been researching this for quite a while now but all i see is a wide range of numbers.heres my question...what kind of horses are you guys running?If you really dont know exactly, how about a description of the motor?i just need to get in the ballpark of what these things will handle cause in the coming weeks or months i will be starting to rebuild my motor . its a 283 from '57 and i dont plan to do anything wild with it power wise.also plan on running it pretty easy on the street.all im really going to do to it is install new bearings,cam,lifters,gaskets,maybe switch it to a four barrel intake with a 625 cfm weber carb that i already own.will this transmission get me down the road till i can afford my a four speed?please respond with your thoughts. thanks alot,Troy.
its not about the amount of hp its the amount of torque. i think if its a wc tranny it should be able to handle the 283. the wc trans came in 92?-95? s10. the nwc should be able to stand up to it if u drive easy.
If your car is not too heavy you shouldn't have a problem.I have a 350,good intake,exhaust and small lunati cam in a model a pickup.It works good but i don't dump the clutch from a dead stop either but i'm hell on it after it gets moving.The thing i don't like is the gearing sucks 1st(4.03) and 5th(.86 to 1) is too low.
The T5 is rated at 310 ft lb of torque. If you don't side step the clutch too often it should last a lifetime. I run synthetic ATF in mine and used to button shift it in hillclimbs. People said it sounded just like a Lenco shifting. I'm running a 300 hp SBC crate engine now.
S-10 versions of the t-5 are rated at about 240 ft lbs of torque.I believe this is a continious rating that may or maynot include shock loads of drag strip type driving.Chevy never put a t-5 behind a S10 with a 4.3 V-6 if that means anything.Some 4.3 Astro vans had T-5's until GM pulled the option supposedly due to tranny failures.The Camaro and Mustang V-8 T-5's are rated for 300-335 pound of torque depending on model. Chevy never offered the T-5 with the none too powerful 350 of the 1980's.This info is available from many places on the Internet. A kid in a S10 with a gutless 2.8 can blow a T-5 no problem.A careful driver can make on last behind a 400 cubic V-8.
I've been abusing a T-5 in a stock '57 Chevy truck with both a 350 and now a 307 with 30x10x15 tires and a 3.0something geared twelve bolt. Jack rabbit starts often, I wind the engines out past 4500 frequently, burnouts a few times, and I have yet to change the tranny. 14000 hard miles on it so far. It does make funny noises every now and then, but I think it's just letting me know it's still there. lt came from behind a diesel four banger in an S-10. I think it was an Isuzu engine, but don't quote me on that.
I abused an early NWC Mustang T5 behind a stroker 351 for years. Killed the synchros (had to double-clutch most gears), but the basic trans held up OK. Rebuilt it twice. Now have a later WC (315lb/ft rating) and beat on it with the same engine - no issues. I'd run a WC Camaro unit behind a 283 - built or not. That said - a well-built NWC with the right gearset and sane driving habits should live behind a 283 in a light car and reasonable traction.
I don't think you"ll have a problem. My Comet is 3,000 lb car 351 Mustang 6 cyl. T-5 slicks pulls the front wheels on launch and I haven't broke it in 100+ runs. Pick is one of many burn outs with Detroit Locker and Hoosier slicks.
Mine lasted 46 miles with 400 hp 7.50 x17 tires no clutch dumping in third at 30 mph stomped the throttle and that was the end of it.
The 4.3 became an option in the S10 in 1989,auto only.In 91 the 5 speed 4.3 was first offered,a NV3500 tranny not the T-5.
^^^ Incorrect. Like a couple of guys have said already, the S10 T5 is NOT rated at anywhere near 350 ft/lbs. You are thinking of the Camaro trans. They are different internally, the S10 trans has a 1 inch input shaft & the V8 tranny has 1 1/4 inch. It is possible to break even the WC trans if you pound on them, I have rebuilt several for guys who have done it. they (the v8 ones) are a nice trans for the street, as long as you don't pound the snot out of them. I have one in an O/T car that weighs 3600 lbs & it works good but I have broken it while racing. to the OP, I have a question, I did not see anywhere mentioned what car it is going into? If you are putting it in a light car like an A, you should be OK. My only advice would be to step up to a V8 tranny right at the start to save doing it later when the S10 one breaks - even a mildly built 283 will overwhelm the factory torque rating for an S10 tranny IMO.
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