I'm buying my first manual 3rdgen, a 1984 15th Anniversary Trans Am. It has the Non-WC T-5. How tuff are these things?

Most of the manual cars I've owned were Porsche's and they were tough as hell, you couldn't kill 'em.

Can you power shift with a T-5? How about burnout? What is the best clutch? At about what milage should they be rebuilt? Can a factory T-5 be rebuilt to be almost as good as a Porsche tranny?

 

i went through 3 of them in a year

and thats only with a V6

not too "tuff"

(and yes i know how to drive stick)

 

if you want to rebuild it tommorow, why not?

[QUOTE]How about burnout? [QUOTE]
see above

[QUOTE]Can a factory T-5 be rebuilt to be almost as good as a Porsche tranny? [QUOTE]

your joking right?

 

If you make any decent torque #'s, the T5 will not survive "banging gears" or clutch dumping with tires that get good traction.
A mild 350 will destroy a T5 in a few hours if you abuse it.
If , however, you drive like a little old lady, it will hold up ok, but what fun is that?
If you plan on making over 350 ft/lbs of torque (WC T5 is rated at about 300), don't waste any $ on trying to make it stronger.
Buy a Tremec TKO or Borg-Warner T56.
I put a 300HP 350 in front of my T5 last winter and even though I've been easy on it (most of the time) it's starting to complain now, but I knew it wouldn't last long. I'll be going to a Tremec TKO this winter for sure (if it lasts until winter). I destroyed two WC T5's with the anemic 170 HP 305!
-Rich-

 

There is a reason that the T5's were never in V8 cars.....they suck and can't handle the torque.
Replace it with a Richmond or Tremec if you want to abuse the tranny and still have it survive.
Edit...........I guess I should have said 350 cars..........of course they were in the 305's. OOPS!
Damn.......that's twice now I have screwed up my thoughts and said the wrong thing.
My momma always said "Here what I mean, not what I say!"

 

T-5's were never in V8 cars? huh, i guess my 5-speed 305 car must have been a factory fluke...

As for their strength, they will hold up to a suprising amount of power if your nice to them. I've been pushing ~320 flywheel Hp through my T-5 for the past two years, and it's holding up ok. Don't use slicks with it, and don't power shift with it, and it will last. You can shift fast, but use the clutch. Also, change the fluid, and change it often. I change mine every other oil change...

Just my .02....

Eric

 

T5's were in 305 cars, but not 350 cars...
-Rich-

 

I beat the hell out of my t-5 each and everyday. I powershift like mad. First car was an 84 h.o. t/a. I put that t-5 though hell, finnaly the syncros went out. I didnt put the first 70,000 miles on it so i blame the lady I bought it from. I ran over 50 mid to low 12 sec sticky tire passes on the original t-5 in my 89 iroc. I put countless power shifts on that tranny. The only thing I broke in that t-5 was a slider, probably due to the fact that I try to brake the shifter when I shift. I took that tranny out and put a cheap replacemet out of an rs into it. currently running aproximitly 450hp throgh it. I cant help but beat on it. The second gear synchro is going out, but it was like when I put it in so...not my fault. I know these trannies are not that strong, but I dont get how some of you guys with stock 305's are breaking 2 and 3 of them. Maybe ive just been lucky, or some of you realy dont know how to drive.

 

My father and law fragged one in his '84 TA after he put in the small block 400!
He then got the Tremec TKO and that thing is sweet!

 

Yeah, the TKO is the one I want.
Have heard nothing but good about them.
-Rich-