5 speed swap

[Mayo]

Currently, my truck as a 4 speed Saginaw out of a 1980 Camaro, but that tranny is just about done. So I figure my two options are to rebuild that transmission or swap in a 5 speed. I guess a five speed would be better for my truck because it would give me an overdrive gear. Do any of you know of any 5 speeds that would be an easy swap?

[BluTrukker]

I helped my father-in-law build a 1980 camaro. He found a guy on ebay that will build a tranny to your specs for around $1800 if my memory is correct. He got a super T-10 for that car. It came with everything either new or rebuilt and even included the rear yolk and bolts to install it. I'll call him and see if he still has the builders info.

[Cyclone]

PM tranz am he has a 5sp in his 68.

[Mayo]

thanks

[Dingfodgy]

If you're not running crazy HP numbers- you can swap the NV3500 out of an 80's and early 90's S-10 or C/K 1500. The NV4500 out of the 2500 & 3500 series is tougher, but harder to come by. I wouldn't use the F-body version of the T5, unless you're running bucket seats (the shifter is way far back in the Camaro/Firebird).
If you need something a bit more "bomb-proof" - I'd go with either the Tremec TKO600 or Richmond 5-Speed.

[Longhorn Man]

he has a slightly warmed over 292 in there, I'd think that as long as he wasn't beating on it very hard, a camaro T-5 would be fine... if I remember, it already has buckets due to the shifter in it now?

[Mayo]

Yeah, I got buckets in it now due to it having a Camaro transmission already. Back in summer 07, my dad bought a 86 Camaro with a 5 speed and we had thought about swapping transmissions then, but something came up about the strength and durability of that tranny and we never made a swap. Thanks for the ideas guys.

[Gumby'sC20]

I'm also interested in doing a 4 to 5 speed swap. Lookin' for something to bolt right up to my 350. Not planning anything for the engine except bolt-on's.

Right now I have a 4 speed that's hard to get into all gears (sometimes requiring 2 hands to get into 2nd). Overall diffucult.

As far as truck transmissions, will a S-10 2.5L 5 speed bolt up and be able to handle a stock 350 (eventually with bolt-on's) ?

[72truckman]

Originally Posted by Gumby'sC20

I'm also interested in doing a 4 to 5 speed swap. Lookin' for something to bolt right up to my 350. Not planning anything for the engine except bolt-on's.

Right now I have a 4 speed that's hard to get into all gears (sometimes requiring 2 hands to get into 2nd). Overall diffucult.

As far as truck transmissions, will a S-10 2.5L 5 speed bolt up and be able to handle a stock 350 (eventually with bolt-on's) ?

If you ever drive aggressively, i would only consider the NV4500 out of a c/k2500 or c/k3500.. The NV3500 is really only dependable behind at most a V6 or a low low hp/ torque V8..

[thirdstreettito]

NV3500 out of a 90's truck. Or an indestructible NV4500.

[Gumby'sC20]

Great!

Having the trans. model number helped me to figure out which Makes, Models and Years these transmissions came in.


I'm using car-part.com to find these transmissions local to myself (also will be checking our junkyard) and, for those of you familiar with car-part (assuming most of you are very), know that I needed to have the year, make and model to pinpoint these units. Again, knowing the trans. model #, use of Wikipedia and this forum helps a ton.

Thanks Guys!

[southernstyle4028]

my brother put a 5 speed out of an s-10 w/ a 4 banger behind a stout 350 and it worked.it held up pretty damn good especially under his heavy foot. he had t space the trans and the bell housing(input shaft was a little long) but it worked fine for him now i have the truck and i plan on putting a 6 banger in it ( little better on gas ) for know. i have a 500 hp 406 sitting in living room floor just screaming to be put together. it was the last moter my brother was building before he was killed in a motorcycle wreck , he was 28 and a di hard 67-72 fan. he had about 15 of them from the time he was 16 till he died. i will post pics of a few of the ones he had. sorry about running on , but hey i was proud and amazed by my ;i; bro he taught me lots. and it sucks that i will never be able to repay him. TONY SELPH AUG 1977- JAN 06

[Mayo]

If I were to go with the NV4500, that would mean that the shifter would then be back in the stock location since it is out of a truck, right?

[Longhorn Man]

that is correct

[Mayo]

Thanks. I might just end up rebuilding what I got, because that would get my truck back on the road quicker. Tomorrow I will probably talk to a couple of my dads friends who are mechanics about a 5 speed swap because they know more than I do. I would like to keep the shifter where it is so I don't have to patch a hole.

[Gumby'sC20]

I'm assuming both the NV3500 and NV4500 use the stock shift lever holes in the floorpan...correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, my best knowledge tells me the overdrive of a 5 speed will improve MPG...also, correct me if I'm wrong.

And for instance: Pairing an NV3500 with a C10 rear-end will yield a higher attainable top speed and better fuel economy and all around daily driving benefits. (If so this is what I plan to do)

[Mayo]

A 5 speed should increase your MPG. We'll take my truck for example. I am not sure the top speed, but it screams down the highway in 4th gear at 60 mph. It is just turning to high of rpms. If you have a 5 speed, it will add the extra gear and drop your rpms way down, thus saving you gas. That is why I am considering swapping to a 5 speed. And from my understanding form Longhorn Man, the NV3500 and NV4500 are in the stock location.

[Longhorn Man]

Gumby, the MPG part of your equation is not always the case.
Example;
one engine, two trucks
I had a cammed out 350 in my first longhorn. it had a Th350, stock converter, and 4.10 gears. 65 MPH was around 3400 RPM if i remember right. I consistantly got 12- 14 MPG on the freeway.
Pulled the same engine without messing with anything... the carb was untouched, the diest wasn't even removed... placed it (and the same tranny and converter) into a smaller, lighter, lower 1/2 ton SWB truck with 3.07 gears. 65 was below 2500 RPM. I couldn't get it over 11 MPG to save my life.
My example is not the norm... that engine had a big cam and it was a dog below 2700 RPM.
HOWEVER... the "normal" engines in these trucks... both stock, and stock with bolt on upgrades, still need to turn 2300 to 2600 RPM to be in there sweet spot. If you add an overdrive, to a truck with a 3.07, odds are, the engine will be 'lugging' and not get better MPG.
Also, top speed is seldom found in overdrive. Most engines don't have the grunt to do it.

[Gumby'sC20]

Ok, yes, top speed is ever hardly reached in 5th/top gear, thats just a given haha.

As far as the 5 speed with a 3/4 ton C20 rear end, drivability on the highway, I'm hoping, should be improved just based on the availability of overdrive. (Maybe I should hook up a Tach on my truck just to see where my RPM's are to begin with. Any links on a Tach install?)

Overall, a 5 speed install would be an affordable improvement. Correct me, of course, if I'm wrong. ::thumbsup::

[special-K]

I`d either put 3.08s in the rear or save up for a Gear Vendors auxilary o/d unit,the best way to go.Not the cheapest,unless you`re in it for the long run.

NV4500s:I`ve had two behind 195 hp 6.5TDs go bad at about 100,000 miles.One dropped 5th.Went inside and it was all blued up.Bought a crate replacement,less $ than parts & labor.The second one was more catastrophic.By then GM was charging a $500 core???? Never heard of that when buying a new part.So,I let`em have it.I never got inside that one.I`m not impressed with them and eel if you want reliable,stay away from o/d transmissions.

[Spray-Bomb]

Some things not mentioned are, NV-4500s are not light, have a granny first, & are not speed shifting transmissions
So more of a hauling trans that a sport truck trans

As for the NV-3500, you can get a shorter throw shifter, but like said they arent the strongest