Hey guys my buddy is lookin at 2 camaros right now. they are both 1991 305 tbi's. One has a 700r4 with a transgo stage 2 shift kit and the other is a 5 speed. I dont see many third gens with a 5-speed. Just wonderin how strong those 5 speed trannys are? And which set up would be faster a700r4 which that transgo shift kit or a 5-speed manual? Just tryin to get some info from those who have experience with them, i know it depends on the driver on which car will beat the other in a race...im just tryin to get some opinions.

 

i have an iroc with the LO3 engine that is in the rs and with a 5 speed. that engine is not a performance machin but i can still smoke the tires and some fun because it is a v8. my point is that if it was between 5 speed and auto definitely go for 5 speed its the best way to get more performance out of this engine. as for its durability i have heard that it is pretty weak but with the engine that is in your car you shouldn't have any problems. just remember that if you do a 350 swap or something you could use this tranny and build it up but after a couple hard launches it will be toast. however some guys do put it behind a 350 but they just cant powershift or anything but i would go for the 5 speed

 

The five speed would likely win in a race given that it has better gears than the auto cars. The autos came with 2.73 gears....not good racing gears. Apples to apples, I'd rather have the 700-R4 in a race. I love manual transmissions, but if I'm drag racing I like the auto. I race my buddy in his 5.0 mustang all the time. He has a T-5, and both of my cars are autos. He always wins, but I always launch better. I'm quicker and more consistent. Much less guess work with the auto. For something like autocross (which I've never done) I'd porbably be more inlcined to want a stick.

 

Definately the T-5. I've got a bone stock LO3 in my 91. It came with a 700R4 in it. I swapped out the auto for a T-5 a couple of months ago and I can tell you that it really woke the car up. I still have the 2.73 gears for the time being, but the 5 speed made a huge difference in the performance of my car.

 

Not even sure if I should mention this as it'll probably start a bit of a discussion, but I have a 1988 305 TPI GTA with the 5-speed, so about 215 hp (versus the 225 for the 350) at the crank. From some other posts I've seen here at TGO, if the automatic loses 20% and the 5-speed 18%, the net result for the two cars - in stock condition, is about the same. So, if you're not looking to build, the stock 305/5-speed combination (with its 3.45 gearing) will net close to the same performance as the stock 350/automatic in the top ranges. You will lose in off-the-line as the 350 definitely has more torque. The ultimate question is which driving style you or your buddy prefers - clutch and shift or not.

Gary.

 

had 4 700R4s and i always manage to end up with a leak, clutches go internally or some other failure, you don't hear as much on the T-5's, and besides, like said above unless it's up to a 350, worst you have to worry about is a clutch. And being it's a '91, it's got the world class t-5 in it, so all the better

 

It depends on what your goals are. You are right, the 5 speeds only came in about 20% of 3rd gen f-bodies. How ever, they are not normally known as a strong tranny by any means.

This is just my opinion: If you plan on leaving the engine close to stock or even swapping in a 350 hp or less engine, get the 5 speed. Manuals are also good for applications that make better low end torque than upper rpm power.

If you plan on making that high rpm power, go with an auto. A properly stall auto in that application will launch way better than a manual. Trust me....Once I had the MS4 cam installed in my ls1, I have grown to hate the 6-speed in it, at least when trying to launch it.

 

better gas mileage, better reliability, more badass, more control, more power. Whats not to like about a T5 for the LO3?

 

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Definitely go with the 5 speed. Makes the car so much more fun to drive. You also wont be limited to drag racing with it.

I swapped my 700r4 for a non world class T5 (from an 83) and I beat the crap out of it in my firebird, ran mid 13s, and it lasted me a few years before I cracked the case due to worn engine mounts and a really stiff tranny mount.

Not going to say it was in perfect condition, but I never did blow up the internals.