t5 adapters, speedway vs offenhauser

The speedway adapter sucks. The tech line recommends red loctite to take up the slack with either the pilot bearing adapter, or the sleeve for the input adapter. Jeez.They also recommended cutting the balance weights off of my pressure plate to clear the inside of the adapter (11" pp).....no thanks.i chose to clearance the adapter itself, it still is thick as all get out where i removed some material. Also the clutch shaft on the non linkage side only sits about 1/4 in the bushing.

 

You won`t even fit a 10" clutch in there.
And the whole adapter is not centered.

I would by a wilcap adapter.

 

OOPs I've just been thinking Flathead V8 in Model A too much lately.

Looking at both pieces
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-GM-Manual-Trans-to-Flathead-V8-Adapter-Ford-Clutch,11089.html

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Offen...s-to-Flathead-V8-Adapter-Ford-Clutch,812.html

Fixed it after who knows how long.

I'm not seeing any real difference except the name. The Offy unit is maybe a bit cleaner looking.

 

Don't know about either and the OP didn't ask about other options but I'd check with Wilcap in Pismo Beach if I was looking for a flathead adapter, IMO.

Tim

 

so the bold red print in the catalog that says you cannot use an 11 pressure plate did clue you in?

 

I think you need some more coffee, both of your links are for the same item
Looking at the Offy one, I do not see the notch for the starter nose I mentioned/verified earlier, and that bothers me. http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Offenhauser-Standard-Chevy-Trans-to-Flathead-Adapter-Kit,35588.html

 

I purchased the Offy adapter from Speedway. It was terrible. The dowel pin holes did not line up. The front bearing retainer hole was machined under size and one of the transmission mounting holes was only threaded 3 threads deep in a hole that was only 1/2 inch deep. To answer the OP's question, I would go with the Speedway part if I was to order again. I would rather have a Chinese part made on a CNC machine as to have an American made part machined by someone who didn't give a damn and sent out by a company that had no quality control. By the way, my Offy heads and 4 barrel intake were unacceptable too but that is a story for another day.

John L

 

It says in the more info box "without clearancing adapter".....i did and it's fine. I was just blown away that the tech line said to cut off the weights unbalancing the pp.

 

Offy's products are made overseas also, and have been for decades. I've been told personally by Tay Offenhauser and his office manager Vince this fact on several occasions!

 

i used the speedway one. no problems at all. it worked fine.

 

That very well may be. The fact remains that all three items I bought were machined improperly. I have attempted to find a contact phone number for Offenhauser but with no success. They have no web site either. At least none that I have found. The OP asked which product was best. My only purpose here was to answer his question based on my experience.

John L

 

I bought the Speedway adapter quite a while ago, long before I was actually ready for it. It didn't come with any installation instruction and I found out about the interference problems the first time I tried to turn the engine over after installation.
I ended up taking it all back apart and removing material from the adapter. There's plenty of meat there and NOW it works the way it's supposed to. Not too difficult if you've got a big enough lathe.
Wouldn't use that adapter again though knowing what I know now. Of course that's true for lots of things in life now that I think about it.....

 

So I went and ordered the Speedway one, got it today



FYI--made in Taiwan

Looks like a nice piece, and fits the transmission and the starter plate just fine. All the bolt holes line up. It will be a while before it gets all bolted together, so I do not know about the overall fit just yet.



BUT of course, true to all my "bolt on" experiences, there are no fasteners, or instructions...crap

what is this for??

 

Prime,...yes it does need to be "notched",...I forgot that part. However,...if you use the factory steel adapter behind the Offy or Speedway bellhousing,....And, are using a Powermaster starter, that "snout" can be removed, as the PM starter engages from the front.

4TTRUK

 

When we tried to put the bolts in, all the holes were gone. Oh wait a minute, that was a Cadillac Johnny was singin' about, was'nt it?

 

That appears to me to be the adapter sleeve that goes on the input shaft of the T5 to make it fit the stock ford pilot bearing. You should also have one that adapts the throw out bearing to the transmission bearing retainer.

John L

 

Thats funny..Offenhauser has had the same phone number for over 60 years,,Never had a problem when I wanted to talk to Tay..Tay is Freds son,by the way.
from my old 79 year old memory try CA 5-1307..

 

both are same, however due to freight charges/distance and basic pricing of each, one is cheaper than the other, do the math

 

I used an Offenhauser one however the s10 t5 is shot so I bought a new WC ford t5 , now I am in the process of making a adapter plate . Made the CNC pregame just got to test fit. After fitting I will repost if anyone else is looking for one.

 

Yep it only took reading the whole thread nine months later to figure that one out. Now I need to see what he ever did for an adapter.