What's the story on a T-5 tranny? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

KEH · 08-04-2005, 11:13 PM

I am looking to replace my Saginaw and someone mentioned the t5 as a possibility. But someone else said they are not strong enough to go behind my 350. Anyone have any input? Thanks

walker · 08-04-2005, 11:26 PM

A Borg Warner T-5 tranny is commonly found behind v-6 engines on S-10s and astro vans. They are reasonably strong but not great behind a 350. The T-5 you would want would be a World Class tranny that they put in mustangs. They have better gearing and a different bearing set up. The good thing about T-5's is that there are a lot of bellhousings available to mate up to near anything.
I am not a tranny expert, these are only things I found out while trying to figure out what to put behind my flathead V-8 80 in my other hotrod.

modifiedGMC · 08-05-2005, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walker

A Borg Warner T-5 tranny is commonly found behind v-6 engines on S-10s and astro vans. They are reasonably strong but not great behind a 350. The T-5 you would want would be a World Class tranny that they put in mustangs. They have better gearing and a different bearing set up. The good thing about T-5's is that there are a lot of bellhousings available to mate up to near anything.
I am not a tranny expert, these are only things I found out while trying to figure out what to put behind my flathead V-8 80 in my other hotrod.

The world class t-5 also was in V8 camaros. The newer t-5's after 91 or 92 were stronger. There is also two different bolt patterns where they bolt to the bell housing. some of the v6 t-5's wont bolt to the v8 bell housing. The t-5 bell housing has the tranny bolt holes tilted at an angle while a regular 3 or 4 speed bellhousing has the bolt holes straight. but they will bolt to either bellhousing. World class t-5's have needle bearings under the gears, fiber syncronizers, and tapered roller bearings. Non-world class t-5's have journals under the gears, brass syncronizers, and straight roller bearings. Here is a link that tell about the t-5's, there history and has a box to indentify them and what they came out of. http://www.5speeds.com/t5/

71Chevy4-speed · 08-05-2005, 01:13 AM

imagine driving at 50 mph and your rear tires lock!...not slamming on your brakes....but your tranny seizing....its quite a ride....

it happened im my buddys camaro 305 with a non-world class Borg Warner T-5...i do not like them and they dont hold up very well from my experience. if you are going to get one, buy a world class version, he got one for his and it works much better. A non-world class T-5 behind a 400 horse 350 in a 74 nova lasts about a month.

Longhorn Man · 08-04-2005, 11:41 PM

the strongest one, the world class T5 is only made to hold 305 ft lbs of torque. Add a heavy truck, and you are flirting with trouble if you drive it hard. (hot rodding or towing)
If you just pedal it around, then it'll be OK.Remembger, GM never bolted one to a 350, the ones in the camaros and mustangs were falling apart bolted to a 5 liter.

69 Short Fleet · 08-05-2005, 01:41 AM

Or you could go with a T-56

1low1967 · 08-05-2005, 10:20 AM

Im going to try to run an NV3500 out of a 89 GMC 2 wheel drive, Any reports on those??

CHEVYE · 08-05-2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1low1967

Im going to try to run an NV3500 out of a 89 GMC 2 wheel drive, Any reports on those??

i think "huck" or one of the guys in KY has done this conversion. maybe they will chime in. if i were gonna go 5spd, i would try to go with the NV too.

jamal · 08-06-2005, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69 Short Fleet

Or you could go with a T-56

That would be awesome

KEH · 08-05-2005, 09:55 PM

Okay, the more I study this the less clear I am on what to do. Has anyone installed a 5 or 6 speed (with overdrive) behind a 350 and having good luck with it? It sounds as though the world class T5, a T56, or a NV3500 are options.

Thanks

dwaite72lnghrn · 08-06-2005, 04:01 PM

I think 69_longhorn put a 6 speed behind his 383 in a drop/chopped longhorn.

