normal. I would be willing to try this other transmission if I knew that I could swap the input shaft and tailshaft housing. Dave

SE Wis

It must have something to do with the way the gears are cut. You should hear it even louder in reverse because the reverse gears are straight cut, if I'm not mistaken.

The next time you change the fluid, check for metal but if it sounds like the Delorean, you're probably alright.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie  Will a heavier fluid make a difference or not recommended? Right now I have Carquest synthetic ATF in it. Dave

SE Wis

I don't know. Is the atf even available heavier. Louder mufflers will help. I think it's something you'll have to live with. It's the nature of the beast.


Lawrenceville, GA

Just curious about something.Is there a reason why transmission fluid is used in these and not regular gear oil that was always used in the older manual transmissions?I realize that the tranny fluid does not thicken up in cold weather(which has more to do with owner complaints when new).Seems to me a gear oil would quiet them down and what would the negative side be?