Hello everyone,

I would appreciate some help with this.
I have an 87 camaro that came from the factory with the 305 TPI/T-5 setup.
This car has the 9 bolt posi rear end (kinda strange) with i believe 3.45 gears.
(RPO designates OPTION 2 IROC, G92 OPTION, etc so seems legitimate...)

Bought this car with a 383 crate TPI motor in it (ZZ4, 400 crank, 1 piece rear main) and Hurst short throw shifter.
Recently I have started losing 2nd gear. Started only popping back out on downshifts but has gotten ALOT worse so it's time to replace.

Got in contact with a fellow third gen and he has the trans, bell, shifter, shaft clutch flywheel etc from a 95 Z28 and I would like to know what I need to do.

Thanks in advance for your time and feedback folks!

 

That's the classic T-56 swap. It's been extensively documented on this forum, by myself in part, and much more so by others.

Do a brief "advanced" search for "T-56 swap". You'll find out more than you even knew was possible to put on the Internet. You might start with the post you didn't read on the same subject that's about 5 posts before this one where somebody asked essentially the same question, and read the 2 links included in that one.

One thing you don't need, is a "plate".

 

Thanks for the info...I suppose i should have that trans gone through before this is even attempted...figures I should've done the search before posting this.

 

Your gonna be extremely happy with the swap

 

^^^ This ^^^

Although I can tell you from experience, 3.45s aren't enough gear. It won't have very good "leave" because 1st gear is such a high ratio, like about 2.5x, IOW try taking off in 2nd EVERY TIME with your T-5 right now to get a feel for what it'll be like; and you'll never be able to use 6th at all, unless you habitually drive over 80 mph. (not that any of us ever do THAT, but w/e...) I have just the weenie stock gear in my car, 3.73; and it's only just barely enough. Pretty sure 4.10 would be MUCH better.

 

 

We're talking about a MANUAL transmission here. I'm yerbasic perfect 140 lb weakling; I'm over 6' tall and if I turn sideways I disappear. Yet, I can put in an auto, let alone a manual, on my own.

Surely if I can do it, you can too. You're probably ALOT smarter than me besides; most everybody is, so I doubt you're any exception.

Just DO IT. You'll feel good afterwards.

 

 

It's 75-80mph speed limit where I am and traffic goes ~80 so I go back and fourth on if I should swap to 4.11. You are right that with the 3.45 starting out does take some clutch, it may burn the clutch or cause a shortened clutch life if you do lots of aggressive street driving.

This is a great and inexpensive tool for transmission installs, I've used it a bunch for my T56:
https://www.harborfreight.com/automo...ack-39178.html

 

Am I the only one that can never get a thirdgen high enough off the ground to get a transmission jack with a transmission on top of it, to slide out from under the car? Ended up having to slide the transmission off the jack and removing them separately.

 

 

Everybody has a different story of what they had to do but it's based mostly off of if the car it's going in was originally an auto or manual. You have lots of different options, you can use a thirdgen pedal set, thirdgen clutch master and 80s cavalier slave cylinder (which is what I did) or you can use the entire fourthgen setup and an extended clutch line. You can make your own clutch line with some braided teflon lined -4 AN hose with the appropriate endings. You can use the thirdgen or fourthgen pedals and an aftermarket adjustable clutch master and a stock slave. The Thirdgen Pedals are better to use IMO because they have better bracing but some like to go on and on about how much better the heel-toe driving is with the fourthgen set. Whatever.

Past the hydraulics you will need a T56 crossmember and now-a-days every thirdgen suspension provider makes one of those.

You need the new weatherpack connectors (male) for the reverse lockout, reverse lights and VSS. I use a GPS speedometer so I never have to worry about changes to wheel/tire height, tranny gears or rear end gears. I can't recall if you have to do anything for the stock speedometer.

 

I modified the T56 so I could use a T5 flywheel, clutch, throw out bearing, and fork.

 

When I move to Phoenix I'm going to have to come and visit to see some of these projects.