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Cheap manual that can handle power

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Old Sep 18, 2002 | 10:16 PM
  #1  
wes2k3's Avatar
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From: Albany, IL (Near Clinton IA)
Cheap manual that can handle power

OK, I want to know if GM made a better 5 speed that could fit in our cars. I don't have the money to buy a 6 speed, and I don't want to have to change the tranny when the motor is too much for it to handle. So did GM make a better manual I can use that still has a OD. Like a truck tranny?

Thanks
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Old Sep 18, 2002 | 11:16 PM
  #2  
AlkyIROC's Avatar
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
No. Truck trannys are big and heavy and have gear ratios for pulling not performance. Other than a T56 GM hasn't produced a performance tranny since the early 70's. Factory OD manuals didn't really come into production until the late 70's to early 80's. By then there were no performance vehicles that required a strong enough tranny. GM never put the T5 behind a 350 because they knew it wouldn't survive.

Since GM stopped producing "performance" vehicles, the parts needed for these vehicles do not support any performance upgrades.
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Old Sep 20, 2002 | 07:52 PM
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92Transam's Avatar
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From: So Cal (SD)
Car: 91 firebird now
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
Find a wreaked 94-97 LT1 f body and take the 5 speed from it, that will work for the 350.
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Old Sep 20, 2002 | 09:59 PM
  #4  
Apeiron's Avatar
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Originally posted by 92Transam
Find a wreaked 94-97 LT1 f body and take the 5 speed from it, that will work for the 350.
Those are 6 speeds.
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Old Sep 21, 2002 | 12:49 AM
  #5  
92Transam's Avatar
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From: So Cal (SD)
Car: 91 firebird now
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 speed
oops my mistake, but thats even better.
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Old Sep 21, 2002 | 11:10 AM
  #6  
vic_V8's Avatar
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From: Dixon, IL
Car: RS
Engine: 305
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.42
hey wes, have a buddy with a 5 speed lg4 iroc caught on fire other night; no fire insurance, so looks like he is parting out the car, I can get you a t-5 for cheap, but I don't think you can beef it up.
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Old Sep 21, 2002 | 12:47 PM
  #7  
wes2k3's Avatar
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From: Albany, IL (Near Clinton IA)
Burned up IROC. Stories like that bring a tear to my eye
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Old Sep 22, 2002 | 07:57 AM
  #8  
todd200's Avatar
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From: Bowling Green KY
Car: 87 IROC-Z
Engine: 350ci
Transmission: T-5
There was a guy that came to dealership with a 94-95 Z-28 a couple of months ago that had a 5-speed in it. He said he bought the car brand new and the 5-speed was a upgrade option from the auto but cheaper than the T-56. Was it a T-5 or did GM make another 5-speed for Fourth Gens or was he B.S.ing me?
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Old Sep 22, 2002 | 02:49 PM
  #9  
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From: working at a horse farm, gonna go to somerset county tech. inst. in january.
Car: 87 GMC sierra classic
Engine: fresh 350, minor mods (its been de-emissioned too)
Transmission: professionally re-built 700R4, REALLY hard shifts & bigger clutch packs
i dont know a whole lot about em, but the GM 4 speed manuals can handle almost any power. NASCAR uses em. you could probably change the gear ratios and put a OD in it. but like i said, im not positive. trucks use to have em and some old muscle cars.
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Old Sep 23, 2002 | 10:01 PM
  #10  
wes2k3's Avatar
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From: Albany, IL (Near Clinton IA)
An LG4 in an IROC also makes me cry . At least it was a 5 speed. Can a T-5 handle a 327?
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Old Sep 24, 2002 | 12:10 AM
  #11  
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From: Dixon, IL
Car: RS
Engine: 305
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.42
i talked to the kid today, he's buying another iroc and taking the two and making a good one, he is buying a 350 from my friend, and putting his t-5 behind it
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Old Sep 24, 2002 | 07:28 AM
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Richmond does make another 5 speed. Its listed in just about any summit mag. Its the 4+1 . It was offered in a couple of firebirds back in the 80's on the gale banks edition cars that were twin turbo charged. Anyway, its an indestructible 5 speed that will fit in our cars with little to no mods (if you already have a stick) Summit sells them for most popular applications including a GM one with a 26 spline input shaft and a T5 bellhousing pattern. Only 1995.95 what a steal.......
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Old Sep 26, 2002 | 10:38 PM
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i thik its 2995
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Old Sep 26, 2002 | 10:43 PM
  #14  
laiky's Avatar
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get a tremec TKO
http://www.fortesparts.com/tremec/tr3550.html
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Old Sep 28, 2002 | 11:23 PM
  #15  
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From: Hinesville, GA USA
Car: '86 IROC-Z/'94 Z28
Engine: 350 LT1/382 LT1
Transmission: 4L60-E/T-56
Axle/Gears: 3.45/3.42 (soon 4.10)
get a world-class T-5, be patient and find a nice T-56 for cheap, or spend $1250 or so on a new tremec 3550 or TKO. Then you'd need the bellhousing and conversion components. Anybody ever consider the T-10 4 speed manual from C4 Corvettes, with the 4+3 electric overdrive? That would be nice if the OD's wouldn't break and they weren't so rare/pricey for a good one.

Between price and strength, a T-56 is the way to go.
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Old Sep 29, 2002 | 01:26 AM
  #16  
Mac's Avatar
Mac
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From: Mokena, IL USA
Car: 91 RS
Engine: 350 H.O.
Transmission: 700r4
My freind has a 92 rs with a beefed up 305 that put out 290 hp on a wheel dyno, and occasionally sprays nos at the track, the trans has 140k miles on it, and hasnt a problem with it yet, the trans probably has about 10k with the new motor.
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