Technical Closed Drive Flathead V8 to T5 4x4 Tranny

I guess you can say I'm a little late to the party. I've read most everything I could find here on T5s and I've decided I'm definitely going in the direction of T5 4x4 and Closed Drive Torque tube behind my 53 flathead with the truck hogshead. Does anyone know if Crazydaddyo is still supplying the adapter plate for this combination. And, if not, can anyone offer any info on what I would need to create my own adapter/conversion?

 

post pics of what you are working on

 

No pic available. Model A coupe on 32 frame. 53 flathead, short stock bellhousing, truck 4spd hogshead. S10 blazer 4x4 5spd T5. I'm keeping the closed drive torque tube. I need direction on adapters and u-joints to accomplish the conversion.

 

Interested, wanting to do the same setup in my model a tudor.

 

I haven't seen anything on that in a while. Don't remember seeing him post on anything for a while either..
I did find one thread on it with links to more threads. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/jeep-t5-trans-in-the-torquetube.256226/

 

I have been building a few up. Pm me if interested.

 

That's a nice looking adapter.

 

I have had a lot of pm's. I thought I better answer some question via this post. The trans in the picture above is a jeep t5 found in 82-86 cj jeeps. My adapter is 2 part. The first part is a spline adapter that goes from the Jeep 23 spline output shaft to 6 spline male to fit an early flathead ujoint. I also drill and tap the Jeep output shaft in order to bolt the spline adapter and ujoint to the output shaft. That keeps everything exactly like a flathead torque tube transmission. The second part is an aluminum plate that bolts to the Jeep trans and mimics the back of an early ford trans.

 

That is a very good looking piece. Any inside shots of it?

 

Kato, can you do that for other torque tubes. Say Buick??

thanks
Ben

 

I think Crazzydaddyo sold the rights to Miller High Speed Heads for the adapter if I'm not mistaken.

 

Thanks I'll search him out

 

I believe he was only doing s10 4x4 t5. I am only doing the Jeep one.

 

What adapter are you using to connect the trans to the engine? If I'm not mistaken, the jeep interface is different from the s-10.

 

There are a number of different adapters out there to adapt a ford pattern t5 to a flathead.

 

Here is rev 2 with ford cast iron rear mount.

 

Thats great! Viable option for my next car.

 

Is there some advantage in using the 4X4 T5? Length?/Space? Shifter local??

 

I guess the advantage is you can keep your torque tube?

 

Yeah..I think the Jeep is shorter over all but not 100% sure.

 

I would think it has to do with the large flange where the transfer case would normally bolt up.

 

The jeep t-5 is shorter than the s-10 4x4. You don't have to cut up the center x-member as much. Gear ratios are not the greatest, however they can be interchanged with NWC gear sets.

 

Correct......the Jeep tailshaft housing is only 6" long. That is right at ~ 10" shorter than a 2-WD S-10 transmission, and that's about as short as it's gonna get. The S-10 T5 4x4 housing is roughly 4-1/4" LONGER than the Jeep 4x4.

The statement above says that RATIOS can be interchanged with ("OTHER") NWC gear sets. NOT SO FAST! What most folks fail to realize is that because the Jeep main shaft has an oddball 23-splines, the small mainshaft OD gear (5th gear) MUST be of 23-spline variety to work on the Jeep shaft. There seem to be ONLY two OD gear sets available for 23-spline......a 25T/51T, and a 23T/53T.

One kind'a cool option.....start with a NWC Chevy trans with the 2.95 1st gear set. Much better 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear ratios than the useless Jeep ratios, anyway. The NWC Jeep 23-spline mainshaft will go right in and accept the Chevy NWC gears and bearings. Of course, the Jeep tailshaft housing will bolt right-up also. That Camaro gearset came with a 25T/51T 5th gear pair, which results in a 0.63 OD ratio. There is (see above) a Jeep 5th gear with 23-splines (HARD to find) which DOES mesh with the Chevy 51T OD gear, resulting with the same 0.63 OD ratio. So keep in mind that the spline counts on all the T5 output shafts DIFFER between Chevy (27-spline), Jeep (23-spline) and Ford (28-spline), and the small-diameter OD gear on the main shaft MUST match the spline count on the shaft.......CONTRARY to a lot of previously posted advice. DD

 

Where did u come up with spline adapter?

 

I make it.

 

Hi Kato Kings,
Do you have an adapter in stock by now?

 

I have some more adapters made if anyone is interested. PM me for details.

 

Here is a picture of the adapter kit.

 

btt

 

Hi Kato Kings,
I'm new to this. Just found your link. Do you still have any kits or complete transmissions? I would love to change out my "37 top loader for a T5, but want to keep the torque tube. Any help would be appreciated.
Spook-F4