How To Install a Five-Speed in Vintage Mustangs

4. Engine removal isn't required to do the transmission conversion, but we took the opportunity to pull the motor at the same time and do some cleanup and detail work under the hood. By working outside the car, we provide a clearer picture of putting the engine, bellhousing, and T5 back together. Of course, having access to a hoist to do any transmission R&R work is always helpful. Removing the 351W and Top Loader four-speed from this '69 Mustang was relatively easy with the right equipment, such as the aforementioned hoist and an engine hoist. With two people working, the engine and trans were out in about three hours.

5. Here's the Top Loader ready to be removed from the bellhousing. While this unit shifts perfectly, it doesn't have the coveted overdrive Fifth gear we think is a great thing for daily-driven vintage Mustangs.

6. The Top Loader is removed from the bellhousing by unbolting the four fasteners that hold it in place.

7. With the four bolts out, the heavy cast-iron Top Loader is separated from the bellhousing and 351W engine.

8. Next, the bellhousing is removed from the engine so it can be sent to a machine shop for the two holes it needs to accept the CPC adapter plate.

9. If your clutch is in good shape and it can be reused, you don't have to remove it or the flywheel. You can reinstall the bellhousing once the adapter plate is installed. We opted to install a new Ram clutch, which is available from National Drivetrain. Here, we've already unbolted and removed the old pressure plate along with the clutch disc. We next removed the flywheel to have it resurfaced for use with the new clutch.

10. As we've discussed, the bellhousing needs two holes precisely drilled into it, which is best handled by a fully-equipped automotive machine shop. The adapter plate itself serves as a template. The hole at the top doesn't have threads since a bolt is inserted from the inside of the bellhousing into a threaded hole in the adapter plate. The one at the bottom is threaded, and one of the three countersunk Allen-head bolts supplied with the adapter plate is placed there. The two original holes for the Top Loader at the left are reused and accept the two other countersunk Allen-head bolts to hold the adapter in place.

11. The bellhousing is set to accept the CPC adapter plate with the two holes shown in the previous photo. Drop it into place, making sure it sits totally flush on the bellhousing, and thoroughly tighten the three Allen-head bolts. The bolt shown here being tightened goes into the threaded hole that was drilled into the housing.

12. On the inside of the bellhousing, this bolt was threaded into the adapter plate and tightened. The machine shop also machined a flat spot inside the housing where the bolt is seated.