OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 Hi all,Just wondering if a Toploader Bell , can drilled to adapt T5 ? What’s required to adapt it? I’ve found a rare, 6cyl 250 to Toploader Bell. I was thinking it could be the go for my XY 250 manual Wagon. As I can keep my hydro clutch slave on the passenger side of the Bell. Thanks in advance Here’s a pic of my 6cyl - toploader bell Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 Wrong pic , this is my 6cyl Toploader Bell Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 The T5, I’m getting is from a 6cyl XF , I don’t have the box as yet to be able to mock it up and check the bolt hole pattern.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,278 Posted May 27, 2020 @Thom and @gerg might be familiar with the top loader bell ? i am not, but i did hear the 3 speed bell is suited to the T5 with (from 6cyl either XF or up to EL 6cly depending on ratios wanted or strength EB onwards is stronger) single rail can also be done fairly easy .. there's a thread on here somewhere. but the basics are, machine the T5 nose diameter to suit the single rail hole, and drill new holes in the bell housing to suit and also in the gearbox face. here's a thread actually, http://www.ozfalcon.com.au/index.php?/topic/3399-the-t5-conversion-thread/ 1 OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 Thanks for that much appreciated Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 I was just eyeing up the, 3 speed housing and top loader housing, i have, it looked as if there isn’t enough realestate on the lower face area to allow for the lower 2 bolts of the T5. Obviously I don’t have the XF T5 here yet to be able to measure anything.I’m trying to avoid buying a CRS $$$ bell , to adapt the T5Cheers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,278 Posted May 27, 2020 4 minutes ago, OLM8 said: I was just eyeing up the, 3 speed housing and top loader housing, i have, it looked as if there isn’t enough realestate on the lower face area to allow for the lower 2 bolts of the T5. Obviously I don’t have the XF T5 here yet to be able to measure anything. I’m trying to avoid buying a CRS $$$ bell , to adapt the T5 Cheers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk if i can find my photo, i drilled 2 new holes in the T5 and bell housing higher up 1 OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,278 Posted May 27, 2020 10 minutes ago, OLM8 said: I was just eyeing up the, 3 speed housing and top loader housing, i have, it looked as if there isn’t enough realestate on the lower face area to allow for the lower 2 bolts of the T5. Obviously I don’t have the XF T5 here yet to be able to measure anything. I’m trying to avoid buying a CRS $$$ bell , to adapt the T5 found the one i had this is a single rail bell housing you may also need to do something like this for the gearbox mount 2 OLM8 and gerg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 Thanks for all that info.I also took a look at that thread you posted.To be honest ,now...I’m thinking I might buy a CRS Bell and maybe also buy the CRS g box crossmember. As I can easily fit that up myself with basic tools and probably the only outside help I need is to cut and shut my tail shaft to suit it.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,278 Posted May 27, 2020 4 minutes ago, OLM8 said: Thanks for all that info. I also took a look at that thread you posted. To be honest ,now... I’m thinking I might buy a CRS Bell and maybe also buy the CRS g box crossmember. As I can easily fit that up myself with basic tools and probably the only outside help I need is to cut and shut my tail shaft to suit it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk the CRS one is a lot easier, i did buy one back when Rod Hadfield was running the shop, the one i used could have either a hydraulic clutch on the left ,or the cable on the right side(leaded cars side.. ) assume this is the same bell they'd still have. not sure if you would need the tail shaft cut down, i do recall XY having a different length auto than the later ones, but you might be able to measure it and for eg, use an XF sedan tailshaft in your wagon.. just depends on length difference, and budget of coarse. 1 OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 Thanks mateThat thread you posted was helpful but it also reminded me that I’m a long way from any welding or machine shop for milling etc I was also thinking my 250 Toploader housing is probably worth something as factory so it would be a shame to modify it.I think it’s made my mind up Cheers The XF ute box , I brought comes with tailshaft so Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 Oh yeah the XF Ute T5 box comes with a tail shaft so you never know it might fit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,278 Posted May 27, 2020 Just now, OLM8 said: The XF ute box , I brought comes with tailshaft so would depend if the T5 tailshaft is from a sedan or (longer wheel base such as wagon, ute/van) 1 OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerg 10,871 Posted May 27, 2020 I know for my V8 I had to start with an old mechanical clutch toploader bell and mod that to take the T5. The single rail bell I already had (hydraulic type) had the same problem you saw with the lower bolt holes of the T5 sitting way below where the mounting face ends.If you can find a 250 hydraulic single rail housing, that might fit. Some single rail and 3 speed housings have enough mounting face on the bottom to line up with the T5.I had to turn the input bearing retainer on my T5 down by about 1.5mm to fit the locating hole in the bell. Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk 1 OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 Very Interesting thank youSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bear351c 10,270 Posted May 27, 2020 Haven't done this at all, but, could you make an adapter plate.? Like a sandwich plate, 20mm thick, and then get a longer input shaft.? Just thinking out loud. 1 OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 27, 2020 Maybe ! Good thinking.I think the v8 T5 has that longer input shaft. I’m not sure of the cost of that.CRS have that adapter at half the price of a bell housing.Anyways thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 bear351c and gerg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerg 10,871 Posted May 28, 2020 Maybe ! Good thinking.I think the v8 T5 has that longer input shaft. I’m not sure of the cost of that.CRS have that adapter at half the price of a bell housing.Anyways thanks Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkThe Mustang and E series V8 T5s have a 5/8" longer input shaft which suits such an adaptor but they aren't cheap either. The bastards know the troubles you can have trying to adapt the boxes to these older engines so no matter what option you choose, it won't be cheap. The other problem using that type of box is shifter location. Might not make too much difference but worth researching first. I resorted to some serious DIY on mine to fit an EA 6 cyl one and 6 years on, still going strong. Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk 2 bear351c and OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dvfalcon 352 Posted May 28, 2020 XF 5spd ain’t much chop, came with the 3.3, from memory same as a sigma. Better off with a 4 Spd. Hunt up a e-series 6 cylinder. This is a bell housing I modded a singlerail bel housing the bottom two are the new 2 gerg and OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerg 10,871 Posted May 28, 2020 XF series 2 4.1 was available with the proper T5. Same ratios as EA, quite possibly exactly the same box. Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk 2 dvfalcon and OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,278 Posted May 28, 2020 13 hours ago, OLM8 said: v8 T5 V8 T5 box is much more rare/expensive than a 6cyl one though.. i did see a transit van once with a commodore V8 T5 adapted .. wondered if this was the reason also.. or if it was a commo V6 one.. shifter location is spot on for the XF to EL 6cyl T5, is another to consider. and cross member issues potential etc 1 OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLM8 83 Posted May 28, 2020 The vehicle the box is coming from is a 1990 XF Ford Nissan Ute , carby crossflow 4.1. It’s going into a XY wagon , bog stock Log6, I figured it should be ok? I don’t drive it like a WRX or Ken Block.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,278 Posted May 28, 2020 29 minutes ago, dvfalcon said: XF 5spd ain’t much chop XE had that sigma box also ., but the T5 was available in XF, probably from 1987? 1 OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,278 Posted May 28, 2020 Just now, OLM8 said: I figured it should be ok? it will be fine, they are fairly strong.. they break if they are worn out and you thrash em though.. 1 OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Polson 10,214 Posted May 28, 2020 For reference, an easy way to tell the difference between the 3.3 5sp and the T5 is reverse location, T5 has reverse under 5th whereas the weak 5sp has it next to 1st.Boxes also look quite different externally. 2 deankxf and OLM8 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites