Transmission rebuild, or replace

Morning,

After a bunch of research, I've determined the 5.0V8 HO engine and transmission that came of our a 1989 mustang doner car only had 27K from new on it. To save cost, is it really worth investing $1K to 2K on getting the transmission rebuilt considering the very low mileage on the original car? Or simply check it over as it's been removed and sitting on my work bench, clean it up and make it look new.

Engine yes for sure, I'm getting done, but the transmission is questionable.

Appreciate the feedback or suggestions.

Mark

When I got my MX it came with a Muncie M21 4-speed which was incompatible with the 3:0 gears in my 8" Ford posi (car would shake starting out in either 1st or reverse). I converted it to a WC T5 I picked up from a Camaro. There is a reputable transmission shop in my vicinity and I commissioned them to open it, inspect and replace any worn parts. Turned out the unit was in fine shape and only needed a couple of seals. Total cost came to just under 300. I installed it two years ago, so far no worries.

If it really is at 27k I would install a new rear seal on it at the very least while it's out, but probably not worth rebuilding the whole thing. Invest the money on the engine instead. If ever it breaks it's not a huge job to pull it out. Case in point, I've pulled mine a total of 6 times so far in 3 years, only one of which was to rebuild the actual tranny. Just bad luck mostly. I'm so used to it by now that I can have it out and on the bench in a few hours.

Cheers guys,

I did speak to a local transmission shop here in town and they said the Ford Mustang T5 transmissions are a good unit, they offered to take a look and let me know if it needs anything major etc, so figured why not drop it off.

This weekends project is to run new fuel and brake lines and separate the engine from the transmission so they can go to their respective shops for inspection etc.

Thanks for the insight guys, appreciate it.

Mark

Its a decent unit, but not as good as the upgraded tremecs they had...were they called World Class? I dont recall. I do know that my current T5 in the car has just a little over 30K on it though and the 2nd gear synchronizer is going. This is one of the most common problems with these, although if I remember right they sometimes lose 2nd gear too. Under hard fast shifts it grinds and catches. At some point it will need to come out.

The non-World Class T5 (GM) that came in my car was losing the 2nd gear synchro also.  I don't know it's mileage.  It was behind a 350.

If you do get it rebuilt, there are upgraded synchro's available.  You might be able to locate a good later World Class unit cheaper than a rebuild or maybe even a T56 (6 speed).  Ford used a bunch of both transmissions.

Really no way to know the condition of your's without tearing it down or trying it out.  You could spin it with drill and check for noisy bearings, but even if it sounds ok, it may not be under load.