Although I have never ran a T5 behind a FE, and doubt that I ever would, I have had several T5`s in some of my small block vehicles. For about 5 years, my daily driver was a 78 Fairmont with a mildly warmed over 302 that I ran most weekends at the local dragstrip. It had a stock 86 Mustang T5, and a 3.55 geared 8.8 rear, and 8 1/2x26 MT slicks. Normally it would run 13.2 -13.4 1/4 mile ET`s launching at 3400-3600 rpm, and always powershifting, but ocasionally I would bump up the launch RPM to 4800-5200, and open the headers, to get it into the high 12`s (12.80@105mph best). Although I did break 1 stock axle doing this, the T5 never got hurt, other than being a bit "crunchy" on the 1/2 shift when cold. When I started running my 85 Mustang M/Stocker, I ran T5`s for the 1rst 2 years. These were the better 1992 transmissions, and although the Mustang was about 250 lbs lighter than the street Fairmont, I was always launching it 5200 rpm or higher. Although I never broke any gears, I did do some damage. By the time I went from the T5 to the Jerico, I had a badly bent mainshaft, 1 broken case, and a 1-2 slider that had jammed itself solidly on the hub. I also had a friend with a 3400 lb 88 Mustang GT that ran high 13`s on slicks, who bent his mainshaft too, with high rpm slick launches. Unless the G Force or Astro`s have upgraded the mainshaft to 31 spline, I`d be pretty sceptical about running a T5 hard behind 400 HP, let alone 5 or 600. With street tires, or "easy" driving, the stock T5 may hold just fine, but I can`t imagine one holding up to a healthy FE, with slicks and an agressive driver.
428 powered Fairmont drag car, Best ET:10.03@132.11MPH, best 60 ft: 1.29
59 Meteor 2 dr. sedan 332, Ford O Matic
74 F350 ramp truck 390 4speed
