5 speed

[gmclowsierra]

what are you guys using for a 5 speed manual trans. a friend of mine has been using a t-5 out of a 92 s10 and keeps blowing them up? any help? thanks guys.

[Pyrotechnic]

Not surprising. The 4 and 6 cyl early T5's can be used behind a V8 with the right clutch disk, but they are weak and the output shaft is small. A V8 T5 from an F-Body will be stronger but with lots of power and heavy truck they still aren't that strong.

The only other car transmission that's stronger is a 6 speed T56. You can also have a T5 strengthened to handle lots of power. Either way, a strong manual overdrive transmission is not a cheap affair. You can step down to a Muncie or Super T10 4 speed and they will be strong and reasonably priced, but they won't have the overdrive.

[cableguy0]

theres a bunch of choices that will work and hold up its just a matter of how much you want to spend. the t5 was never intended to be used in a heavy truck with a v8. they barely held up in the s10's. the nv4500 can be found in the junkyard. theres also a bunch of aftermarket choices but they are kinda pricey.

[sierra4x4]

Another option is to use a saginaw 4 speed out of a vega or monza. Thats what I did and I ran a 2.73 axle ratio. The saginaw with 3 rings on the input shaft are geared at 1st=3.50, 2nd=2.47, 3rd=1.65, 4th=1. The gear spacing is very nice and even with the 2.73's it seemed like 3.73 of the line but like 2.73 on the highway. Alot of people say the trannys are junk but mine has held up to a mild 350 for 5 years and has even been holding up to a mild 454. With this trans 1st,2nd and 3rd aregeared very close and 4th is a little farther it feels just like a overdrive.