Did they ever make any? I have never seen one, just curious. fixed

Yes, but you wrote the number down wrong. Probably a touch of dyslexia. The question should have been 305 TPI with a 5 speed for an affirmative reply.

Did they build any 350 TPI 5 sp that were sold to the public, no. Of course lots exist now thanks to the public correcting the oversight and hopefully upgrading their WC-T5's with stronger aftermarket components.

Lon

Is there a reason why? Or was there just no demand for them.

Supposedly the T5 could not handle the torque output of the 350 TPI, according to GM.

My old 92 Camaro (which was Dyno Don's old Camaro, 355 TPI w/ bolt ons & T5 combo) held up to my constant beating for about a year before an old lady crashed into it. But it was a World Class T5, which was the better T5 out of the factory.

I thought the reason GM didnt do that was because they wanted the corvette to be top of the line sport's car at the time when they introduce the TPI in camaro's. Not sure if its true thought and if they would of put a T5 in a TPI camaro it would take out the corvette, or something like that. Not sure where I got that information I cant remeber or someone told me or so but thats what I think.

Tony.

No they didn't hesitate to put the six speed T56 behing both the Lt-1 and the Ls-1 in the 4th gens. They just were afraid that the 350 would put out too much power for the t-5 to hold up behind it and didn't want to deal with the warranty issues. They didn't need to worry about the third gen out performing the Vette anymore than they worried about the 4th gen out performing the Vette because the Vette weighs 400-800#s less than the f-body depending on options on the f-body.

My WC T-5 is still holding on. I only had to replace the clutch.

My t-5 is still fine as well, but I don't drag race and I don't power shift it. The guys that do drag race have found that the magic number seems to be about 290-300 rwhp. When they make that kind of power, the transmission grenades in the first, second, or third run at the strip.

Thats a shitty reason, they should have just used a little stronger trans. Thats GM I guess, look at there rear ends. I wonder how the demand was for them? They would have been alot faster with t5's too!

That isn't the half of it. They had strong rear ends. Don has a 12 bolt in his T/A now. That rear end will handle everything a Chevy big block can dish out, but G.M. cut costs by using the weak 10 bolt or slightly stronger Australian Borg Warner 9 bolt. When they put the T-56 in theLt1 & Ls1 cars they knew the 10 bolt wouldn't handle the power so they put a restricter in line in the clutch hydraulics to keep the clutch from engaging quickly. The reason- the weak rear end is under warranty, but there is no warranty on a clutch. Why do you think G.M. is bankrupt? They have the good stuff, but they went with cheap junk instead.

Hence the drill mod to ls 4th gens. Yeah thats totally true.

There are three reasons given when this question comes up in the History/Restoration board.

Here they are, in the order I believe them:

1. The "World Class" T5 tranny was rated at 300ft/lbs of torque. The L98 was rated at 330ft/lbs of torque. Obviously that wont work.

2. GM didnt want the f-body to be as fast as the Corvette.

3. GM couldnt get the 350 / T5 combo to pass the emissions test.

Also, from what I understand, there was no stronger manual trans out there in the 80's with an overdrive on it. The Corvette had the 4+3 unit which was a 4-speed with an overdrive unit attached to the tailshaft. It was clunky, as well as expensive. Then the ZF6 came out and it was just as expensive, but at least it was a true 6-speed. It wasnt until the T56 came out due to the Dodge Viper being released in 1992, that GM was able to offer a 350/manual combo for a decent price, in the fourth gens.