T-5 behind a small block Chevy?????

[McKee]

Okay,...I want to run a T-5 behind a SBC but I don't want the one from a Camaro that's cocked over. I'll use a tailshaft from an S-10 to get the shifter where I need it,...so what car should I get the trans from?,...5.0 Mustang?,...4.3 S-10?,....please enlighten!

[scottybaccus]

with the s10 tailshaft and a straight-up bell housing, the camaro unit is quite normal. You can't use the mustang unit with the SBC, and the s10 unit won't be a good match if you build for more than 200 or so HP. ANY GM T5 is limited to about 260 ft/lb of torque.

[McKee]

Is the Camaro T-5 considered a "World Class" trans and can it take more than 260 ft/lbs of torque?....What bellhousing should I use?

[Truckedup]

1988 is the first year of World Class Camaro T-5's,it's also the one,maybe 89 too,with a mechanical speedo drive.The WC tranny differs cause it has the gears running on needle bearings,this makes it more durable in the long run but not necessarily stronger.It's the gear material that gives the tranny it's torque rating.Supposedly,WC Camaro T-5's are good for about 290- 300 ft lbs of torque.But 3rd gear,Camaro or Mustang,is the weak link.If you avoid full throttle shifts and teenage burnouts,it'll hold up ok behind a moderately built V-8
You can buy custom stronger gear sets,expensive,or a Camaro T-5 can be upgraded to 330 ft lbs of torque by using the Mustang factory high nickle gears with a 2.95 first gear.You keep the Camaro input shaft only,use the Mustang gearset. The 3rd gear is durability is supposedly greatly improved.These are available for 350 bucks or so fron the Gearbox Shop in Michigan.

[ray]

Originally Posted by McKee

Is the Camaro T-5 considered a "World Class" trans and can it take more than 260 ft/lbs of torque?....What bellhousing should I use?

the s-10 bellhousing would be a good choice if you want to run a hydraulic clutch, which i would.

[TimDavis]

...

[mpls|cafe|racer]

Agreed on the Tremec. You're gonna find that T-5's are pretty weak transmissions from the factory, especially when you consider that a used transmission is always a HUUUUUUUUUUUGE risk.

[raven]

Ok, how much do the Tremecs run?
What are they in?
r

[McKee]

Originally Posted by raven61

Ok, how much do the Tremecs run?
What are they in?
r

Tremec's are a couple of grand, T-5's are a couple of hun.

[notebooms]

ah.... just gear the rear to match your highway speed need, fill the spaces in between with horsepower and put in a Muncie :-)

-scott noteboom

[36couper]

McKee...........PM sent.

[Snarl]

Camaro t5's can run either mech or electric speedos. To change to a mech, just get speedo parts from a 83-87.
S10 versions are either one or the other, unfortunately. So look for a 83-87 S10 T5 if you want to convert and retain a mech speedo.

Which bellhousing to use depends on what size of flywheel you want to run???

[McKee]

Would a T-5 from an S-10 be strong enough?

[tommy v]

i put a 83 s-10 trans wiith the stock bellhouseing & 10 inch clutch with a s-10 9 11/16 disc, in a 55 chevy, now i have to change the rearend gears,1st is like granny low now

[Snarl]

Originally Posted by tommy v

i put a 83 s-10 trans wiith the stock bellhouseing & 10 inch clutch with a s-10 9 11/16 disc, in a 55 chevy, now i have to change the rearend gears,1st is like granny low now

Thats because you're using one with a 4.03 first gear. A 3:36 or 3:55 rearend gear will work fine and are not difficult to come by for the 55-64 rearends.
Some T5's from an 4.3 S10 should have a 3.76 first gear, which is just about ideal for most applications.

[Snarl]

Originally Posted by McKee

Would a T-5 from an S-10 be strong enough?

Strong enough for what? how much abuse is it going to see?

I've built both S10 and V8 Camaro NWC T5's, and the only difference with the V8 ones is the diameter of the input shaft, just at the splines only, and the 4th gear is larger in diameter. All the bearings are the same. In my opinion, the V8 version is only marginally stronger than the S10 version.

