I have been looking around for 5 speed manual transmissions for an engine swap. I have ran into several models that meet my requirements, but still don't know a lot about them. here is what I need:
under 100 lbs
overdrive 5th
close ratio
able to withstand 450hp & 500 ft/lbs
reliable
not too expensive. under $1,500
I've looked at the Tremec TKO, MM5 Camaro trans, W58 Toyota Supra trans
What else is there? Where can I dig around for this sort of info? It doesn't matter what it comes out of as long as it meets or is close to meeting the requirements.
The plan is to mate the transmission to an aluminum automatic bellhousing.

car transmissions will not stand up as well as a truck transmission.
as well as they dont have deep first gear, 3:1 is about as low as you will find.
you need a NV4500 or if you are into 'off the beaten path' look for a ZF from a ford application
why an auto bell?
what ratios do you need/want?
your spec list leaves a lot out.

Go with the NV4500, you can get them used for 1000, new for 2000, super tough, granny low OD. 12.375 case length, don't fawk around with a car tranny....

Sorry I should have been more clear. This transmission will be going into a car with a big engine. The thing is that the transmissions for the enigne are very expensive, so we want to use a more common 5 speed. To do this we will chop the bellhousing off an automatic and mate it to the 5 speed. This will also allow the use of a different starter, which will work better for the custom engine manage
It should have a first gear no lower than 4:1 and no higher than 3:1 the gears from there should be closer together with a 1:1 4th and a nice 5th gear overdrive.
Has anyone run the Tremec TKO? What about other 5 speeds in high torque car applications? Maybe there is a message board that has more info on this sort of thing, anyone know of one?

Richmond makes a 5-speed that'll do it, but costs $1800+ from Summit.

I looked at Richmond. Theirs does not have overdrive and too much $

what kind of car? engine?
some details

the Tremec is a great tranny.
Incon recommends it as THE replacement for their twin turbo equiped Mustangs.
some of their customers are 600hp

Here's a basic list of 5 speeds available. The World Class (WC) T5 is used successfully on big HP Fords from '85 up. Lot's of ratios available.
FIVE SPEEDS:
T5 (M) 4.03/2.37/1.50/1.00/0.86/3.76R Jeep '82-83, 4 cyl., GM '82-84
T5 (M) 4.03/2.37/1.50/1.00/0.76/3.76R Jeep '82-83, 6 cyl., GM '82-84
T5 (M) 4.03/2.37/1.49/1.00/0.86/3.76R Jeep '84, 4 cyl., Ford '83-85, GM '82-84
T5 (M) 4.03/2.37/1.49/1.00/0.76/3.76R Jeep '84, 6 cyl., GM '84-85
T5 (M) 2.95/1.94/1.34/1.00/0.73/2.76R Ford '83-84, also '85 up WC version, GM '82-85
T5 (M) 3.76/2.18/1.36/1.00/0.86/3.76R Ford '83-85, GM '82-84
T5 (M) 3.76/2.18/1.42/1.00/0.72/3.76R GM '85 up
T5 (H) 3.35/1.93/1.29/1.00/0.68/2.76R Ford '85 up World Class (WC)
T5 (H) 3.97/2.34/1.46/1.00/0.85/3.70R Ford '85 up WC
T5 (H) 3.50/2.14/1.39/1.00/0.65/3.39R Ford '85 up WC
T5 (M) 3.50/2.14/1.39/1.00/0.73/3.39R GM '85 up
T50 (M) 3.41/2.08/1.40/1.00/0.80/3.37R GM '75-76 car
T50 (M) 3.10/1.89/1.27/1.00/0.84/3.06R GM '75-76 car
T50 (M) 3.40/2.08/1.39/1.00/0.80/3.36R GM '76-79 car
T34 (H) 6.21/3.34/1.81/1.00/0.82/6.09R IHC '62-85 up
T35 (H) 7.17/3.96/2.37/1.41/1.00/7.02R IHC '62-85 up (T495/T698)
T36 (H) 6.21/3.43/2.26/1.23/1.00/6.09R IHC '62-85 up (T496/T699

