i m considering a auto 700r4 swap to a t-5 manual trans.
im curious how hard this is to do and what kind of trans is best for the swap. also curious what year they started the hydraulic clutch system?

 

please reply

 

The 700r4 has a lot more potential then the t-5 does.. i just blew up my t5 BEFORE installing my 350, it died to the 305 at under 120miles, they're reputably weak.

Anything worth doing, is worth doing right... if you're going to be racing (even street), i'de veer away from the t-5, and avoid it at all costs

in comparison; 700r4's are amazing trannys, drop in a transgo shift-kit and a nice stall and i'm sure you wont be dissapointed.

Moral: if you want to drop in a standard, go with a t-56, they seem to be pretty popular, i'm doing the swap currently and there are tons and tons of people who have done it and seem pretty knowledgable, theres even a walkthrough with pictures on the mainpage at thirdgen.org, check it out.

good luck!

 

thanks

 

The swap is straightforward. Every fbodyI've owned in the last 10 years has been an auto, that I converted to T5.

I just did it again on my new '91 I bought last month.

People talk a lot of horse crap on here. 99% of the T5 failures are from 16 year old drivers who can't operate a vehicle properly. I've been racing my current setup for over 5 years.
On my last car, the Formula I was trapping 119mph in a 3600lbs car.

It's a lot easier to blame the T5, than yourself.

Now getting back to the actual "swap". The only problems I've had in the past were with clutches. Once you hit the 450+ hp range, the stock replacement 10.4" clutches won't hold with slicks. I used a ram ceramic 6-padal design for 2 seasons, which chattered like nothing else on the street. Currently I'm using a centerforce, and it seems to be great.

When you do the swap, it is WAY easier to just disconnect the brake booster and set it asside. The pedals are the hardest part IMO, but if you drop the steering column down (two bolts) You can get at all 4 pedal bolts with a long extension and a swivel.

The hole in the floor is straight forward. Just mark it and cut it. Use the hole for the shifter cable to run the reverse light wires. Twist the Yellow and purple together for start, and the two middle whires (green and blue I recall) are for the reverse lights. The other wires, just tape and set asside.

I have a lift, and the T5 is light enough that you can just lift it over your head and set it in. Use a pilot tool for "rough alignment", but heres a trick: Set the tranny in so the splines line up and slide it as far as it will go. Take a prybar, and pry on the clutch fork as if someone was stepping on the clutch, the disc will become free and you can just push the tranny right in. Don't EVER try to suck a tranny in with the bolts.

-- Joe

 

thanks a lot man your probably the biggest help i have had on this website. i was considering to not go with the t-5 because of what everyone is saying about it but, i m a 19 year old college student whos just trying to experiment with my car. so the cheaper way is a t-5 you know how that goes. hey if you got any kits to do a t-5 swap like brake clutch assembly, hydraulic lines, bellhousing, and even a trans let me know. thanks for your info.

 

It's an easy swap and worth it. They hold up better than most people think on these forums. If you drive it right, you'll be fine.

 

Dont have any parts right now but, I see them often. You'll find what your looking for.

Just make sure you use a good flywheel (surfaced professionally, or new) and a good clutch.. I've had my tranny out more times than I can caount trying different clutches (dynaclutch, cumberland, RAM, centerforce). I'm liking the CF so far.

-- Joe

 

That's an interesting tid-bit I'm going to try the next time the ole' T5 comes out.... Thanks for the idea.

 

I'd like to add that it would be a good idea to run a lower gear ratio with the t-5. I drove a 88 ta with 3.73 gears and all I could think of was how much better it drove than with the 3.08's it used to have. No more holes in the powerband through the gears. They should have used 3.73's standard for the t-5 imo. It adds less strain and makes it easier to accelerate the vehicle from the tranny's point of view. Like think of how the tranny is transfering all the engines power to the rear. Lower gears are easier to spin. So your clutch and tranny would last a little longer with 3.73 vs the 2.73 gears that alot of auto's came with. Your tires on the other hand will absorb more strain.

 

Check outs http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com they have a kit for a complete swap for 1000. I also want to do this

 

Since you bring up the hawks kit, I just got home from picking up a T-5 conversion kit from them. It's both a F-body heaven (with all the cool F-body cars and tons of parts. Even many parts cars), and hell with all the once badass 3rd gens that are wrecked. The people there are all very nice, helpful, and are really willing to go the extra mile to get you just what you need. They earned my highest recomendation. I'm just lucky to live so close.