MeanFbirdT/A

Hey guys, I've had my 84' firebird for a while now and the T5 is starting to make some pretty bad 1st 2nd and 3rd(Sounds like a scraping noise) and I think its time to go(Shifts hard and grinds into reverse). This car was originally a 2.8L and I think the back yard mechanic that installed the engine(350 chevy) just reused the Trans because the clutch slips pretty bad under WOT too sometimes. Heres my question, Is there a way to tell without pulling the trans out if its a V6 or V8 trans? Also how would a V6 trans even mate up to a chevy 350? Using a V8 bell housing? Another important question! If I were to buy a V8 28 Spline T-5 would it just bolt right up or are the driveshaft lengths different between a V8 and V6 T5 car? I would just put a new clutch in it and bleed the hydraulics but if its a V6 trans theres not really a point right? I mean If could I even find a 10 spline input V8 clutch? My guess is probably not.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

The V6 third gen T5 bolts into a V8 third gen by using an Astro van application clutch disc (same dia. as V8 clutch disc. with 14 spline hub.)
If that's what you have, you'd simply need to change your clutch to run the V8 third gen T5.

camaromike222

Isn't the Astro Van clutch 11"? Isn't that too big for the V8 pressure plate? Speedway Motors has a clutch that's 1" 14 spline and 10.5" diam. http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Flathe...ion,38143.html

camroncamaro

A v6 and the v8 have a different length and spline on the input shaft as well as the difference in diameter on the crank bearing size and the bellhousing bolt pattern is different so he had to use a v8 transmission.

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

There is no difference externally in the V6 and V8 T5, aside from spline count (V6 is 14, V8 is 28). Gearing is the main difference between the V6 and V8. I have a V6 T5 behind a 355 in my car now. The V8 pilot bushing fit perfectly around the input shaft of the trans. The link for the clutch disc is just what you need.

Driveshafts, crossmembers hydraulics and all that are the same between the two as well.

jermdm

The bellhousings are different from the v-6 to the v-8 trans. I guess the only way to use a v-6 manual on a v-8 engine is to swap the bellhousings if that's possible, but why do that. Just get a v-8 trans. V-8 bellhousings look like an upside down V at the top. I think the v-6 bellhousing is flat on top unless you have a 4.3L(truck or astro van)which didn't come in our cars.

MeanFbirdT/A

Thanks for all the input guys, well I'm probably going to replace the trans anyway seeing as the one I have now makes all kinds of wonderful dying T5 noises. For example it makes a slight clunking sound in neutral, Its extremely hard to get it into first and if you don't slam into reverse it grinds. The clutch is about toast. I think I'll replace the T5 in there or maybe if I have some extra money I'll do a T56 swap, however they look pretty hard...Probably beyond my mechanical abilities ATM. So this clutch will work on a 14 spline T5 if I can't replace it in the mean time? http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Flathe...ion,38143.html

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

The trans bolts up to the bellhousing, so yeah its easy to swap between bell housings. I have a V6 T5 bolted up behind my V8 right now.... only because I already had the V6 T5. I think the reason most people do it is they either already have the trans, got it for dirt cheap/free, or for some reason cant find a V8 trans locally. The gearing in the V6 T5 is not ideal, you end up with a very short first gear, but it's something I'll live with for now.

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

Your link didn't come up w/ any results. This is the one I have in my car right now. http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Flathe...ion,38143.html

Keep in mind, the one I linked is only if you are going to keep a V6 trans. If you are going to get a V8 trans, you will need one with a 26 spline, but at that point, just get a clutch kit for a V8 manual car.

MeanFbirdT/A

No I understand I was wondering if that clutch would work for a V6 trans, which apparently it does thanks. Now why would my trans make like a slight clunking noise in neutral and make like a scratching/metallic whining noise in 1ST-3RD gear and then be really quiet in 4-5. Also it is really hard to get into first? I mean this is the main reason I'm about to swap the trans, or get ready to buy one to go in when this one gives up. I found a 28 spline WC T5 out of an 85 Camaro that had low miles, comes with the BH, he wants 650...Thats kinda high but I'm not sure, thats exactly what I want. But I'll pay if I don't have to **** around with the driveshaft or anything, as long as its a direct bolt in.

MeanFbirdT/A

And boy are you right DrDave the V6 has an INCREDIBLY short first. I can't even give it full throttle it'll just bake the tires or burn the clutch ahahha. Depends on how the clutch is feeling at that particular moment.

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

Wow $650 is high! You can pick these up for like $300 all day long. I could probably sell and ship you the one I have in a parts car for that much. Keep looking around.

MeanFbirdT/A

I may hit you up on that in time. I have to get some money together and wait for the other T5 to probably lose 3rd gear. How hard is it to directly swap one of these T5's and install a new clutch anyway, I've never done it and I'm still in high school but I do a lot of my own engine work. So I'm pretty mechanically inclined.

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

They're pretty straight forward. Take the torque arm and driveshaft out, center console, shifter, then the transmission. Pull the bell housing off, and there's the clutch. The clutch kit will come with all the new stuff you have to take off. You'll want to get the flywheel resurfaced too and new flywheel and pressure plate bolts.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Actually they don't. Comparing my v6 and v8 t5's, the distance from the trans face to splines is identical. The older nwc v6 t5 has a short pilot point, the later wc v6 t5 has an extended pilot point, but the splined areas are identical to v8 t5's. The extra length goes through the bushing, so it makes no difference

Only visual differences externally are the spline count and tag if it's still on there

V6 gear ratios are terrible for a v8, so you can make an educated guess with 1st gear

carters

Do you have a link to a pressure plate that will work with this clutch?