NEW 1993 COBRA T-5 Transmissions!

[SPeace-ATL]

NOT!

Okay, now that I have your attention, have you noticed that certain big-name Internet Mustang houses are offering WHAT THEY CALL a 93 COBRA T5? These are new transmissions still in the box!

These advertisements are a marketing ploy that is causing a lot of confusion to an already complex matrix of T-5 transmissions. What they are actually selling are new T5Z transmissions such as the Motorsport M-7003-Z.

The T5Z actually is a drop-in replacement for a 93 COBRA as well as any 93 or older V-8 Mustang T-5, but they are not COBRA transmissions and should not be called COBRA transmissions. There are a LOT of differences in these two transmissions. The T5Z is actually a better transmission than a 1993 COBRA T-5. I will list these differences below.

Why am I upset about this? The confusion and misleading advertising is why. I had a customer contact me today wanting a 94 COBRA Input shaft so that he could adapt the 93 COBRA T-5 to his 94 COBRA. Well... the gears in a T5Z are not at all the same as in a GT or COBRA transmission. I nearly sold him an input shaft that would not fit his transmission when I asked the right questions and learned that he actually had a T5Z. There is no input shaft for the T5Z that has the correct length to be used in a 94/95 car.

Gear Ratios:
COBRA: 3.35 1.99 1.33 1.0 and 0.68
T5Z: 2.95 1.94 1.34 1.0 and 0.63
This means that not even one of the gears inside these two transmissions is the same part. (Well, the reverse idler gear is the same...)

Internal Speedometer Gear:
COBRA: 8-tooth
T5Z: 7-tooth

Gear Description: COBRA tooth count: T5Z tooth count:
Input shaft 23 teeth 24 teeth
First Gear 34 teeth 32 teeth
Second Gear 31 teeth 33 teeth
Third Gear 26 teeth 30 teeth
Fourth gear is not an actual gear, but a 1:1 pass-through
Fifth gear 59t/27t pair 51t/25t pair

[Mustang Leo]

Had my attention. ...

[SPeace-ATL]

Had my attention. ...

Sorry! Maybe I should tone it down a bit!

I CAN modify a stock GT T-5 into a COBRA T-5 by modifying the input shaft and the main shaft so they would accept the special tapered bearing between the two shafts. Really, about all that is gained is a little more reliability for that bearing that sticks in the cup in the rear of the input shaft. There is no difference in the torque ratings, yet the factory specification indicates the COBRA T-5 has a 310 ft/lb torque rating where the GT has a 300 ft/lb rating. That one little bearing can add some reliability, but won't add any torque capacity. I don't see where they came up with the number. Now, the T5Z is conservatively rated at 330 ft/lbs. Those gears are different and will take a bit more torque.