Hey guys,

I am doing some major work on my 88 camaro which had a V6 in it. Right now planning to drop a 350 GM crate motor in there and bolt it on to a T5 transmission.

I am not even sure what was in the car originally and the Helms manual doesn't appear to mention T5 anywhere (different name).

What cars/models/years came one with these transmissions. What should I look for if i go to j/y? WC or NWC? Don't know if it matters, but ECU is coming out and is replaced with carb.

I want to have T5 rebuilt by G-Force, if that company is still around. I saw the posts on this board a while back. Sounded pretty good.

 

87+ was a WC T-5 I believe and if your gonna put a T-5 behind a 350 a NWC will blow right up, they are significantly weaker than a WC. The V8 T-5 could have come in any 305 Engine. They never came from the FACTORY with a 350/T-5 combo. So just keep checking all the 87+ 305 V8 thirdgens for the WC T-5.

 

pasky:

Now, I have got to say, that the world class is the preferred T-5,but, the NWC is going to be just fine behind a mild 350, as long as the driver isn't always trying to show off, race, speed shift, or generally have his head up his azz .

Anything can break, if not taken care of properly, so just take care of it, and you'll be fine

 

True, however TexasLT1 here on the boards is running a WC T-5 on his motor pushing about 350-360 rwhp and has yet to break it with going to the track and drag radials. I seriously doubt a NWC T-5 would handle that sort of power and I have no idea what kind of crate motor he speaking of. I do agree with you if you baby it, nothing will go wrong however, who babies a new crate motor?

 

This sound like something said by someone with more money than brains

Don't know 'bout most people using Third Gen, but I'm a working man, supporting my 2 kids, wife, house, and all else that comes with adulthood, and just don't have the extra cash, to tear the **** out of my cars.

No offence to anyone, but I'm just a firm believer in that, if you want it to last, you can - if you like breaking parts foolishly, you also can, your choice.

I have only been driving my car for less than a month now after having it down for almost 2 years, and I'm at the point, where driving it, is much more fun, than working on it, night after night. Understand?

 

Sure do, im also a father and husband but I don't live that sort of life. I also don't have a whole lot of money, I got enough to get by, buy a few toy for my son and please my wife every now and then and keep a little on the side for myself. Im not putting a lot of horses under the hood to go get my groceries or take a sunday drive. I got my wive's car for that. Catch my drift?

 

I can see that my old fashion way of thinking is more the problem, than anything else here, and I blame my dad for that

By the way, my Trans Ams are for fun, my wife and I have our daily drivers also. I guess taking care of stuff, just dosen't mean as much to the younger generation, as it does for me.

 

*shrug*, I take care of all my items. Walk into my home and you'll see how spick and span everything is. I have everything organized and I do my best to prolong the life of almost all my possessions. I can blame my overly strict father (who served 20 years infantry) and the army for that (in which I served three years as infantry). Everything I own I take care of. I still have a lot of old gaming systems from my child hood like my commodore 64, turbo duo, and numerous other items. Its just a car. The way I see it, if it breaks down, thats all the more reason for me to bore it over and build a stroker out of it. I still have transportation. Certainly isn't nearly as good, but it gets me to work and home.

These are performance engines, whats the point in not using any of it? I don't drive like a maniac on the street, I don't want to hurt anyone, but I will be going to the track occasionally when the car comes out of the paint shop. I see no point in building a engine for so much power your not going to use, unless your into that show car mumbo jumbo.

 

I got to tell you, you just dont make any sense. No one purposfully breaks a transmission. And you dont have to be abusing a NWC t5 for it to come apart. As far as younger people abusing thier cars by racing and the like, you should step back and think. I know lots of farmers that beat the hell out of thier truck. Why? because it is a farm truck and made to be used hard. I also know lots of people who freak out when they drive thier 4x4 down a dusty road. Many of the poeple here bought their cars for the sole purpose of racing. Therefore they do not want a transmission that will go out when they are racing. You obviously didnt buy your car for the same purpose. It is not, however, proper for you to come here and talk down to people for indulging in their favorite sport, racing.

edit: spelling

 

Thanks for the info guys. 87+ 305 WC only. Sorry, 1tinindian, I know where you are coming from, but I am not going to spend 2-3 years building something I can't enjoy to the fullest extent.

I agree with the other guys. If you build a sports car (and I mean build, not buy), at least once in a while you have use it as one. I have a truck and a daily driver. I am building this thing so I can race it, and I am not talking about taking off from the traffic light with squeeling tires and a head up my azz.

The 2 engines I am looking at right now are 350HO (330hp) or ZZ4(355hp), although I am planning on a bigger carb(750) instead of what GM recommend (600 or 650), so I may actually get some more ponies at the higher end.

As I've said originally, my plan is to find a T-5 and have it rebuilt by G-Force. I've read for $700-$900 bucks those guys will give you a tranny that will easily handle 450+ hp, but they want a core.

