Tremec makes a 5 speed tranny that replaces the t-5 like a stock replacement and would handle a worked 350 with ease so i was wondering if anybody has gone down that road cuz i am considering it for my car any input or help would be a big help

Yes there are people here already running 3550 tremec's and TKO's if you do a few searches you'll find some info on them, a great trans, but most of us around here would rather get the extra overdrive of a T56 for the trade of paying the same $ for a used setup.

I dont really care if i got an extra overdrive i just want a 5 speed that can handle lots more power but looks like it belongs in a 3rd gen because i want to keep the stock console and shifter(even though it sucks)

Ok and ?

i am just saying but anyway i will just get the tremec not the tko though since i dont plan on getting that wild


my avatar is better

Dude, with only 10 posts, you shouldn't be rippin' his Avatar.......

....let me do it for you!

Z28Racer: Dude, his Avatar is better!!!! LOL

Nah, it's all good, we're all friends.

...er, but to get back on topic. I'm also a fan of keeping the 5 speed, of for no other reason than EVERY thirdgen now has a 6 speed. I know, bad reasoning, I agree, but I just the 5 speed.

I can't think of who it is, but some company makes a rebuild for the WC T5 tranny that makes it good for some pretty high HP, and a bit stronger than the T56. It's about $600 IIRC. Add that to what, $100 bucks for old beat WCT5, throw in some pedals and some misc. crap and a clutch, you're set!

First, a T56 uses th same console as a T5 with no problems, and looks like a stock 5-speed. The stock shifter is junk anyway, so I'd use a Pro-5.0. The Tremc uses it's own shifter anyway, so even if you've got an aftermarket shifter for your T5 you'd still need a new shifter for the Tremec box.

Second, the T56 is a much simpler bolt in than the Tremec, because it was almost made for the 3rd gen, as the 3rd and 4th gen cars are so similar under the skin. That's why it's popular. I don't think a lot of peopel have them though, as it's still a costly conversion. People still drop jaw at the track when I tell them it's a six speed. You have to consider the company here (all 3rd gen enthusiasts, most performance enthusiasts). It's a small segment of the total 3rd gen ownership. I'd be suprised if there are more than 1,000 3rd gen cars in the country right now that have a T56 swap. GM built about 200,000 3rd gens each year, so that's a pretty small percentage.

3rd, you can upgrade a T5 two ways. The first is the G-Force setup which is $1,000 for the gears and another couple hundred for the mainshaft. Claimed good to 600 HP though. The second is a cheaper method that uses a thorough rebuild kit and Z-spec super alloy gears. This setup is good to about 450 lbs/ft of torque, though I still wouldn't recommend it for dedicated track use. The kit installed is roughly $880 plus shipping, and if you're interested send me a PM.

4th, the stock '94-'97 T56 is officially rated at 450 lbs/ft stock, and you can easily upgrade th trans in the future for power levels well above 600 lbs/ft. These transmissions are also coming down in price, as are rebuild parts for them.

Not to hijack the thread....

As far as thirdgens with the T56, I think it must depend on the circles you're in. I have 2 thirds in our club with T56, and 3 including me that are doing auto to man. swaps in the near future. There's 2 more that I don't know the owners, but I see them at shows in the NC/SC area here and there, plus both Bruce at Hawks and Roy at FBMS are fairly local, and both have T56 thirdgens. I didn't mean it like it was a bad thing by anymeans, but more that the "shock and awe" has worn off for me. Hey, I may very well go with the T56!

The G-Force kit is what I was thinking about, but I didn't realize it was that much.

OK, Let me ask your opinion. For us swappers, what is the most cost effective option? ...assuming it must at least be able to handle power up to 450ft/lbs like the T56.

How do you plan to use the car? If it's street or street/strip on street tires I'd say a built up T5 is the cheapest and easiest route.

It it's strip or street/strip with slicks at the track I'd say T56 or Tremec. Probably about the same cost, but the T56 is an easier install.

Tremec T-56 from McLeod here..

rockin like a champ.. never looked back.

If you go the Tremec route, personally I would not even consider the the 3550. You can have the TKO and get the yoke to boot. Not alot of money to get it over the 3550. The TKO, IMO is a killer trans for the money spent.

I've got to agree with brutalform on this one. The up front price difference between the 3550 and TKO is minimal, especially when you consider that upgrading a 3550 to TKO spec costs over $700 in parts alone! Another option is the TKO II, which is even more indestructable.

I had the same thing going on with my IROC-Z. I wanted to go manual, but it needed to be stronger than a stock T5 and I needed to stay cheap. I decided to go with a built T5 over a T56 because the T5 swap parts are cheaper and easier to find. My car is going auto to manual, so alot of other parts are needed for the swap. Being able to reuse all the OEM parts off a 3rd gen T5 parts car or some 3rd gen T5 car in a yard keeps the price down. Thats what made me decide to stick with the T5 instead of going with a T56. I found a cheap T5 car and parted it out, and I got alot of swap parts for free. Then I contacted Tom and I plan to go with his cheaper setup, should be as strong as a T56. I think I can get the complete swap done for $1200-$1300 with a good clutch and fresh tranny.

But not to take anything away from the T56, you can find good deals on those too. If you could find a rearended LT1/T56 car or something and part it out, you could also do a T56 swap for cheap. Or if you just happen to know alot of guys that sell stuff. I recently came across a deal of a lifetime, so looks like my Z28 will get a T56 soon. All the Spohn conversion parts were included, so it came out cheaper than my plan above for my IROC-Z. Who would have thought? Only problem is I dunno how many miles that T56 has, and not sure if it'll hold up to a boosted 350. Only time will tell I guess. Just wait for the right deals and scoop it up when it happens.

Yea, TKO, I dont have any experience with the TKO II, but I hear good things. And how good the original TKO is , man that one has to be great.

I think the same way, that if you buy the 3550, and only look at the final price, you really are not getting the deal you can be by just buying the TKO to begin with.

Other things to consider:

Shifter will sit far forward and to the right compared to stock. You will have to trim console with stock shifter that comes with TKO trans. (fortes has an offset one, but haven't seen it in a car yet).

No speed shifting with this trans.

Will need new driveshaft or modification of your old one along with C6 trans yoke.

Not sure about stock torque arm mounting.

When I used the 5.0 level mated to the TKO shifter, trimming the console is not needed. At least in my case it wasnt. Trimming my console is not an option for me.

Driveshaft will need to be shortened about 1". I really dont remember if the shortening was needed with the TKO install, or the 9" install.

Torque arm is no problem at all.

Speedshifting is no problem...Powershifting is however.

BTW, I even considered proshifting the trans. But after talking to Hanlon Motorsports, he did not recommend it unless the car sees "zero" street duty, and is trailered to and from the track.

Hmn, never heard about not being able to powershift the TKO. A good friend of mine has a 3550 in his '95 Cobra, and trust me, powershifting it is no problem : ) He really shouldn't have made that foolish bet with me...

Proshifting is definately not for a street car. It's an outgrowth of the old grind the synchro rings smooth and take every other tooth off of the engagament teeth on the gear method that old time racers used to use. You can upshift with brutal efficiency, no matter how sloppy your technique. Then you put the car into neutral, stop, put the trans in 1st gear and go back to the pits. Downshifting is all but impossible.

Ive never heard of problems powershifting the 3550. It is my understanding that the TKOs massive gears are spinning, and when you try to powershift, the gears cant keep up with your shifting, because of their size.

T-5s are really easy to powershift hence the tiny gears. the only problem is the breakage.

Speedshifting the TKO is no big deal, and thats the way I drove mine down the track.