T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

For several months I have been debating which way I wanted to go for my upcoming transmission upgrade. Either a T5 or Mitchell transmission AND overdrive, I would do both at the same time. Thoughts? And by the way, I think the Mitchells are some of the best people you could ever hope to do business with.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I am running a 1935 trans with a Ryan overdrive. I would prefer a single trans with all the gears. However, you need to make sure you are getting the correct T5 trans so you have the right range of gear ratios especially the overdrive gearing. It seems to be getting harder to find the best T5's out there.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

There is something to say for both trannys. The Mitchell allows you more gear ratios by splitting gears between overdrive and direct. However, I am not comfortable with all that weight hanging off the driveline tube. I chose the T5 for my 31 Model A Ford because it allows an open drive shaft like modern cars, plus the fifth gear is Overdrive. It shifts smooth as silk whether you are shifting up or down. (Real handy in hilly terrain). I bought a factory rebuilt for only $300 at a swap meet, but maybe I was just lucky... I bought my conversion kit from a guy in Ohio, but he is no longer in business. There is a guy in Bakersfield, CA that specializes in the kit you will need, and I have heard good reports about him. If interested, check a Model A magazine like "The Restorer" published by MAFCA (Model A Ford Club of America).
- Denver9

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Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

There are at least 2 outfits that will do the conversion for you and I would seriously consider having it done but one is in KY and one is in CA. At least 1,300 miles away. So, not an option.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I have a World Class Borg-Warner T5 transmission my 1930 Model A Cabriolet; it is a wonderful transmission! Smooth as silk, easy shifting, never grinds, and I can downshift into first gear at 15 MPH (I don't make a habit of that). In 4th gear at 55 MPH my RPMs are at 2300 with a 3.78 rear and a Snyders 6.1 head. I don't like the extra shifter that is a part of the Mitchell package but that's just me... anyone that I have spoken with loves their Mitchell conversion; it's an excellent product. My fifth gear (overdrive) seems to be only necessary at speeds of 60 MPH+. Since I am comfortable cruising on open roads at 45-55 MPH the T5 is somewhat of an overkill. Perhaps you should look at a F100 transmission as it could be the ideal conversion (4 gears) and has a great track record. Of the three that I have mentioned I think that you would be very happy with any of those. Good luck. Gary D.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

There are some tricks that I would be happy to share as I have gone the T-5 route in a '29 CCPU. Not that difficult. PM me

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

my opinion- Mitchell.

would never consider opening the can of worms that the T5 conversion and open driveshaft involves. not "Model A" enough to suit me.....

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I installed t5 from a 1987S 10 Chevy 2 Wheel Dr. and it’s the best thing I ever did for that car it works perfectly

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

Never heard of an F100 transmission... What year F100?

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

It's the Ford F150 light truck 4-speed transmission from the mid 1980's.

My '31 Tudor had one when I bought it and I really like it.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I have both. The standard Model A 3- speed and a 26% Mitchell in a '29 Phaeton that I have driven just short of 100,000 miles. I also have a T-5 in a '31 S/W Town Sedan that has been driven about 30,000 miles.

The T-5 is very easy to use and shift but getting the original brakes to work with it was difficult as the centerline of the driveshaft U- Joint and the brake cross shaft are no longer in the same location. I fought the issue for thousands of miles and while doing so had marginal brakes. I finally switched to hydraulic brakes to eliminate the problem.

I actually prefer the Mitchel overdrive. It has been trouble free for all the miles I have put on it. It is a good piece of machinery and less expensive overall than the T-5 due to when I installed it over 20 years ago. Just my opinion and preferences.
Good Day!

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I have a 87 f100 trans in my A and love it. I have about 12,000 miles on it. The only thing I would want is another gear.

Gary678, what is your rpm in 5th gear doing 60-65 with your t5?

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

To "old31", To answer your question about RPM at 60-65 MPH...I don't know as I have never checked it. I've only had the car at 60-65 MPH once or twice since installing the 6.1 head in late summer. I will check it out this Spring and will get back to you. As mentioned in my earlier post I am comfortable cruising at 45-55 MPH in 4th gear. When I bought the car 5 years ago it had the T5 and a 4.6 head. I switched to a 5.1 head and still used 5th gear at 45-55. Now with the 6.1 head 5th gear is hardly used. With my current set-up I feel the F100 would be the ideal match...but I still LOVE the T5. Incidentally I live in the Hudson Valley just a few miles from the Catskill Mountains and the T5 handles every terrain easily and efficiently. Dave's post #11 mentions a less than ideal rear brake function with the T5 because of notching the cross member; this is correct. This Fall I helped a friend install a custom made U shaped adapter ($325) for the rear brake rods that enabled the rear brakes to fully function; his brakes now are excellent and the high cost of hydraulic brakes was avoided. Gary D.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

My '05 Dakota has a "Getrag, GET238" 6 speed manual transmission (5+OD), I wonder how hard it would be to put one of those in a Model A?

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

Katy, that would be a good winter project. Install it, and let us know how it goes.:D

T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

This might help.

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/TremecT170FT.htm

My 1931 Victoria came with one from the previous owner. I am very happy with it.

