I am swapping a '85 warner t5 into my 92 rs, i have 2 problems, whell, i have a lot of problems but two pressing ones, first, where can anyone find a v8 belhousing, and second, is the six banger t5 weaker than the v8 version? i've heard diferent stories from everyone i talk to so I was wondering if anyone actually knows or has a six banger tranny behind their v8 I have the factory roller 305 which is also gonna get a cam and 144 powercharger, so it would probably be good to know if the tranny will blow up with 350 horses going through it, thanks,


the friendly frm kid engineer, -parker


p.s., oh yeah, the reason i'm going with a 6banger tranny is the lower 1st gear and that i found a donor car for 200 clams, just thought the first ten replies would be: wtf are you doing that for?

 

• Third Gen classifieds are good. eBay ain't bad. Local junkyards; many have a "parts finder system" to work with other junkyards if they don't have a part.
• Yes. Any "lower" first gear (numerically higher) makes for a weaker transmission. The closer you get to a 1:1 ratio, the stronger the gearset is.
• You can always swap to a V8 trans. later, but the clutch disk has to be changed and pressure plate / flywheel surfaced at that time.

 

do you think that with the ~3.43 1st gear it would lower the durability enough that you would be leery to put it into a lo3 with a 144 powercharger probably making 350-400hp? are they physically less durable or is it just theat since the ratio is .5 lower it'll be about 1/7 less duralbe than the normal v8 ratio of about 3:1 in 1st? any other opinions?

 

Heck yes I'd be leary. Point blank: You're gonna spend the $ now (on a T56 for example) or you're gonna spend it later when the T5 breaks. You're on a budget, so I understand where you're coming from, but I'd rather spend $ on a T56 than on a blower but that's me.

The input shaft is lower spline, thus weaker, and the gearset being lower ratios is going to be weaker.

 

hahahaha GM wouldnt put the V8 T-5 Behind the 350's because they thought the 245 hp 345 tq would be too easy to blow them up. You want to put a v6 5 speed behind 350-400 hp. Have fun with that id be happy if it made it to the end of the driveway!