T5 - 5 speed adapter for 1933-1959 Chrysler Products Flathead 6 engines

If you want to make your 1933-1959 Chrysler, Dodge, DeSoto or Plymouth vehicle more driveable and fuel-efficient, put a T5 5 speed manual overdrive transmission in it! You can use most T5 transmissions from the Mustang; or from the Chevy S10 and Camaro/Firebird.

There is a small amount of research needed on your part (see the “read this first” section below), but once you select the transmission that best suits your application, the conversion is a simple bolt in procedure. The only outside resource you will need is to have a new driveshaft made with the correct front yoke.

Our basic kit comes with the adapter plate, Special clutch disc, pilot bearing and attaching hardware. Optional or additional parts are available if you need to replace original, worn out components.

Our patent pending adapter plate is made from high strength aluminum and has stainless steel inserts for durability. Our special design clutch disc uses the highest quality facing material for long life and durability. A specially designed pilot bushing adapter allows for precise alignment and extra grease capacity for long life. Hardened bolts give the plate additional durability.

READ THIS FIRST!!!!

There are two adapter kits available to allow you to install the popular Borg Warner or Tremec T5 5-speed overdrive in your flathead six Plymouth or Dodge. One has the GM S-10 bolt pattern, the second has the Ford Mustang and 1993-1995 Camaro and Firebird bolt pattern.

New! Fluid Drive Style T5 Adapter Kit

There are some things to consider when deciding which box to use. The big S-10 plus is that the shifter is in the most forward position possible. There are many used S-10 transmissions available and those built prior to 1989 have a mechanical speedometer. The common S-10 first gear ratios are 4.03, 3.76, 3.5 and as high as 2.95 in the Camaros and Firebirds .

As shown here, there is some interference with the stock right rear motor mount (1938 & up) using the wider S-10.

The stock Mopar throwout bearing sleeve/collar is too small for the S-10 bearing retainer. You can hone out the sleeve or you can turn down the retainer to fit. If you do not have any capability to machine the parts, you can order our part number TBC6S10A throwout bearing assembly that is already machined. You could also sleeve the retainer and use our TBA6MUS throwout assembly.

One last option is to simply use a Ford bearing retainer and machine the O.D. of the pilot flange to match the S-10. Most stock Mopar clutch forks fit the 2” wide TBA6MUS throwout bearing assembly.

The input shaft on the S-10 is shorter than the stock Mopar so the kit includes an adapter bushing to support the S-10 input pilot.

The shorter shaft also repositions the input splines, requiring that a special clutch disc be used with a special reversed, offset hub to get the input splines deeper into the disc.

The Mustang box has one big problem...unless you have bucket seats, the shifter is too far back, so you’ll have to buy a second box just to get the S-10 tailhousing and shift parts. On the plus side, Ford has been World Class (WC) since 1985, eight years before the S-10. The WC Mustang box is plentiful and has the more popular 3.35 and 2.95 first gear ratios.

The Ford narrow bolt pattern clears the rear motor mounts on most years of Mopars. Owners of ’46-’52 models report that the Ford adapter requires dimpling the crossmember. A photo comparing the two transmissions appears at the bottom of this page.

A second plus is that the Mustang bearing retainer will accept the TBA6MUS throwout bearing with no modifications.

Like the S-10, most Mustang input shafts are short, so the kit includes a special adapter bushing to support the input pilot and a clutch disc with a special reversed, offset hub.

A third plus for Ford is that there were some long input shafts in certain Mustangs in 1994-1995. These inputs are 5/8” longer than the shorter Mustang and S-10 inputs and can use a stock clutch disc. The special adapter pilot bushing is still required.

Here you can see how the S-10 and Mustang transmissions look bolted to the Mopar flathead six motor.

Before you buy any transmission, you should consult a reliable 5-speed specialist, like Tom Langdon in Utica, MI (586-739-9601), to help determine which T-5 is best for you!

About Our Company

We made our first T5 adapter kits in 2006 and have sold hundreds of them to enthusiasts all over the world! We are car guys. We have experience in restoring, and making vintage cars our life's work and continue to do so today. Headquartered in Michigan, where cars are in our blood, we have the technology available to us to manufacture the best parts available. When you contact us, we have car guys who answer your questions and assist you with restoration advice for your car.

Basic Ford Kit

Basic S10 Kit