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Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

We put this T-5 in a '29 CCPU about 15 years ago. There seems to be a reluctance to cut the cross member. We fabricated a reinforcement piece BEFORE CUTTING the notch for the shifter and bolted it in place with 8 grade 5 3/8" bolts. The other weak spot in this installation is the wishbones. Using 1/4" X 1" steel, we welded it the full length of the seam. This A has a 6-1/2" cab stretch and the engine is a '32 B with an original CRAGER head. The flywheel is 28 pounds and I'm using a V8 clutch. Puts out 60+ HP at the rear wheels. The T-5 kit was purchased from an outfit in the midwest and we had to massage the pieces to make them fit. Had to order a speedo cable as the one in the kit didn't fit. I decided to buy a new Chevy S-10 transmission from the dealer rather than go the junkyard route.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

First, I'll have to source one. I ain't about to take the one out of my Dakota.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

Depends on your skillset and tool availability. The T-5 conversion requires quite a bit more work than the Mitchell. Also as mentioned previously, it is difficult to get the mechanical brakes to work well as you have to relocate the brake cross-shaft.

All that aside, the T-5 is a better setup. Although, I do prefer the Mitchell overdrive to preserve the option of driving a Model A as if it were stock.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I put a Ford F150 Tremec RTS 4 speed with OD in my 1930 CCPU back in 2007. There is no modification to the center cross member or the brake cross shaft. You still use the torque tube and radius rods, but they are shortened about 2 5/8 inches. You get a fully syncomeshed transmission with OD and your mechanical brakes work as they did before. OMHO, this is the best choice for OD in a Model A.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I agree Al. Had one for 28,000 miles in my Tudor.
The all synchro is great for city trafiic,can downshift and get out of the way if needed. I use the overdrive mostly to cruise at 55 ,not go fast.

John

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

Post #20 seems interesting. I have never heard of that modification quite like that. I might add, I'd be inclined to upgrade the front wishbone with any of these modern transmission swaps. I hate roadside surprises.

Lloyd Young once told me "Gene I'm saving babbit, not selling speed". I suppose you could not shift into overdrive, even though you have it, at 50MPH or so and up. But why work the engine that hard if you don't need to. If a rod snaps, that engine block is junk.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

With the T5 you have to butcher your center cross member and convert the car to a open driveshaft. I opted for a 1939 V8 trans. A Mitchell Gear Splitter will go in when the budget allows. Cling's makes the kit to bolt it in.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

Dave,
That is a good testimony with great personal experience of the comparison.
I’m like you and favor the Mitchell. I have an older Ryan in my 30 tudor as well with many trouble free mikes. MItchells the same. I have seen several cars with open drive lines have radius rod issues, etc. In my opinion the spring shackles weren’t meant to take the beating that they do without the torque tube and movement that occurs without the torque tube.
Just my experience and opinion. Use the mit he’ll trans and overdrive as a combo If you want synchro and gear splitting options. Or just use the Mitchell and learn/know how to shift.
Happy A tourinc
Larry Shepard

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

Did you look at post #17?

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

To Denis4X4 in Post# 17. You didn't comment on whether you were happy with the T5 conversion. Are you? Gary D.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

Absolutely! Built in O’drive and very smooth shifting. There are several aftermarket products that reduce the throw, but I think that they are unnecessary. I also own an A powered roadster with a ‘39 Ford transmission and a Lincoln Zephyr gear set. No comparison!

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I have a Mitchell tranny & O/D in one car and a 1985 F100 Ford 4 speed in another. Both work very well I've found with M/M setup when i start out in 1st gear I shift to O/D then 2 & 3 with the new Burzt engine that works nice. The
F100 setup is smooth but the step between 2 &3 is a bit steep however I run a stoker Model A engine and that seems to handle it. With the F100 no frame modification was required. By the way I have a spare F100 if anybody needs it.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

cmarion: what is the 2 letter code after the RTS XX on your spare transmission's metal tag.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

cmarion, do you run an A or AA clutch bell housing with your F150 transmission?

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

To Denis4x4: Sorry to bother you again but I am curious about your "no comparison" comment...do you prefer the 39 Ford or T5 transmission? Thanks! Gary D.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

There are some people out there doing the T5 swap using a 4X4 transmission which has a flange on the back where the transfer case normally bolts on. This flange can be used to attach the torque tub to so this swap takes relatively few modifications. I don't think however that anybody is making a kit to do this (if I'm wrong I would be thrilled to find one), rather it's guys far more gifted then me custom fabricating the adapters needed.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

There are definitely T5 conversion kits out there. Here's a current contact in Bakersfield. You can expect the cost to be ~$3,000 plus whatever you pay for a T5. That assumes that you do the install. Eddie will do the install for you if you can get your car to Bakersfield and pay him another $2,000. Contact: [email protected]

web site: www.modela5conv.com

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

When I said I didn't know if there were kits to do the job I meant very specifically for the 4x4 transmission as I discuss in that post. It has been made clear by me and others farther back in this thread that there are indeed kits out there.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I prefer the T-5......the A powered hot rod has a custom frame and to switch to a T-5 is not in the cards.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

I'm using the T5 adapters from Dave at Vintage Metal Works using the S10 4x4 trans.
http://vintagemetalworks.blogspot.c....&by-date=false

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

Yes I did. I see the cross member butchered and open driveshaft.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

The T-5 has two poses two serious problems. One is you have to cut the cross member to install. Henry put the crossmember for strength. Cut it and you lose some. Two is you lose the stability of the entire rear end unless you make a replacement for the A bars. I know of a Model Aer with the T-5 trans conversion who turned onto a street doing about 15 miles an hour in his A. The entire rear end shifted, locked up his mechanical brakes, destroyed an emergency brake carrier, and made the backing plate look like a pretzel. I say to each their own. However, I also ask why take such a chance with the T-5 open drive line when the Mitchell retains the stability with the A-Bar design.

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

Al in Ny ill have to go by the storage unit was going to build a hill climber this has the adapter bellhousing and set up for open drive line

Re: T 5 5 speed VS Mitchell Transmission with overdrive
 

it has the double A bell housing