i have a 86 trans am with a 350 crate. rated at 250 hp 360 torque. my mechanic i had do the work for me said the t-5 will hold it. maybe hes wrong or maybe he put it together wrong. so anyway from a month of normal driving the input shaft cracked along w/ everything else in the tranny it was under warranty so i got it rebuilt again. but recently it has been chattering like it was b4 the 1st time it blew. someone told me it could be the flywheel causing it to break & also that it just aint beefy enough to hold the 350. ideas anyone?

 

Wow I though I was the only jerk blowing up T-5 s with that motor . In 3 months time I broke the tranny and the rip the rear apart with the same motor & I never did a singel cooker but I did get on it in the higher gear's . I am on my second one now and I hope holds out for some time because my sus is next on the list .I have heard that a B&M shifter will prolong the life but I not going to wast the money on it . T-56 and a lot more power on the way . the HP is not that much but the tuquec is a little to much for a T-5 .

 

ya what is the deal? some people say it will hold some people say it will blow. what would it take to throw a 700r4 in my car? just in the meantime until i can afford a t56

 

the reason i say this is because me buddy has a 700r4 and a turbo 350 in his garage. just have to grin and bear it until i pull off that bank robbery i guess. good luck to ya, just keep her in neutral when ever possible 8-) brakes are cheaper than a new drivetrain

 

I think the OEM W/C T5 was rated at 295 ft/lbs of torque, the non W/C versions even lower. It will last for a while if you dont pound it hard all the time, but if you're gonna hammer it alot with 360 ft/lbs of torque then dont expect it to last too long. Consider an upgraded T5.

The aftermarket shifters have a throw stop that prevents you from shifting too far. So it prevents people from making that mistake and causing damage.

 

I have a Wc T5 and it's been pretty good behind the 383, which puts out alot more torque than 360. I haven't babied it, but I've been careful. It doesn't do anything funny.