69 Short Fleet · 08-06-2005, 09:04 PM

If I remember right I think NeonLarry has the T-56 speed also. I was looking into this a while ago and was reading a website where a fellow with a 67 Chevelle did this upgrade, he has a step by step article with lots of pics. I'll see if I can post his website for you later tonight. The shifter location was a bit of a pain (as its sits rearward quite a fair amount but if you take your time it can be done (of course you will have to shorten your driveshaft and I think modify or relocate the cross member (as well as some other stuff). Doug

69 Short Fleet · 08-07-2005, 01:40 AM

Here you go

http://www.ls2.com/forums/printthread.php?threadid=1877

http://www.5speedtransmission.com/t56_early_gm.html

http://www.darklair.com/manual_monte.html

Hope these help. Doug

08-04-2005, 11:13 PM	#1
KEH Better late than never Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Columbus, IN Posts: 324	What's the story on a T-5 tranny? I am looking to replace my Saginaw and someone mentioned the t5 as a possibility. But someone else said they are not strong enough to go behind my 350. Anyone have any input? Thanks __________________ 1970 C/10 SWB Stepside

08-04-2005, 11:26 PM	#2
walker Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: north of Phx AZ about 30 miles Posts: 698	A Borg Warner T-5 tranny is commonly found behind v-6 engines on S-10s and astro vans. They are reasonably strong but not great behind a 350. The T-5 you would want would be a World Class tranny that they put in mustangs. They have better gearing and a different bearing set up. The good thing about T-5's is that there are a lot of bellhousings available to mate up to near anything. I am not a tranny expert, these are only things I found out while trying to figure out what to put behind my flathead V-8 80 in my other hotrod. __________________ Andy,Phx AZ '67 C-10 (Ahhh, done at last. Well there is that disk front end I want to put in and...) "23 C-Cab-sold '48 Ford 8N tractor(still working) '67 Scout(Now on the road) '70 MG B.-sold

08-05-2005, 01:13 AM	#4
71Chevy4-speed Speed Limit = Floorboard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kasilof, Alaska Posts: 803	imagine driving at 50 mph and your rear tires lock!...not slamming on your brakes....but your tranny seizing....its quite a ride.... it happened im my buddys camaro 305 with a non-world class Borg Warner T-5...i do not like them and they dont hold up very well from my experience. if you are going to get one, buy a world class version, he got one for his and it works much better. A non-world class T-5 behind a 400 horse 350 in a 74 nova lasts about a month. __________________ 1971 C20 350, 4-speed - Sold. 1985 K10 350, Built 700r4, Edel 1406, Performer intake, MSD Ign, Hooker Comps, Silverstars, Piaa drivers, LED tails, Toyo A/T 31's, Eaton Posi, the project. "Build for torque, horsepower will follow"

08-04-2005, 11:41 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	the strongest one, the world class T5 is only made to hold 305 ft lbs of torque. Add a heavy truck, and you are flirting with trouble if you drive it hard. (hot rodding or towing) If you just pedal it around, then it'll be OK.Remembger, GM never bolted one to a 350, the ones in the camaros and mustangs were falling apart bolted to a 5 liter. Last edited by Longhorn Man; 08-04-2005 at 11:42 PM.

08-05-2005, 09:55 PM	#10
KEH Better late than never Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Columbus, IN Posts: 324	Okay, the more I study this the less clear I am on what to do. Has anyone installed a 5 or 6 speed (with overdrive) behind a 350 and having good luck with it? It sounds as though the world class T5, a T56, or a NV3500 are options. Thanks __________________ 1970 C/10 SWB Stepside

08-05-2005, 01:41 AM	#6
69 Short Fleet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 1,086	Or you could go with a T-56

08-05-2005, 10:20 AM	#7
1low1967 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mohnton Posts: 87	Im going to try to run an NV3500 out of a 89 GMC 2 wheel drive, Any reports on those??

08-06-2005, 04:01 PM	#11
dwaite72lnghrn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: central pa Posts: 1,525	I think 69_longhorn put a 6 speed behind his 383 in a drop/chopped longhorn. __________________ 72 longhorn c30 502BB/th400/fact air/4.11rear/ custom camper 72 bug(the better half's) under reconstruction 2009 HHR aqua blue 71 GMC k20 350/sm465 2009 Chevy hd3500 6.6 Victory Red crew cab dually Dave & Jeanne

08-06-2005, 09:04 PM	#12
69 Short Fleet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 1,086	If I remember right I think NeonLarry has the T-56 speed also. I was looking into this a while ago and was reading a website where a fellow with a 67 Chevelle did this upgrade, he has a step by step article with lots of pics. I'll see if I can post his website for you later tonight. The shifter location was a bit of a pain (as its sits rearward quite a fair amount but if you take your time it can be done (of course you will have to shorten your driveshaft and I think modify or relocate the cross member (as well as some other stuff). Doug

08-07-2005, 01:40 AM	#13
69 Short Fleet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 1,086	Here you go http://www.ls2.com/forums/printthread.php?threadid=1877 http://www.5speedtransmission.com/t56_early_gm.html http://www.darklair.com/manual_monte.html Hope these help. Doug



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