Product Spotlight: Tremec T-5 5-Speed Transmission

The TREMEC T-5 transmission–robust, powerful, and lightweight. The T-5 has made its mark within performance vehicles for over thirty years. First introduced in the 80s, it was originally a Borg-Warner invention intended to answer the market’s demand for a firmer, sturdier five-speed tranny to put inside trucks, SUVS, and street machines, among other applications.

In its initial configuration, the T-5 was being used exclusively for, of all things, AMC vehicles. A couple of  early examples were the Spirit, an adaptation of the Gremlin subcompact; and the Concord, a forgettable compact that ended production in 1983.

That same year, Ford opted to use the T-5 in its Fox body platform, most notably the V6 Mustang, where it found new life and usefulness for more than twenty years. GM found similar results in testing for their relatively new third-generation F-bodies, and used the T-5 to replace the previous four-speed, the Borg-Warner Super T-10.

In 1985, the World-Class T-5 was adopted by Ford for applications that made use of the improved bearing structure and lined blocker rings, which used steel in place of the older brass design. GM followed suit in 1988, installing them first inside Camaros and Firebirds, as well as the S-10 pickup truck in 1993.

Elsewhere, professional racers favored the transmission for a variety of reasons, chief among them being the overall light weight of the product and durable all-aluminum case. And though it ended production in the six-cylinder Stang in 2010, by that time the T-5 had built up enough of a reputation across multiple platforms and configurations that it could survive and thrive to this day.

In cars, the T-5’s light weight (75 lbs. dry) and smooth shifting ability made it ideal to use in performance applications; in trucks, the ease of use with four-wheel-drive transfer cases and 300 lb-ft. of torque capability added to the T-5’s utility in off-roading and towing vehicles. Its remarkable all-around performance made the T-5 an ideal choice for a multitude of custom builders, and continues to do so today.

For more information on the T-5, check out TREMEC’s website. Stay updated on what the company has coming down the pipeline, give them a like and follow them on Facebook.