hey guys, can you answer some questions for me, im putting a ls lmg 5.3 in my car, i'm going to be bolting my t5 up to it, i was talking to a guy at spec, he told me that i could use a ls flywheel and clutch, but i would have to use mt orignal throw out berring? he said it would work! has anyone done this before? i need help on this one, thanks

 

Reasons to put a T5 behind an LS engine:
1) You want to make a couple of hundred pounds of scrap metal out of a mechanism that someone else could get some use out of if you sold it to them instead.
2) You like looking at a non-operating car sitting in the driveway/garage.
3) You're a sucker for lost causes.
4) You enjoy doing things twice - once the wrong way, and the second time the right way.

In case you hadn't guessed yet, I cannot condone this course of action. You're fitting a square peg in a round hole. You'll be losing one bellhousing bolt of an already weak set-up. The crank-to-input shaft spacing isn't correct. You'll have to baby the transmission like it has the engine that was originally in front of it.

Go get an f-body LS1 T56 set-up and put it behind your 5.3. This is the least expensive of the paths that can lead to true happiness. If you can't afford to do that right now, then you can't afford to do the 5.3 right now.

 

OK thanks, that sheds some light on this build, so can you tell me what I need to do this swap? Im reading that 93-97 t56 would be a direct fit with the acception of some parts, 98-02 ls1 t56 is a little different, longer, different sensors, and the sort, im looking for the best way to swap my t5 to t56 onto my 5.3 ls engine, rite ups parts list angthing, thanks for your help

 

a 5.3l is the same family/setup as an ls1, so the ls1 t56 will be the much easier swap to go with; should bolt on without any issue. the lt1 setup will end up costing you more since that's more of a direct swap for a sbc

 

ok now to try and find a t56 lol, thanks

 

At least you already have a manual trans in your car. This will make it a little easier than switching from an auto. I know the LS T56's are pricey, but in the end, as everyone has suggested, you will be way better off. Here is a thread, with pictures, from tech that I had saved to show the differences between LT1 & LS1: http://ls1tech.com/forums/manual-tra...-pictures.html

There will be other parts you need, so just read through the stickies. And listen to these guys on here that have done the swap, they know what they are talking about. Good luck with your hunt, and your swap!

 

double posted....sorry

 

Not sure if you have given up on this completely, but you can bolt a T5 up to a 5.3. You would need a 621 bellhousing to make it work. If I wasn't so broke I would have this done. The main reason people say don't is because they have racing on the mind. Personally, I am not planning on taking it to any type of track until I have enough money to replace broken parts.

You cannot fit the LS1 flywheel, clutch etc. under your current bellhousing. If you upgraded your clutch and made up the difference in depth with the 5.3 it would work, but as stated you would lose one bolt. With the 621 bellhousing the LS1 clutch etc. will work, but the transmission will no longer be at the 17* angle. Just food for thought.

 

thanks guys for the help, going to need it!!

 

what is the 621 bell? also the guy from SPEC said it will all work except i would have to use the orignar through out berring, I wont be racing it, but I sure do love to step on it every now and then, thanks

 

The 621 bellhousing is a BBC bellhousing from the 60's. You can find them on eBay all day long. Some are repaired, some are not.

 

So what you're saying is that for the t-5 to fit properly all that's needed is the big block chevy 621 bellhousing LSx series flywheel and clutch, and T-5 throw out bearing????

 

Just got GM High Tech Performance in the mailbox today and noticed it has a T5 buildup said to support 400 HP.

Not sure why they rated it in horsepower. Manual tranny is usually rated in torque because it's all mechanical in nature.

 

well from what I have been told I dont even have to change my bell, everything is tha same ecept for the throw out berring, said i just have to use the orignal type, im gona find out soon! let you know how it goes.

 

Not entirely. You will need a Howe racing throwout bearing and the LS7 pilot bearing to complete the swap.

 

Post it?

 

ok i can see that the pilot bering I will need, thanks, but what do you mean when you say howe racing throwout bearing? what is the difference? thanks for the info though!

 

Go buy it, cheapskate!

 

I am buying it! and im not a cheapskate haha

 

One of my favorite cars in the world runs a 5.3 mated to a t5.



It is, however, apples to oranges since it was done because of budgetary constraints and the car is MUCH lighter than a thirdgen.

 

Is this guy on the boards? or do you know where i can find info on his build? thanks thats cool

 

I doubt he's on here, does mostly BMW stuff.

http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums...ad.php?t=42099

That's one of his build threads. It's not a normal thirdgen T5. He used a T5 from a 3.8 4thgen camaro/firebird. They have the same trans>bellhousing bolt pattern as a ford t5 ala the fox body. So a quicktime scattershield that bolts an LSx to a ford t5/ford toploader and you're golden. Actually, I'm doing the same thing with a Toyota Corolla.

 

This is the throwout bearing that I am talking about.

http://www.howeracing.com/p-7754-imp...ck-clutch.aspx

 

ok cool, but i thing the fork will work as well?

 

how dis this swap turn out? I was told a t5 would bolt up but the trans will be at the wrong angle which I don't see how a auto trans and a manual trans would have different angle that came in the same car body mounted to the same motors I was thinking about just getting a car flywheel adapted to the ls crank. it really doesn't seem to be so complicated

 

The t5 bolts to the bellhousing rotated on a 17 degree angle.

 

ohh okay I get it now