ok, i just got back from checking out a camaro. its an 85 z28 H.O. (high output) theres a lot of body rust on it but the fram is good. it has a 305 backed with a 5 speed tranny(t-5). i can buy the car for 600. would it be too much of a hassle to swap out my 700r4 for the t-5? would it be worth it? they are pretty much the same cars. was the t-5 a weak tranny?

The 700R4 > T5 swap isn't too bad.. from what I hear and read..

You'll have to do a search to really learn about it, as I have not personally done this swap..

I believe the T5 is overall a good transmission, lot of them out there.. they'll take a good share of abuse and hold up pretty good to just daily driving from what I know..

Anyway, a whole car for $600 is a steal.. a T5 tranny alone can range from $300 - $750.. does the car run?

-LJ

If the car is COMPLETE, I'd jump on it.

The HO air cleaner is worth an easy $100. Plus, having the donor 5 speed car next to you while doing the swap makes it SUPER easy, you don't have to think how something mounts etc, you just look at the car.

The swap is not hard. I did mine in the course of one day, but I installed the pedals beforehand, and I ran into lots of snags, like running to the parts store 5 times etc


If it's the stock '85 T-5, it's not a World Class, but as long as it shifts fine, and doesn't make noises when shifting or grind etc, it should be okay if you drive it sanely.


Verify the numbers on the tranny to make sure it's the '85 tranny. If it is a non World Class tranny, like it should be, one big help is adding some synthetic gear oil. The later T-5's use ATF.


A good shifter is worth EVERY penny with any manual tranny.


HTH

Check my sig

which tranny is stronger? and yes, the car does run. just the body is in bad shape and some interior

I thought they only installed the BW trannys up thru '84?? I could be wrong though. Feel free to chime in anyone. Anyways, the WC tranny will handle higher torque - I do know that much.

If the '84 is in running shape, if I were you I'd take it on the road to make sure the T-5 that's in it is OK......take it from me, most of these cars have had a rough life from what I've seen.

'BW' or Borg Warner was the only manufacturer of the 5 speed used in the '83-92 F-Body's.

'83-87 were / are non World Class T-5's
'88 and later are World Class...just means a bit stronger, and it needs ATF instead of gear oil.

Yeah, I know it's Borg-Warner. I also USED to run gear oil in my tranny, and it caused all sorts of problems with grinding etc...

Then I called a tech rep at Gear Zone.com looking for a rebuild kit, and he told me I should be running Dextorn II or synthetic. It was much better after that. I didn't know which to run..half of everyone on the board said gear oil, and the other said dextron II. And I have the original 83 trans in mine too. Weird.

I didn't know they were all non WC till 87 however...

You mean the World Class gearboxes are also made by Borg Warner?? Interesting....

Anyways, the main shaft on mine is scarred up and I know it won't last. That's why I want to see if I can get a rebuild by G-Force.

how would i find out the axle ratio and if its a posi? what could it be? is the t-5(non wc) stronger than the 700r4?

I know this is an old thread but... is the world class 100% compatible with non-wc? Does it use all the same parts (bell housing...)?

From hat ive heard, all 5.0 HOs with a 5 speed had 3.73s