i got a 88 rs 2.8 liter tpi v6 with a 5 speed, and i have a questions about swaping to a v8. i read that you can change the bellhousing and clutch to bolt to a 350 but it wont hold up to the larger engine very well. i plan on putting in a older stock 350 from like a late 70's pickup, somethin with like 250 hp kinda weak and work on it while its in the car. how long would the stock transmission hold up to that?

 

First, welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

Second, read the V6 to V8 swap sticky in the top section of this forum.

A few members have put a V6 T5 behind a V8. In addition to what you said, you also need to change the clutch disk, because the input shaft for the V6 T5 is much smaller than the input shaft for the V8 T5. I hear an S10 clutch disk works with a V8 clutch, although the disk isn't quite as big as the V8 disk (which is probably a good thing for the transmission).

Plan on driving like Granny with this combo. Unless you have an endless supply of V6 T5's and don't mind dropping the tranny often.

 

i read the article you wrote and i was just curious if anyone knew about how long it would last with careful driving, do you know of any forum members that actually did this?

 

i just want to get by with it tell i can get a th350

 

It will last just as long behind a V8 with careful driving as it will behind a V6 driven similarly.

Why would you go through the hassle of converting a V6 T5 to mount to a V8 if you're planning a V8 transmission later? Wait until you can do it all at once.

Why a TH350? Okay as a drag race transmission, severely lacking for anything else.