 

[Quote]

I got to tell you, you just dont make any sense. No one purposfully breaks a transmission. And you dont have to be abusing a NWC t5 for it to come apart. As far as younger people abusing thier cars by racing and the like, you should step back and think. I know lots of farmers that beat the hell out of thier truck. Why? because it is a farm truck and made to be used hard. I also know lots of people who freak out when they drive thier 4x4 down a dusty road. Many of the poeple here bought their cars for the sole purpose of racing. Therefore they do not want a transmission that will go out when they are racing. You obviously didnt buy your car for the same purpose. It is not, however, proper for you to come here and talk down to people for indulging in their favorite sport, racing.

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I was more than willing to let things go, but I see that this is turning into a big p!ssing match, so I am going to be forced into defending my position.

What doesn't make sence?? You don't have any idea as to how much abuse a piece of machinery can take before it breaks??

VILeninDM made no mention as to the use his car was going to be put too,(Racing or not), and simple asked for some advice on the transmission.

Now, should I have assumed that he was going to the extreme with everything, or just offer the experences, that I have had in this area? 300 hp 350 + NWC T-5 = no problem, Like I said, it's all in the way you drive it.

If you are upset that it sounded like I was taking down to you, then I'm sorry for that. But I have had my share of 18-24 year old guys, in my area, talking out of there azz, and driving like they are brain dead, and when something breaks, they are at a loss as to why it happened

I'll concede that times have changed, and some of your intended purpose of these cars, are different than how I may see fit, but I have 4 buddies of mine, that between all of us, own 10 F-bodies, would agree with my view point. But that doesn't make me right or you wrong, only different.

And if this site is strictly for the purpose of racing, then I have been mistaken, I thought it covered all aspects of the hobby.
I also enjoy the racing side of ownership of these cars, but choose to limit the amount of abuse I subject my car too.

Drive your cars like you intend too, I have no stake in that, just don't expect everyone that asks a question, to have unlimited resources to buy the latest and greatest, some of us have to make-do with what we can find.

 

Why not go T-56 for that kind of cash? For $1200 you can get yourself a T56, have an extra gear, and thier rated up to 450 lbs of torque. People are taking them into the 11's at the track.


1tinindian: I understand where your coming from and definatley not trying to start a pissing contest. To each his own .

EDIT: wait, I think the viper T-56's could hold 450 lbs of torque. Maybe someone can chime in and tell me what the 94-97 T-56's can hold up to. Im almost positive it will be perfect for your setup however.

 

Thanks, Pasky,

That's all I was looking for, just a little understanding

By the way, building cars as bullit-proof as possible, is NEVER wrong.

Just Expensive

Good Luck , VILeninDM, I hope your ride comes out like you want

 

deleted

 

1tinindian, as I said I completely understand where you are coming from, and of course my original post didn't have all the info (neither do my followups). I find that the more you write, the less its likely that people will actually answer your real question.

I greatly appreciate what everyone has written so far. That's whats cool about this board. There is ****load of smart, knowledgeble people here, but everyone cannot have the same opinion, and that's supposed to be a good thing, not something to get upset about. I didn't mean to sound defensive or attacking, but simply said for my application I would prefer something stronger

Thanks for your replies

 

pasky, I was looking into T-56 before (still considering it) but here's the thing.

Cheapest one I found was $2,200 (that was a while back though). So I figured 1 extra overdrive would cost $1000. Where did you see them for $1,200? Or are we talking directly off a j/y. In that case it would probably need cleaning/rebuilding. Most people say T56 is the most complex tranny to work on if you never did tranny work. And I am working on my first car.

Plus you need to do some cutting/welding to make it fit. I started reading about it, but still not sure how much work it is really going to be.

T5 would be a direct bolt-on, AFAIK. On the other had, I am buying a welder this weekend

I am open to any and all info you can give me.

Thanks

 

How many man hours would it take to put in a T56? And what kinda skill level do you need to do it.

 

www.car-parts.com, yes this would be a junkyard, but thats where I got mine from and its healthy as can be, just be sure to ask the place if it will back it with a warranty. Its pretty easy to tell if you have a problem with a manual tranny.

Welding? who told you that? I just cut the shifter hole 1 1/2" back and got a aftermarket lower shift boot to cover the hole, that and you need to install the hydraulics. Other than that, its like a T-5.

 

don't forget the T56 3rd Gen X-Member.

 

My friend did his in a day I believe.
He went from a 4L60E to a T56 in his 82 Trans Am.

 

Sweet, I am so becoming more and more convinced that I am doing a T56 now.

I am actually considering getting one from j/y and rebuilding it. That way I get T56, and rebuild process will slow me down for 1-3 months. That's a good thing because right now my car and tools are starting to run away from my budget a little .

Can't wait until I get the welder later this week. I know you don't need it for this swap, but it just always seemed like my garage was missing a welder