One more thing to consider that no one else has mentioned. The M5R2 is a large transmission and may not fit well or easily into a T Bucket. That being said, I have run a 3 spd + OD, 4 spd toploader, and a M5R2 in my '51 F-1, and the 5 spd is by far the best and most enjoyable of the 3.
Go with the Mazda 5 speed ,they quite tough. Stick a 3 speed knob on it for all the nostalgia critics.
I thought about that too. When I compare it to a Ford 4R70W (an automatic that's available to me and that I would run if I were to go auto), it's not much bigger. Slightly yes. And my bucket won't be scraping the Earth. I like super low cars, but they don't seem very prectical to me so I'm going in a slightly different direction on that front. I plan to build taller.
.. Kerry, a T bucket does not need a 3 speed to be traditional IMO, but an old time hot rod with an early motor sure feels and sounds sweet with a top shift 3 speed or a column shift 3 speed. Times change; when I was a teen in the 60s, we wanted a 4 speed that we certainly could not afford. 45 years later and some of us want the 3 speeds back
The main reason I used a T5 is that the integral shift mechanism puts the shifter on the centerline of the floor, well forward of the seat, and frees up a lot of space underneath for pedals, exhaust, and whatever else. I could probably have squeezed in a 3 or 4 speed with a side shifter by moving the shifter and bending the stick like a pretzel so it wasn't coming through the floor under my right leg, but why bother. Plus, I got overdrive with less work. Bob
You have to look at the ratio of the gears as well. A buddy of mine just swapped his 3 speed for an S10 5 speed in his 6 cylinder 68 El Camino. 3rd gear in the 3 speed was 1:1 and 5th gear in the 5 speed was only .86, so there really wasn't much difference in the RPMs(though it doesn't bind up like the crappy old 3 speed shifter).
I have a T-5 behind a built four banger and a '39 transmission with Zephyr gears behind another built banger. Hands down the T-5 is far better.
I have a '39 Ford that's going in my A build but later on down the road, I want to build a modified with the front section of a Model A I have with a 5-speed that way I can drive whichever depending on what mood I'm in.. To each, their own.
the three speed will work great with that combo. 3rd gear is 1:1 and if you use a rear axle in the 3.0 to 3.5 range it will be perfect. Consider shifter placement with the five speed. Might not be in the best spot. i just think externaly shifted old style transmisions are easy to work with and have all the gears you need in a hot rod. T bucket is a light car, sbf will make good power, three speed will be plenty.
I guess I've always thought if I wanted to see what it was really like I'd go with a 3-spd to drive something just as "they" did "back then". For a driver I think id want a 5 speed. I do agree with above, that a 3 speed in a t bucket behind a sbf will get you down the road just fine as long as you're not crazy with the rearend ratio.
I'm gonna snag the M5. I can run a 3.00 axle and 1-3 be better than the 3 speed with 3.31's plus I have 4th and 5th. Almost like having double overdrive. After thinking about it, it is just so much more versatile. I could get away with running a 2.75 R&P if I wanted. The M5 ratios are 3.91/2.24/1.50/1.00/0.79 and the 3.03 ratios are 2.99/1.75/1.00. I will probably run 3.08 or 3.15 in a narrowed F-150 8.8. And skipping gears is nothing new to me. I do it all the time in every stick car I drive.
I normally would go with the 5 speed, but I am building a chopped 40 ford pick up, and just went out and bought a 3 speed for my Y block, and am going to run 3 on the tree just for a change. Thought it would be neat.______________________I CONCUR!
Im running the M5R2 in my truck. The trans is a 92 model and has no speedo drive, I think 90 and back have a drive. Jim
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