What Is The Best Trans?

[BAT]

So I knew that the '70 SWB C10 we bought was kinda cobbled together but the price was too good to pass up. We knew that the PO had stuffed a T5 trans in to it and it seems to be OK, my biggest issues are the long throw of the shifter and how far back on the high hump the shifter sits,

So my question is should I keep the T5 or should I replace it with a GM trans? If I replace it, was there a 4 speed option (I know about 3-speeds)?

[Longhorn 70]

I don't know if they'll fit easily but the modern truck 5 speeds seem nice to drive.

[Bassman53]

I have a 72 long bed with 3 speed on the column. It winds up pretty fast - sometimes you can shift from first to third and go on. I would like to have a five speed for it to have less RPM on the interstate. The other options are a 700R4 automatic or a 4 speed manual from a car.

[Longhorn 70]

I have a 700R4 in the Longhorn. I thought he wanted manual.

I like the 700R4 for an auto but there is a lot to do for replacing a TH350. A good choice there is a built up metric 200. As long as you have a stock motor. The driveshaft will have to be changed if you are manual now as well as adding a tranny cooler.

I like the 700's low first gear with the 4.11 rear the truck has.

[BAT]

Originally Posted by Longhorn 70

I don't know if they'll fit easily but the modern truck 5 speeds seem nice to drive.

I like that option (yes I want to stay with manual), anybody know what trans that it and will it bolt up to a SBC 350? I am rebuilding the rear end but I think I will wait to complete that until I figure out what my final trans will be so I get a good match for the ratio.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

The T-5 is a great choice as long as you don't torture it. You can get a short throw shifter for it.

[BAT]

Originally Posted by Wrenchbender Ret

You can get a short throw shifter for it.

Now that is an option that I can live with! The trans seems OK (what little bit I drove it), know of a good source? I guess then I would need to find someone to fab up a handle for me.

[Tinkermc]

I went with the 700r for the od that is built in and that equals mileage

[Longhorn 70]

If I go back to a SBC I'll go with a 200-r4 Raptor. They are the same size as a TH400 and easy to build to handle 400HP. They have the same gear ratios as a 700R4. The long tail shaft on my current 700r4 makes my front driveshat a bit shorter than I like.

[Smith & Sons]

If you want to know what your cruzing RPM will be at 60 or 70 mph,go to ringpinion.com.Go to calculators,enter your rear tire diameter & ring & pinion ratio.If your trans has an overdrive you will need to factor that into the ring & pinion ratio.

[hugger6933]

You may have a GM trans just one out of a Camaro but that is a good thing. Now find an S10 T-5 and change the tailhousing and shifter top and move the shifter to the end of the center case , it will move forward like 8 inches. Do a searh on here there are plenty that have done it . I plan to do the same .I already have both T-5's. Jim

[BAT]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

You may have a GM trans just one out of a Camaro but that is a good thing. Now find an S10 T-5 and change the tailhousing and shifter top and move the shifter to the end of the center case , it will move forward like 8 inches. Do a searh on here there are plenty that have done it . I plan to do the same .I already have both T-5's. Jim

Well that is one of the many things I like about this Forum, you learn all sorts of things you never even imagined! So I went out and pulled the high hump to get a better look underneath. There it was marked in grease pencil that it is (supposedly) out of an 89 Z-28. And all along when I heard T5 I always thought of Fords, learn something new every day. I do like the option of being able to move it forward (right now it sits just in front of the seat), that and a short shift kit would make me more than happy and my son gets to keep the 5 speed he wants.

Then I did a search for S-10 Trannys to look at the configuration (looking to do what hugger suggested) and it would appear that my shifter already sits to the rear of the center case like mentioned. Here is a pic of what mine looks like... any thoughts?

[BAT]

Well after some research it would appear that I have good new and bad news... The good news is that I do believe I have the S10 tail shaft. The bad news is... it's for an electronic speedo! After seeing what the cost is to convert from electronic to mechanical, I think I may just keep what I have but search for an older S10 tail shaft and a new shift kit.

[hugger6933]

Don't get to upset just yet BAT there are ways to intsall a speedo gear where your reluctor ring is on you tailshaft effectivly changing it over to a mechanical speedo. I amsuprised that when you did your searhes on here earlier you did not run across the post about that as well. I think a short throw shfter is gonna change your life. Each piece of that whatever that stuff is added to the shifter top is gonna add distance between gear throws. Now while I will agree that added length will be needed to have a decent length for a shifter what you have may be more than needed and on top of that the S-10 shifter is not really known for its short smooth throws. An aftermarket shifter is availble if you decide you want to go that way and they have internal adjustable shifter stops to reduce the throws that much further[do some limited degree]. Jim

[quickman65]

just a thought they did use a sm465 4 spd on these trucks. First gear is a creeper though. Here are the gear ratio's.
First Gear - 6.55:1
Second Gear - 3.58:1
Third Gear - 1.70:1
Fourth Gear - 1.00:1
Reverse - 6.09:3

[prostreetC-10]

The one that doesn't break!

[Wrenchbender Ret]

A shifter for a Mustang won't fit. I use Cameros.

[rickjames1]

I installed a 4L80e in my 69 swb and it fit like a glove with little trimming to the dog house. Seems like it will work fine with 1/2" of clearance between the top of the trans and the bottom of the cab.
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[BAT]

Well I think for now I am going to stick with the T-5. To overcome my electronic speedo issue, I just bought a full S10 trans with a mechanical speedo (now those seem very hard to find). If any one is looking to do a T5 install and needs an S10 rear housing and trans cover (what you need to move the shifter up), I will have one available soon.

Also found a short shift kit for it here and I think I will be using this shift lever.

The only thing it sounds like I need to do is to be sure that I have them install the adjustable stops on the short shifter to save the stress on the gear box.

Thanks for all the responses and Merry Christmas!!

BAT