CFauvel

Note: subject line is "T5 is in finally..." I didn't test fit with the boot as the tranny wasn't in. I broke down and got my mechanic to put the tranny in as he has lifts. My bracket piece works nearly perfectly, I can shift through all the gears just fine, but in first and second the boot rubs too much on the left side of the console. And the vertical piece of the original shifter can be barely seen through the rubber boot. If I cut the vertical piece of the original shifter and cut the vertical portion of my piece and weld the mounting surface to what is left on the shifter like you did it will be perfect. I'll post some pictures. The bad news is my second gear is having issues...at least synchro is bad, and according to my transmission repairman, second gear must be replaced when the synchro is replaced and the gear is grinding. The biggest issue I have above that is the pedal height of the clutch. we used a 1968 289 flywheel and clutch kit to fit under the T5 bellhousing. When the mechanic adjusted the clutch linkage to get the pedal returned to normal height, he said that pushing the pedal in would cause the pressure plate to be pushed in too far. So he adjusted the linkage so normal rest level is closer to the floor and I can pull the pedal all the way up with my foot. My original flywheel is 164 tooth 11", the new one is 157 tooth (10" or 10.5"). In my T5 bellhousing I used that fulcrum adapter to place the clutch Is using the 289 clutch my issue? what clutch kit do you normally use on a T5 conversion? Would my 351w pressure plate work? Would that get my linkage to be set right? Damn I wish I had a lift. Any help will be helpful Chris

the trans is still not in yet. My buddy's father is bulding out a 120' by 30' garage with a lift, and wants me to wait for that so that we can use the lift. I am very afraid that indeed the vertical shift mount on the standard t5 will interfere with 5th gear and reverse positions...I am not too keen on cutting the trans tube to make room....however the cut will be below the boot and would not show. Alternatively I could cut the vertical shift mount and weld my piece like you did. I don't have a milling machine, but I met an elderly gentleman who did and he was able to do this for me after he already re-did a 6mm diameter pinion gear for my great grandfaher's mcroscope. Machining is so interesting to me.

Here is what I came up with after seeing previous poster's shifter. Made out of 1/4" angle iron and milled to look nice.

Thanks Buckey for the update, I will post pictures of my T5 - 69 Toploader adapter when I'm done. Right now I'm trying to find a place that sells the T5 tail housing bushing, a place that sells the steel bearing retainer alonf with the front shaft seal.... Though I don't drive the Mach1 all that often, I don't want the shaft that the throwout bearing rides on, to wear out and get boogered up, like I have seen in pictures. Also I don't want to booger up my new slip yoke with the current tail housing bushing....man this is not an easy part to find. Everyone keeps asking about them on the forums, the magazine mentions you can get one from the Ford parts department or regular parts store...the latter doesn't seem to be true...I'll call Ford tomorrow. How thick is the metal you used to mount the stock 69 lever? HomeDepot doesn't have stock any thicker than 1/8", If I used that I may have to weld some nuts on the underside, since 1/8" wouldn't have enough threads. I'll keep you all posted

and this solution gets the handle back over to the left. I was going to build my own lever out 5/8" rod, lathe it down for the threads at the top , and grind down the end to a half circle to attach to the T5 shifter. I would bend in a jog to the left at the shifter and back to vertical whilst under the boot. And get the piece chromed. But this is way better. How much did you have to cut off the stock shifter? Now that I see that I am debating making something that attached to the stock T5 shifter, but to the left is the 69 mounting. Thus not boogering up the stock t5 shifter, and allowing my original shift lever. Thanks so much for this.

I am doing the t5 swap in my Mach1 and am looking for the best and cheapest stock looking shift handle for the t5. Currently have a 3spd toploader and want a handle that looks just like that. Not the one with the fake lockout. I would prefer one with SAE threads , but will settle for metric threads. I haven't found one that looks like current handle yet, but some that are for the 67-68s are rediculously expensive. Help please Chris