My car is an 87 Camaro LT with the LG4 and 700R4. I'm putting in a carbed 350 from a 74 vette. I'm also going to convert to a manual transmission. My question is basically what's in the title. Will any transmission that was originally matched to a chevy v8 fit to my engine in my car, are there certain trannies i have to choose from that will fit my engine, or certain trannies that fit my car? Also, if I do go with a tranny from a different car, what parts need to match the tranny and which need to match my car (i.e. bellhousing, pedal assembly, etc.)?

 

does anyone know?

 

Most of what I have to say will start with "as far as I know", but here goes

V8 trannies should have the same block-to-bellhousing bolt patterns, except LS1's. I don't know about big block trannies, but I've never heard about a difference. The block from a 74 Vette should have a 2-piece rear main seal, so you will need a flywheel for that application, or an adapter so you can use a flywheel made for a singe piece rear seal. Check Summit or Jegs for that, I forgot who makes it.

Clutch pedals depend on what kind of clutch linkage you are using. I have hydraulic pedals from an 89, and I use them for the hydraulics for my 97 T56. I believe that the tranny will dictate whether you need a mechanical or a hydraulic clutch linkage. Different trannies need different types of linkage too. For instance, the thirdgen T5's all use a standard clutch setup, but the 4th gen T56's (maybe t5's too) use a reversed setup, so the fork pulls rather than pushes.

 

All Chev V8's have the same bellhousing bolt pattern. BBC and SBC are the same.

The trouble with installing a manual transmission in a third gen is that there's no room beside the tranny for the clutch lever. That's why third gen bellhousings have the clutch lever/slave cylinder at a 45* angle. If it was straight off the side of the bellhousing, it would be about where the gas pedel is inside the car.

 

i'm pretty sure i want the borg warner t10 4 speed tranny. is this tranny the same for all chevy's, or is there a difference between the ones that came in camaros and novas and vettes, etc.?

 

Yes the ones for 82 Camaros (the only one they came stock in) are different. They are designed to be bolted in at an angle, rotated clockwise about 20°, so that the clutch fork will clear the floor pan as Stephen mentioned above. As a result, the trans mount pad has to be rotated too. And of course, there has to be a torque arm mount on it in order for it to work in these cars.

Internally the T-10 for one of these is no different, but no other one will bolt in.

The clutch linkage does not care what kind of trans you have, up to the T-56 which is different. All the others will work with either the hydraulic system (which I personally prefer greatly) or the older inferior mechanical linkage system, with all of its friction and other problems.

 

The 4L80-E will not fit. Sure it will bolt up to the engine, but A LOT of floorpan modification will be required.

 

only a t10 from an 82 camaro will fit then? that sucks. guess i'll just go with a t5 then.

 

Correct, only a 82 T-10.

 

how rare was the 82 t10? i heard most of the 82's came with the saginaw 4 speed, which i also heard is complete crap

 

Right, on both counts