I am done with this NV3500!

[focusedontheprize]

The positives was this was a great weekend. The car show was a blast and a bunch of people were loving that 292 inliner in the truck. I had a great time.

Unfortunately this transmission has been giving me nothing, but headaches. I have a '92 Chevy K1500 NV3500 tranny in it. It was more that it was a bargain (foolish on my part) and I would be doing a little towing with it. When I first put it in, I noticed there was quiet a bit of slop in it. I have never driven a NV3500, so I didn't know if that was usual. However, once I started wheeling around I noticed it didn't have 5th and reverse. Now I no longer have 2nd gear.

So out it is coming. The transmission is a very complex design and I have no interest in rebuilding it. To be honest, I am not too bothered by it ($50 gamble I took) and I drove my buddy's '52 that has a T5 in it and I decided I want mine to drive more like a car trans then a truck so all good.

After doing some research I am looking for a '89-'92 Chevy T5 WC edition. I like the higher rating on the torque (safe side) and the gearing. However my only question is towing capability. I am not towing a car behind it, but plan on towing a small trailer (something like this is the biggest I would go), but I would like double check if it could handle it.

Setup:
Chevy 292 (stock build) and 8.8 rear end with 3.73 gears.

Transmission I am looking for:
'89-'92 V8 T5: 1st - 2.95 2nd - 1.94 3rd - 1.34 4th - 1.00 5th 0.73 or 0.63

Any ideas or experience in this?

[Coach529]

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[mknittle]

I have been looking at the t-5 for a while now.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/t5tranny.htm

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...classic_truck/

http://www.flatheadv8.org/t5-swap.htm


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=169265

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=480437

[mknittle]

Camaro with S10 tail housing and lid will be the same. length and shifter position.

[mr48chev]

I'm pondering the same thing except I didn't spring for a so so NV3500 although I've given that trans a bunch of thought.

I'm thinking that the shift handle on a Camaro trans is going to be back against the seat in almost the same location that the shifter has been in in my 48 since 1973 so that wouldn't be an issue for me. Worse case a guy might have to notch a bench seat ala mini truck for shifter clearance. The Hot rod guys (myself included) tend to like the S-10 shift handle as it puts the shifter up pretty close to where the stock shifters were in older floor shifted cars and trucks.

I've got almost the same setup with a 292, 3.73 Posi and nee ding an overdrive but want to be able to tow a small trailer which in my case would be a tear drop camp trailer. The trailer will probably end up being a luggage and stuff trailer when my wife goes with me as she has already said she doesn't plan on sleeping in a tiny little box.

[BLUE49]

I'm running a 250 cu. in w/ Holley 4 bbl 390 carb, 390 rear end and a WC T5. Love it. The only thing I regret is using a small clutch due to the fine splines on the tranny. It tends to smoke a little when starting out on a steep hill. Jim Carter has an 11" clutch set up for this combo. I've purchased one but haven't installed it yet. One of the things you have to watch is to make sure the "nose" on the clutch plate doesn't have interference. The Carter clutch is supposed to fix this problem.
Lots of luck.

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by BLUE49

I'm running a 250 cu. in w/ Holley 4 bbl 390 carb, 390 rear end and a WC T5. Love it. The only thing I regret is using a small clutch due to the fine splines on the tranny. It tends to smoke a little when starting out on a steep hill. Jim Carter has an 11" clutch set up for this combo. I've purchased one but haven't installed it yet. One of the things you have to watch is to make sure the "nose" on the clutch plate doesn't have interference. The Carter clutch is supposed to fix this problem.
Lots of luck.

Thanks for the info. Do you know what your WC is out of or the ratios?

[BLUE49]

I don't know what its out of. I bought it from a rebuild shop here in Sacramento. I know they had to exchange tail shafts to make the shifter fall in the forward position. There was no charge for that as apparently that is a simple thing. As you can tell I'm no tranny guy. Sorry.

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I'm pondering the same thing except I didn't spring for a so so NV3500 although I've given that trans a bunch of thought.

I'm thinking that the shift handle on a Camaro trans is going to be back against the seat in almost the same location that the shifter has been in in my 48 since 1973 so that wouldn't be an issue for me. Worse case a guy might have to notch a bench seat ala mini truck for shifter clearance. The Hot rod guys (myself included) tend to like the S-10 shift handle as it puts the shifter up pretty close to where the stock shifters were in older floor shifted cars and trucks.

I've got almost the same setup with a 292, 3.73 Posi and nee ding an overdrive but want to be able to tow a small trailer which in my case would be a tear drop camp trailer. The trailer will probably end up being a luggage and stuff trailer when my wife goes with me as she has already said she doesn't plan on sleeping in a tiny little box.

From what I have been reading the key is the tailshaft location for the shifter. Ideally I would like to do a Camaro transmission and then use a S10 tailshaft to put the shifter back in the stock location.

See what else I get from this research.

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by BLUE49

I don't know what its out of. I bought it from a rebuild shop here in Sacramento. I know they had to exchange tail shafts to make the shifter fall in the forward position. There was no charge for that as apparently that is a simple thing. As you can tell I'm no tranny guy. Sorry.

No need to apologize, thanks for all the info.

[mechanixman]

I traded an extra block I had laying around for an s10 trans. I've been mocking it up in my frame, and I hate to say it,but it looks like the stock shifting location is a pipe dream.

I thought I could make it work.
I'm using a short shaft water pump, and an alternator as the only accessory just to make sure I could slide the motor (a 327) forward enough for the T5 to fit in the stock shifting location. but with the size of the harmonic balancer, and the crankshaft pulley, the T5 will still be a 2-3 inches behind where it was originally.

I can't imagine what it would be like to make it work with the straight 6.
(I'm sure to many, it's not a big deal to cut up that panel, and just relocate the hole back a few inches. But I really want to keep the floor original)

Just my 2 cents,

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

I traded an extra block I had laying around for an s10 trans. I've been mocking it up in my frame, and I hate to say it,but it looks like the stock shifting location is a pipe dream.

I thought I could make it work.
I'm using a short shaft water pump, and an alternator as the only accessory just to make sure I could slide the motor (a 327) forward enough for the T5 to fit in the stock shifting location. but with the size of the harmonic balancer, and the crankshaft pulley, the T5 will still be a 2-3 inches behind where it was originally.

I can't imagine what it would be like to make it work with the straight 6.
(I'm sure to many, it's not a big deal to cut up that panel, and just relocate the hole back a few inches. But I really want to keep the floor original)

Just my 2 cents,

Hm..my buddy who has the '52 also has a 327 in his with a T5. Camaro transmission with a S10 tail shaft. Comes right through the floor where the stock shifter is.

[mechanixman]

Huh.
Well I guess I have some work to do!


To be honest, I think I can get a thinner crank pulley (maybe even balancer). Because it really is only like 2 inches difference.