T-5 swap

[big10ratrod77]

im thinking about puting a T-5 in my 77 chevy big ten it is a factory 3 speed and granny gear and it has 3.73s and burns alot of gas. how hard would a swap like this be becouse ive seen T-5s on c-list in my area in like the $100-250 range.

eny swap tips appreciated
thanks josh

[ol_skool_chevy]

I hear in sites that the t-5 is not very strong......thats all I really know is what I read...Im sure other might say Differant...I have never had one

[big10ratrod77]

well i know my 350 coould sneeze and brake that T-5 in to a million peices jk my freind had a T-5 in his 76 gmc but he had some one else install it for him so he aint a source to ask questions. but that truck had been beefed up in the engine (it wont stock) and he didnt tear it up so im gonna give it a shot couse my 350 is stock

[russgt]

You will most likely have to cut a new hole for the shifter, beacause I think it will be farther back. I also think most T5s use a cable for clutch linkage rather than mechanical, but you may be able to make something work. You will need to modify the cross member also. The drive shaft will have to be converted to a slip yoke and most likely shortened. I am not sure what you will need to mate up the speedo cable. I am not an expert on this swap but I do have experience with chevy trucks with 4 speeds and with mustangs with T5s.

[Big Port Jimmy 6]

The t5s have different versions 4cyl 6cyl and v8.
The v8 version(the most $$$) is a direct bolt in when you change to a fine spline clutch disc. Find a truck bell housing and clutch linkage you are good to go.There are articles about using a S10 shifter on the Camaro trans to move the shifter forward, google it. There are also some bell housings that the register hole for the bearing retainer have to be machined also. The 6cyl versions have a different spline count and I think the input shaft length is different plus the gearing isn't all that good for the V8. The 4cyl versions do not even merit discussion as they aren't worth the effort. This doesn't even go into the speedo drive debacle or World Class vs Non World class. Google T5 swap and get ready for some good info. I have a camaro/s10 hybrid in my 48 GMC, so I have been around the block on this before. I haven't priced any V8 t5s lately but would be real skeptical of any less than $350. Jay

[Stitch]

if it's the same T5 that's in a fox body mustang, good luck with it holding up unless you don't beat on it...I had a T45, essentially an upgraded factory T5, in my 2001 GT...that car dynoed at 414 hp on the bottle and hitting the gas to it I ruined three transmissions...it also made 590 ft/lbs of torque but we won't talk about that...lol...the T45 was actually never setup to handle anywhere near that power, but it was whole lot easier to pay 400 for a used T45 than it was to shell out over 2 grand to upgrade to a TKO...

I will say that two of those three transmissions that I blew up were not on the bottle, they don't like to be over thrown when you powershift the transmission...you need to make sure the stops on the shifter are setup right...

[bluex]

Camaro T-5's are also mounted 17* tiltled on there axis for some reason. I cant remember why, but I have read it several places. I think it had something to do with the linkage or shifter?

I have a NV3500 from a S10 that is going in mine someday, they can be found pretty cheap too. They also came in the 88-98 fullsizes.