Anyone know why 350's were available with
automatics only on 3rd gens?
Thanks!

 

I think it was for two reasons

1. the 350 had a greater tendency to eat the T-5 trans for lunch

2. That combo would have made the Camaro perform equal to the Vette. To that GM says :nono:

 

The reason they didn't make a 350 camaro with the T-5 is because the 350 has way too much torque for it to handle. It would eat the tranny. Although they did make the 305 TPI with a T-5 thats an excellent alternative.

 

But it woudn't really have increased the cost that much if they put a manual with the 350. They had transmissions that could do it. I agree with MDv6man on this though. I think the decision was based more on politics than anything else. Can't have the F-body beating the vette at anything now can we?

 

Yeah there was the ZF six speed sitting around in the late 80's that they could have used. But they opted not too because the Vette had it and that was part of the allure of buying the Vette. To get the top of the line tranny and engine.

 

The ZF6 would have added enough to the price tag to discourage as many sales as it would encourage. By the late 80's the thirdgen was already experiancing a weak market and the availability of the stick with a higher price tag wouldn't have helped.

The T56 is/was a much cheaper transmission to produce and install, and required less modification to make it work. Had it been around in 87, it probably would have been available with the L98.

 

Exactly what Drew said...

The ZF-6 would have been ATLEAST a $6K option!!! The tranny alone ran $6K back in the late 80's early 90's, granted that's retail. Also on top of that you have all the extra fabrication needed for an F-Body PLUS they have to mark it up a little. So all in all it really would have been more than a $5K option and for what? An engine with 5 more HP and a little more TQ than the 305/5-spd? It just doesn't make sense...