Did any 350 TPI (L98) cars ever come with a Manual Transmission?? - Page 2 - FAQ Board - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

ES87iroc · 03-28-2004, 05:19 PM

All thirdgen f cars shared the same frame construction, unless it was modified for use as a convertable.

As far as ttop 350 cars not being available after 89, this is not quite correct. Much more uncommon, but they are out there. See MDFormula350 for an example.

Hope this helps!

Barry85Iroc · 03-28-2004, 06:18 PM

Luke, you are correct. I bought my car from the dealer brand new in 1985...the 1st year. I wanted a 5-speed and was told that I HAD to buy the carburated engine (20 less HP than the TPI...195 vs. 215) Both motors were 305's. I was also told that GM was afraid that the original T-5 wouldn't handle the 20 extra horse(????) The car had the stock engine for 146K. I had it rebuilt before I put the new motor in it, and the guy who did it said the trans was in great shape, and only had to replace the syncros. The car (and the trans) have over 150K on them now, and the trans is still in good shape, and handles 425 HP with no problem (so far). We'll see.....

ES87iroc · 03-28-2004, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry85Iroc
Luke, you are correct. I bought my car from the dealer brand new in 1985...the 1st year. I wanted a 5-speed and was told that I HAD to buy the carburated engine (20 less HP than the TPI...195 vs. 215) Both motors were 305's. I was also told that GM was afraid that the original T-5 wouldn't handle the 20 extra horse(????) The car had the stock engine for 146K. I had it rebuilt before I put the new motor in it, and the guy who did it said the trans was in great shape, and only had to replace the syncros. The car (and the trans) have over 150K on them now, and the trans is still in good shape, and handles 425 HP with no problem (so far). We'll see.....

Holy smokes, an L69/m5/3.73 Iroc!

I have only seen one, about 3 years ago someone who worked near me had it. I kept meaning to stop in but never got around to it and it disappeared.

Anyways, I am on T5 #2, t5 #1 was a WC, #2 was a NWC. Seems like #2 is holding up rather well thus far!

flrtin1 · 03-28-2004, 10:29 PM

lol, I still have the 85 T-5 in mine been blown since 86 and only had to put in a shift fork! But it has never had anything but street tires on it......... 550hp+ no problems (knok on wood)

I have the 85 camaro book in front of me right now this is how they showed the options on engine/trans

flrtin1 · 03-28-2004, 10:58 PM

Quote:

IROCZTWENTYGR8
I'd say the approx. 15 more HP and almost 50 more ft./lbs. of TQ had something to do with it. A T-5 will NOT last behind a 350 TPI that is driven aggressively, they barely handle the better 305s and sometimes even don't.

I just read more of this post and I know its old but............
LMFAO no disrespect IROCZTWENTYGR8 but this is how I have driven my "weak" NON W/C T-5 for 50k miles and she ain't given it up yet
Link

IROCZTWENTYGR8 · 04-02-2004, 10:20 PM

Then you would be one of the extreme few.

Crazier things have happened though.

bad_turbo · 04-03-2004, 11:51 AM

I sold chevys at a dealership in california, in '85-'86, and we were told you couldn't get a 350/T-5 combo because it wouldn't pass emissions in california. Thats what we told people that wanted them. We were also told that a new corvette with the same drivetrain as a camaro was slower in the 1/4 mile due to the corvette being heavier.

tpivette89 · 04-03-2004, 03:18 PM

Quote:

We were also told that a new corvette with the same drivetrain as a camaro was slower in the 1/4 mile due to the corvette being heavier

how could something that was made of fiberglass and have 2 less seats be heavier?

bad_turbo · 04-03-2004, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tpivette89
how could something that was made of fiberglass and have 2 less seats be heavier?

Not sure. Maybe someone with a corvette from the mid 80's and someone with a camaro can tell us the weights of their cars.

Air_Adam · 04-04-2004, 12:44 AM

My uncle has an '84 Corvette, totally stock... it doesn't feel much heavier than my '83 Z28, but I dont know the exact numbers.

tpivette89 · 04-04-2004, 11:17 AM

i have 2 of each car (fbodies and C4s) however i havent had them weighed. i can say that my 88 GTA ceratinly feels heavier than my 89 Vette.

i did check Nadaguide.com which lists vehicles weight. for the 85' model year the IROC lists at 3319lbs while the 85' Vette lists at 3191lbs. i would guess certain options added more weight, and the figures given were for stripper cars.

i also checked on corvetteforum.com, where some of the drag racers there have weighed their cars. it seems most 80s C4s weigh roughly 3200 - 3300lbs with a half tank of gas. i always thought IROCS and GTAs weighed a few hundred pounds more than that

