I have a 4-speed manual tranny in my '82 trans am. It just broke about 20 minutes ago. I need to know what 4-speed tranny I can replace it with that won't drain my wallet.

 

There are 2 possibilities: a Warner T-10, or a Saginaw.

Most cars got the Saginaw.

I'm guessing, since it broke, it's a Saginaw. That's by far the easier to find, and the less preferred. I'd have long since swapped in a Warner, if it was my car and I was stuck with a Saginaw.

You have exactly one choice for a direct bolt-in, and that's the 4-speed out of another 82 Firebird or Camaro with a V8. It's the only year that has what will fit your car. They switched to the T-5 starting in 83; and 81-back didn't have the toque arm mount on the side of the trans.

It's not too awfully difficult to put a T-5 in. The hydraulic clutch assembly is very easy to retrofit, and works MASSIVELY BETTER than the linkage. If you can't find a 82 4-speed quickly, watch the classifieds on this site for somebody selling a V8 T-5 conversion package. You'll need the transmission, shifter, bell housing, pedals, hydraulics, torque arm mount, crossmember, and maybe drive shaft (I'm not sure about that one; but either a stick shift or auto one from 1983-2002 will work, for sure).

 

There was no T-5's till 84 till late in the year. My suggestion would be to put in a 88+ 700R4. Any std. tranny offered in a third gen sucked. If you like a stick then I strongly recomend a t-56 from a 93-97 f-body. That is a nice tranny.

 

My knowledge with trannys are limited. I know that I want a high first gear so I can take off from a stop. I would like a 4 speed with overdrive, but for now I more concered with getting my car back on the road.

 

Your stock tranny will be a bit on the weak side of good trannys. . Upgrade at least to the T-5. That feels much better than the 4 speed and gets better hwy. milleage. Your tranny is going to be a bit hard to find anyway. I hate the way a t-5 feels now, after years of using a t-56 I just like it so much better. If you can afford that then do it. Best mod you ever did to your car.

 

The T-5 in these cars started in 83. I know, I have one (83 5-speed)

All the 82s had 4-speeds, and I can only recall one out of all the ones I've come across that had a T-10. All the rest were Saginaws.

Out of all the 83 cars I test drove before buying the one I have, every one with a stick, had a T-5. Likewise, all the 84s. I quit test-driving new ones after that.

 

'83 had both the 4-spd and 5-spd... the V8 cars all got 5-spd trans's, and the 4cyl cars continued to use the 4-spd.

 

Right, I was referring to V8 cars, such as a Trans Am.

No way I would have been test-driving 4-cylinder cars, anyway. You don't know me; but I can assure you, pigs will be flying long before I would buy a new one of these cars, or even would have back then, crippled that bad.