I am installing a 350 in my RS. It has a stock 5spd. Can I beef up my 5spd instead of going through the pain of replacing it with a 6spd? Ive read what I need to do about putting in the 6spd, too painful. What parts do I need to upgrade inside the 5spd instead?

 

http://www.fortesparts.com/tremec/tr3550-2.html

 

I put a 300 HP 350 in front of my stock T5 in Dec 2001.
It lasted about a year (I drive pretty hard)
Put a Tremec TKO in two weeks ago and am very happy.
(from Fortes)
Don't waste any money on beefing a T5, it won't be any stronger than stock and they're only rated at about 295 ft/lbs.
(that's why they never offered them behind a 350)
In the end, you'll be much happier with a Tremec (3550 or TKO) or T56. I didn't feel like I needed the sixth gear ( I'm running 3.73's in the rear) and my friend at the Pontiac dealership sees a lot of T56's with wasted gears (third especially) behind stock TA LS-1's.

If you don't bang gears and dump the clutch on sticky tires, the T5 will last...........a while.

My 2 Cents.

-Rich-