As everybody has basically said before, more than about 250 hp and it won't be a question of IF, but WHEN you will break it. Doesn't matter which T5 you use, its the same story. If you don't abuse it, it can live for a long time. GM never used it behind a 350 for a reason, just the 305 and the typical pony car driver was still capable of breaking it.
I'm not saying you shouldn't use it, just trying to be practical about what you should expect.
If you want to impersonate John Force, spend the bucks and get a Tremec or Richmond. They are now making them with overdrive.
Just my opinion...

[Flat Ernie]

Originally Posted by McKee

I want to run a T-5 behind a SBC but I don't want the one from a Camaro that's cocked over. I'll use a tailshaft from an S-10 to get the shifter where I need it,...so what car should I get the trans from?,...5.0 Mustang?,...4.3 S-10?,....please enlighten!

The trans isn't cocked over, it's the bellhousing. If you use any regular bellhousing, you can run the Camaro T5 & it'll be straight up. The mount on the back will still be angled, but if you change to an S10 tailshaft & top-cover, that won't be an issue.

Originally Posted by Truckedup

But 3rd gear,Camaro or Mustang,is the weak link.If you avoid full throttle shifts and teenage burnouts,it'll hold up ok behind a moderately built V-8.

This is mainly due to a limitation of the stock shifter & the lack of shifter stops. The "overshifting" of the 3rd gear fork causes bending, cracks & excessive wear on the pads - this results in less than perfect meshing of the synchro & dogs. A shifter with positive stops, adjusted correctly, will minimize this inherent weakness.

Originally Posted by Snarl

Thats because you're using one with a 4.03 first gear. A 3:36 or 3:55 rearend gear will work fine and are not difficult to come by for the 55-64 rearends.
Some T5's from an 4.3 S10 should have a 3.76 first gear, which is just about ideal for most applications.

The gear ratio has less to do with which engine & more to do with application & year. You cannot tell which gearset you have simply by engine alone. Pre-85 all had 4.03 gearset regardless of engine & Post-86 all had 3.76 gearset regardless of engine. 85-86 had both gearsets. The oddball is the very late model 93-94, some of which had a Ford case pattern & 4.03 WC gearset (very unusual). Consequently, you really need to decode the tag number for the 85-86 trannys.

Originally Posted by Snarl

As everybody has basically said before, more than about 250 hp and it won't be a question of IF, but WHEN you will break it. Doesn't matter which T5 you use, its the same story. If you don't abuse it, it can live for a long time. GM never used it behind a 350 for a reason, just the 305 and the typical pony car driver was still capable of breaking it.

The 5.0 Mustang crowd will use the T5 until about 350-400HP, then the T5 simply can't handle it. But as snarl says, above 250, with hard launches & good traction in a heavier car, it will break eventually.

Most of these links are focused on the flathead conversion, but the info is generally applicable to any T5 conversion:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=169265

[scottybaccus]

I ditched the T5 for a NEW Muncie with OD 4th from Auto Gear. Very pleased with the unit they sent and got it fast. Look 'em up.

[Truckedup]

I believe the T-5 was never used behind a 4.3 S10.The 5 speed 4.3 S10 option was delayed until about 1991,the 4.3 option first offered in 89 on S10's. I had a 91,it was the NV3500 5 speed with intergal clutch housing.There where some 85-86 4.3 Astro vans with T-5's,3.76 first gear.
There's some aftermarket gear makers saying their gear sets can handle 500 hp when installed in a NWC T-5 case,about 1000-1500 bucks.To me, the case seems a little lightweight to handle such power ......................................

[Snarl]

Originally Posted by Flat Ernie

The gear ratio has less to do with which engine & more to do with application & year. You cannot tell which gearset you have simply by engine alone. Pre-85 all had 4.03 gearset regardless of engine & Post-86 all had 3.76 gearset regardless of engine. 85-86 had both gearsets. The oddball is the very late model 93-94, some of which had a Ford case pattern & 4.03 WC gearset (very unusual). Consequently, you really need to decode the tag number for the 85-86 trannys.

Yes, I know. He said it was from an '83, and judging by his description, its got a 4.03 first. If its not, I'll owe you a beer...