140VS (M) 3.72/2.23/1.48/1.00/0.76/3.59R Ford '80-83(Tremec)
140VS (M) 4.05/2.43/1.48/1.00/0.82/3.90R Ford '80-83 (Tremec)
BA10/5 (L) 3.99/2.33/1.44/1.00/0.79/3.39R Jeep '87 -89 6 cyl YJ (Peugeot)
AX5 (L) 3.93/2.33/1.45/1.00/0.85/4.74R JP-YJ 4cyl . '88 up
AX15 (M) 3.83/2.33/1.44/1.00/0.79/4.22R JP-YJ/XJ 6cyl '89 up
NV 1500 (L) 3.96/2.37/1.49/1.00/0.83 3.54R
NV 2550 (L) 3.85/2.25/1.48/1.00/0.80 or 0.75//3.52R
NV 3500 (close ratio) 3.50/2.14/1.39/1.00/0.73 or 0.78/3.57R
NV 3500 (wide ratio) 4.01/2.33/1.39/1.00/0.73 or 0.78/3.57R
NV3500 (M) 4.01/2.32/1.40/1.00/0.73/4.22R Chrysler(used in 1500 P.U.)
NV3500 (H) 3.49/2.14/1.38/1.00/0.73/3.55R Chrysler(used in 2500LD P.U.)
NV3550 (M) 4.04/ 2.33/1.38/1.00/ 0.78/4.22R 2K Jeep
NV 3550 3.50or4.01/2.14 or 2.33/1.39/1.00 0.73 or 0.78/3.57R
NV4500 (H) 6.34/3.44/1.71/1.00/0.73/ GM ' 92-94
NV4500 (H) 5.61/3.04/1.67/1.00/0.75/5.04R Chrysler/GM95up
ZF5 (H) 5.72/2.94/1.61/1.00/0.76/ Ford-German '88- all synchro Dodge:'89-93
MM1 (M) 4.03/2.37/1.47/1.00/0.86/ GM, Like T-5
MM5 (M) 4.02/2.32/1.40/1.00/0.73/3.74R GM'88-


I've had some friends that have that trannie. Ford uses it stock with several gear combos in some high H.P. muscle cars starting in 1985. You want the:
Warner T5 (WC) (13-52)
3.97/2.34/1.46/1.00/0.86/3.70
Before '85 it was not the (WC) version. The (WC) version has some different components, heavier duty than the non WC version, but it's not a panacea. It IS better than the non WC, but not by so much.
The problem is, if you do not get the NV4500, there is no 5 speed available that can take it besides the WC-T5. The AX15 is O.K., but no winner.

Here is the discription of the WC and non WC:
WC T5: '85 up, Top loaded aluminum case and extension with 13-52-xxx-xxx castings. Tapered bearing maindrive, mainshaft, and cluster gear. 5th gear synchro on countersahft cluster. Paper lined synchro rings with separate cones on 1st/2nd.

regular T5: '83-85, Top loaded aluminum case and extension with 13-52-xxx-xx castings. Tapered bearing maindrive and mainshaft with cylindrical roller cluster gear. 5th gear synchro on countershaft cluster.
Beware that there were other ratios available:
Non WC:
T5: 4.03/2.37/1.49/1.00/0.86/3.76
T5: 3.76/2.18/1.36/1.00/0.86/3.76
T5: 2.95/1.94/1.34/1.00/0.73/2.76

WC:
T5: 3.97/2.34/1.46/1.00/0.86/3.70 (this is the one)
T5: 3.50/2.14/1.39/1.00/0.65/3.39
T5: 3.35/1.93/1.29/1.00/0.68/3.15
T5: 2.95/1.94/1.34/1.00/0.73/2.76
These came on some Thunderbirds/Mercury Cougars, Mustangs, and Murcury Capri's.
regards, as always, jefe

I grenaded a 1985 T5 with only 125hp shot of nitrous and a mcleod racing clutch.
replaced it with the 7003A version but they will not come close to a Tremec for near the same $$

What about a t-45 what they put in some of the late model cobra and other 4.6 mustangs. We are just about to run one behind a super charged dohc 97 cobra. It seemed to hold up fine before the motor build up.

Every stock T5 in a mustang that I know of that got used, broke. They will tell you what they are rated for, maybe once. A friend of mine has been pounding the hell out of his TKO tranny. No problems, been drag racing for 2 years on it. However it cost around $2200, so I guess that doesn't fit what you want.

Thanks for all the good info. I now have more stuff to look into. My dad and I are going to build a BMW 5.4 V12 with custom engine management and some other stuff. We will most likely swap it into an early(86-88) 5 series car. It should be a real sleeper! We were talking about transmissions the other day and I thought I'd get some opinions from the people that can break anything.