Saigon_Bob · 04-25-2004, 01:56 PM

an fbody sure as hell better be heavier than the vettes... fiberglass vs steel. the only manual trans that came with a 350 the the L69 look it up on this site like i did http://www.f-body.org/tech/tech.htm

300hpse · 04-25-2004, 05:25 PM

if your saying what i think your saying your incorrect, the l69 is a 305. Also I didnt see any listing on that site of a 350/m5

Saigon_Bob · 04-25-2004, 05:33 PM

ahh good point i was mistaken i didnt read correctly

IROCZTWENTYGR8 · 04-25-2004, 09:34 PM

http://www.thirdgen.org/tech/techdb.shtml

Klortho · 05-13-2004, 08:29 PM

This is the same T-5 that were put in the Mustang 5.0's? If so, I don't think the reason they didn't put them in the 350's were for torque reasons, they T-5's that were in the Mustangs were good for up to like 350-375 lb ft of torque.

Air_Adam · 05-16-2004, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Klortho
This is the same T-5 that were put in the Mustang 5.0's? If so, I don't think the reason they didn't put them in the 350's were for torque reasons, they T-5's that were in the Mustangs were good for up to like 350-375 lb ft of torque.

They are the same in name only. Apples and footballs difference.

Saigon_Bob · 05-19-2004, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Air_Adam
They are the same in name only. Apples and footballs difference.

is that like the t56 in the mustang/viper/camaro

Air_Adam · 05-20-2004, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saigon_Bob
is that like the t56 in the mustang/viper/camaro

Couldn't tell ya, sorry. I don't know much about the T56 other than the Vettes is mounted on its rear end, and that the LS1 F-bodies T56 is unique to the LS1 cars.

ES87iroc · 05-20-2004, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saigon_Bob
is that like the t56 in the mustang/viper/camaro

Exactly. Same name, different transmission setup.

Saigon_Bob · 05-20-2004, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Air_Adam
Couldn't tell ya, sorry. I don't know much about the T56 other than the Vettes is mounted on its rear end, and that the LS1 F-bodies T56 is unique to the LS1 cars.

i do know that 93style 4th gen t56s bolt in directly to our cars.... and a corvette setup would be awsome

Saigon_Bob · 05-20-2004, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ES87iroc
Exactly. Same name, different transmission setup.

diff bolt patterns and teh such

Pro · 05-26-2004, 10:50 PM

Didnt the GT and 93 Cobras come with 5 speeds? From what I have read, Cobra 5.0s were just as powerful as 350 TPI. This would mean GM did not create a 5.7/T5 combo because of reliability, but possibly of vette comparison.

Saigon_Bob · 05-27-2004, 08:02 AM

my next-next door neighbor (and the guy i bought my car from) has a "cobra R" foxbody with a 5 speed. i think its just a regular GT or maybe... maybe a cobra( i think it just has a cobra plenum on it.

pretty much i think this issue has been answer in that GM didnt put 5 speeds in the 350 camaros becuz they could easy rival the corvette. chevy wanted a noticable difference between the two. I'll tell you wut , they got it. granted i only have a 305 my auto sucks compared to my dads old vette(1985). it had the retar ded 4-3 overdrive which he( an accomplished truck driver of many years) couldnt figure out. its too bad he had to get rid of it b4 i started driving

. well i guess since mah bro stopped fitting in the rear hatch it was good that he got rid of it

Air_Adam · 05-28-2004, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pro
Didnt the GT and 93 Cobras come with 5 speeds? From what I have read, Cobra 5.0s were just as powerful as 350 TPI. This would mean GM did not create a 5.7/T5 combo because of reliability, but possibly of vette comparison.

Not so fast... the Mustang T5 is a totally different trans from the F-body T5. The relation is in name only.

Red92TA · 06-09-2004, 05:41 PM

I could have swarn that I saw a factory 5 spd L98 in 86. I remember reading that after a year or two of production with many transmission failures, GM stopped offering. I wish I knew where I had seen that. It doesn't really matter though. The T-5 is a terrible trans for anything other than mild street driving unless it has been gone through. There are a couple of different T-5's out there...the most popular in a GM was the World Class T5. Which is simular to the one in the Cobra's, but not as strong. Don't get me wrong, a factory GM T5 is ok, I have one behind a Vortec 350 in my 91 Camaro....but it hates to be driven hard.

Red92TA · 06-09-2004, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saigon_Bob
i do know that 93style 4th gen t56s bolt in directly to our cars.... and a corvette setup would be awsome

The T-56 is very close to a direct bolt in, however a new crossmember is required. The vette trans will not work, unless you can find a way to mount it in the rear of your F-body along with the independent rear suspension. The 93 trans is not a desirable as a 94+ version though. The transmission gear ratio is different, and the 93 requires a numerically higher rear end gear to actually make good use of the trans. There are tons of articles out there on the swaps...do a google search, and you will be amazed!!