Frustrated

whats the difference between the T5 in the v6 and the t5 in the v8, beside ratios? Basically the deal is i have a 89 firebird v6 manual. The 2.3 is out and rdy for the 355 short block to go in. Will i need a special clutch and bellhousing to make the V6/T5 bolt up correctly? Any other problems i might run into? Any suggestions would help

Gumby

this will be a long thread.

If you have lots of traction and speed shift. you will blow the tranny fast.

But the problem is. every time I have asked. %50 of the people blow them every other day, 50% of the people never have a problem.

And then what you use for lub comes into play.

some go by the book and use ATF [yep a T5 uses ATF]
some run 80-90 gear lube [to thick for the low clearance bearings]
some run a mix of bother or others.

I use straight 30 weight oil in mine.

The only thing I came close to figuring out. The guys who ran a T5 with big motors and didn't have problems. They used good ATF and changed it with every oil change, Did not speed shift in hard like up hill situations and wernt running slicks or anything.

Biggest problem will be traction. If you hook well. You can kill a T5 like right now. Even a WC T5 will get up set with monster power n slicks.

Rustydawg

Other than the reduced torque handling capacity... the T-5 that came from behind the V6 has a goofy 14-spline input shaft. You won't find a 10.5" clutch from a catalogue, you'll have to get one built up if you go this route. Otherwise they are the same externally as far as I know.

custom88camaro

I am in the No Problems 50% group. I have used two V-6 t-5's, and I ended up throwing out the first b/c syncros wore. (bad clutch setup) The one I am running now makes a hell of a bearing noise, but I have been nutting on it for some time now, and it hasn't broken. (made noise from day one, got it for FREE) By my exp. you have to get a different bell housing, and pressure plate. The biggest clutch I found to fit was 9 5/8".....that sucks. You need of course a larger flywheel, and different starter. Because you change flywheel you need diff pressure plate. Mine is for 70 something camaro.

I use 80-90w and haven't had a prob yet. I think the only reason GM started using ATF is for reduced drag for better fuel mileage.

Gumby

I was told to use straight 30w oil. As they said If I wanted it to last, to use it. its also a trade off in both direction. Thin enough to flow better then 80-90 but not as thin / has more cushion then ATF.

My old T5 had a bad 3rd gear noise. It went out at 200,004 miles.

Did a high speed run one day and it got stuck in 5th gear. It is possible to start off in 5th and drive home if you do not stop for anything.

I could win any start from a dead stop in 5th gear contest.

Course once I got it unstuck I was dumb and drove it some more. Got stuck in 4th that time and it was easier to get home.

I fished out several nice piece of gear from the tranny. The piece of thin gear not only broke in two but split down the middle.

Frustrated

i got this nice black v6 firebird body with a brand new 355 i've worked for all summer and now basically i'm screwed.....

unless someone knows where to get these clutches and i find the right bellhousing.....

any other suggestions?

custom88camaro

For the disc, just go to auto parts store and ask for a disc for your car---(v6). I am not sure about the firebird v6 bellhousing bolt pattern, but I know my 2.8 bellhousing would not work with v8. For the pressure plate, go to auto parts store and ask for plate for 73 camaro with 4 speed. You should be able to get starter and flywheel for 3rd gen v8 manual car. that should work. As for the bell housing, if necessary, try ebay, I see them on there a lot. Just be sure to get a v8 bellhousing. Lakewood makes a scattershield too, but........$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Frustrated

got an idea how much the disc and pressure plate will cost...

that question alone decides if i dump my f-body project
because my spendings are getting out of control compared to what it would cost to drop the v8 in a car that allready had a v8 in it to begin with.... alot of u say duh, i say doh!

willkietz

go to summit racing and you can get the correct disk. Get the clutch kit for your third gen and it'll bolt up. I had to do a bit of grinding on the input shaft to make it fit properly. Don't dump the project, it's worth the money. Also get the pro 5.0 shifter, makes one hell of a difference.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Epic hack-job reply to a THIRTEEN year old thread, yo. 7 posts, hasn't logged in since Feb 2005, I'm sure 'Frustrated' will definitely benefit from your suggestions.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

It's the little things that get us through the day