I am thinking this has been beaten to death, but since I could not use the search option for "t5 hp" or "t5 limit(s)" because it was too short, I am going to throw this out for any quick answers.

I have a built 350, naturally aspirated and running to the likes of 400 hp on a good day. The car in mind for this transplant is a t5 equipped camaro. My question is whether I would be just as well to rebuild/purchase a 'performance' t5, or get a t56, do the conversion, and never look back.

I am not up on what is latest with regards to aftermarket parts for t5's; now that I think about it I never was! So if staying t5 is cheaper even with upgrades, what would be the necessary units and pieces? Should I be looking for a "world" t5 by all means or will an upgraded 'regular' t5 work just well?

This is not really a strip car, per se. Let's just say I push it hard during the wee hours of the morning, when none of the generous municipal workers behind gleaming lights and sirens are looking.

Thanks to all,

Mike

 

Go T56, its a real easy swap and it can take one hell of a beating.

 

I agree. The T56 is where it's at. You'll love the 6th gear, especially if you have steep rear gears, or plan to in the future.

 

Agreed, they take a flogging

4.10 axle, decent tire size 6th gear 2000 rpm is 82 mph...your car can cruise all day long!

 

So a completely stock T-56 we are talking about? Or am I going to need all sorts of 'extras' I can't pull off of a parts car?

Mike

 

Stock the t56 can handle 450 lbs of tourque, thier pretty beefy. Make sure you get a 94-97. The 93's were weaker and the 98+ ls1 t-56s use a different hydraulic system.

 

Try "t5* hp*", or "t5* limit".

 

No, a stock T56 is rated to 450 lbs/ft. officially. Personally I think they can take a lot more. They are used in Vipers (V-10 making obsceen amounts of torque), the '03 Cobra (blower motor, again very torquey), and the Aston Martin DB7 Vanquish (V-12, continuing the trend of ludicrous power production). The T56, even in bone stock form is damn near unkillable.

 

The Viper T56 is beefier than GM or Ford T56's.

 

Yeah, in theory, but I can't seem to find exactly what is better in the Viper box than the regular T56. Even discussions with Tremec personnel via email have proven fruitless.

Until the Viper changed body styles it used an aluminum 3/4 fork, and it wasn't until the Viper changed body styles that the Viper T56 and the '03 Cobra got the steel fork from the factory. I have the steel 3/4 fork in my T56.

Early T56s didn't use carbon blocker rings, but later ones all did, so they are all equal on that front.

The Viper trans also uses a 26 spline input shaft, though the output is different with 30 splines, but honestly, who ever breaks an output shaft?

The gear ratios for the Viper trans are identical to the '94-'02 F-car T56, so there's no strength difference there.

Basically I think that saying that the Viper box is stroger is a marketing ploy. I can't find a shred of evidence to the contrary, and both boxes are officailly rated at 450 lbs/ft from Tremec.