Those with T5 trans installed - questions on PPF, diff, driveshaft, sensors, et.
 

I am going to install a t5 transmission with a racing ratio dogring gearset and have some questions for those qho moved to a t5 trans setup.

PPF and Diff:
My biggest question is how do you deal with the power plant frame and the diff.

From what I understand, you can ditch the PPF, and get something like this to hold the diff upright:
http://www.banzai-racing.com/products_diff_brace.htm

However I am wondering what other people have done. If some have tried to modify the PPF and trans so that you can still conect the PPF in there some way?

Driveshaft:
Also, the driveshaft, is it as simple as taking it to a shop and puttin on a t5 compatible yoke and having it cut to the proper length?

Sensors:
What did you do about the stock transmission sensors? Leave them disconnected or?

Any details on a t5 trans swap would be great :-)

I have a T5 Trans and Adapter plate for T5 to RX7 if your interested..

Aready have a t5 and adapter on the way, thanks though :-)

I just need the details on gettin it all to work together.

Regarding the PPF, you'll need to get something either to replace it or extend it to mount to your T5 tranny. Kinda like what Hinson does with their "torque arm". You'll probably also want a tranny brace to all you to have a brace across the tranny tunnel. You'll need to reinforce the area on the floor board where this tranny brace bolts/attaches to. the flimsy Hinson style attachment points probably won't hold up to real race track conditions.

The Banzai diff brace is not meant as a replacement to the PPF. The diff brace helps keep with the whole diff blowing up issue that people get on drag launches and such.

The driveshaft should be pretty straightforward. Start looking for custom driveshaft shop near you or see if one of your racing buds knows someone who can build one for you. The muscle car guys get them custom built all the time.

There was a thread in the 20B section of a guy who used a T56 in his 20B FD. Might want to give it a search. Might want to also check out the v8rx7forum.com guys to see what they do to get a T56 to mate to a stock diff.

Good luck.

^What he said about the PPF...

I see no problem with a competent driveshaft shop doing what you need done. Be sure they balance it.

Sensors... well you're going to need to wire in the speedo sensor from the T5 (if its for electronic speedos) and the reverse light wire too if you want that. What other sensors does the stock trans have? Those are basically the only two wires on the trans I dealt with as far as interfacing with the RX-7 with my LS1 IIRC.

thanks for the tips guys!!

>>The Banzai diff brace is not meant as a replacement to the PPF. The diff brace helps keep with the whole diff blowing up issue that people get on drag launches and such.


Well that may be true, but as opposed to another diff 'protection case', the brace i posted keeps the diff from tilting down as it would when there is no ppf. I would much rather figure out how to make the PPF work, but I guess ill just need to see how it all fits in there to see my options. I am surprised no one has a solution for this already?

>>Sensors... well you're going to need to wire in the speedo sensor from the T5 (if its for electronic speedos) and the reverse light wire too if you want that.

does it need some kind of tranlation? or does the t5 send the same signal the FD speedo wants? Anyone have some diagrams for this stuff?


think there is a neutral sensor too?

I believe this is the translation box most popular with the FD guys:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...part=dak-sgi-5

Here is a good thread for ya:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=tranny

All the PPF does it hold up the front of the driff casing and the rear of the transmission. If eliminated a diff brace (like the one above) and a tranny mount can be fabed to replace it. The Fd doesn't absolutley have to have a PPF. That brace is more than strong enough to support the diff. I just made my own for my 20b conversion since my engine is moved back 5 1/2". The only real thing to worry about it possible drivetrain vibrations with the tranny and the diff mounted to the chassis. That's why you have to be smart with how you use bushings with your newly fabed braces.

thanks!!

ahh yes, i do rememebr that thread, but that is for a t56, using its bellhousing and different clutch setup... not the same as using a t5, but ill see if they do address the ppf, diff, sensors stuff in there, thanks.

That was pretty much my thinking.

I have gone away from wanting to hard mount any driveline stuff as after I hard mounted thge trans, I blew 3 of them up. We think it was from the trans brace makeing the trans gears take all the driveline shock. So any braking I do I will try to get a bushing in there to take some shock.

Is there a reason why and adapter cant be made to connect the stock PPF to the t5 trans? That would solve a lot of problems here.

Now that it's a race car, do you really need a speedo? If you want to know speeds then you could do a quick calculation based on what gear your in at what rpm.

We should take a look at this damian. I know some welders that could help us out with an adapter. Lets take a look at it.

As for the driveshaft i know there are a ton of places around here that will do it. I will get a recomendation from my landcruiser buddy. He has them built for small block conversions in those trucks all the time, and they take ABUSE.

sounds good chad

http://upload8.postimage.org/924511_...8/DSC00346.jpg
http://www.ziptied.com/forums/index....tach=435;image

sorry i dont have better pics, but you get the idea.

the front of the new PPF came and attached @ the trans mount (shown in first pic)

give dakota digital a call for speedo stuff. They should have the sensor that works with the T5 as long as your tailhousing and output shaft are set up for it.

edit...its not a t5, but mabye you can do something similar.

thanks for the post rfreeman27

the pics didnt show up in the thread, but the first one did when i clicked it in the email i got on your post, i like how that was looking...not sure where the stock ppf connected there cuz i cant see it in the pic, but i like the idea.

How much for the adapter?

I removed the PPF when I did my Ford 8.8" rearend swap. Just get an A-Spec tranny brace.

i heard that T5 transmissions don't work well above 6500 rpm. is there any truith in this? i ask becasue i was considering installing a T5 on my 13b, but now i'm not so sure...

this is not the 'normal' t5 gears, its just the housing with straight cut - dog ring - close ratio gears for road racing :-)

btw, anyone kow of a person who has put in a T5 or had a shop do it and made the transmission brace that holds the t5 up?

I know it can be fabbed, but I am looking to see if there is a shop/person with somthing purchasable so I do not have to reinvent the wheel :-)

the PPF frame not only resists the pinion climbing the ringgear on accel and moving downward on decel, but it also resists twist/engine torque. if you do eliminate the PPF i suggest your run an engine torque brace.

you probably already have one but i just thought i would mention it.

while there are a number of ways to get it done, i favor retaining and modding the PPF. it may be initially more difficult but better in the long run. i would also add a Banzai rear brace to help the PPF.

hc