Hey all -

My project car is a no engine/no transmission 88 Sport Coupe Camaro. It was originally a 305 mated to a T5 manual. I've heard that the T5 is fine for stock, but may have problems with additional power.

I really want to stay with a manual, if possible. My engine build-up would be pushing 400 ft/lbs of torque.

Here's my two questions:

If I get a rebuildable T5 transmission, how could I rebuild it to handle the extra power?

If that does not work, and I opt to conver over to an auto (700r4?), what modifications need to happen to the car?

Remember that I currently do not have either the engine or transmission right now.

Thanks in advance, peeps...
J

 

It is said that the T-5 can be upgraded. Personally I have real problems with believing in the sensibility of doing that, because I have about a half-dozen torn-up ones sitting on my shelf right now that all have the same problem; which isn't cured by any "rebuild". Namely, the case is stretched, across the front. I'll tell you right now, I've spent thousands of dollars over the life of my car rebuilding T-5s dozens of times and buying more cores as they got to the point of being useless; and after all that, I will NEVER spend another dime on one. For this application anyway.

But I'm no expert, all I can do is call em like I see em.

A better path might be to get a T-56 out of a 94-97 LT1 car.

 

So far, everything I've found is over $2200! Am I missing something here? Where else should I be looking?

It appears like the junkyards in this area are all taking me to the cleaners. El Bastardos!

 

yep u r better off with a better trans ....

TKO 600 or a T56 come to mind *edited* sorry for the confusion

Ive rebuilt some were around 2-300 of them for fox mustangs and f-cars

my advice if your planing on sticky tires and aggessive driving save yourself the headache and upgrade

 

I'm not familiar with that. Is it a special T56? Are they expensive?

Thanks,
J

 

regardless of what you do it's going to cost you around $2000.

You can have Geforce rebuild your trans with stronger internals (does nothing about the case like Robert said) and it will be around $1800

You can get a TKO conversion. Check Fortes, Year One, sure theres other places. By the time you get everything you're looking at $2000.

You can get a used T56 from a 93-97 F-body, which used will probably be around a grand. Then you'll need a clutch, modified crossmember. Again you'll be close to $2000, and likely get a trans that you have no idea on.

Or theres the retrofit T56 thru GM. Which is also $2000. But it bolts up to your T5 bellhousing and and clutch. Skulte.com has info on it.

Or you can keep your eye out for used T5's and try to get them cheap and replace as needed.

 

What are you planning to do with the car - 1/4 mile or roadrace or just street?
The T5 will handle powerlevels that you intend to put through it; it's when you add slicks and start to really really abuse the trans that the T5 craps out. (any trans for that matter..) I know many roadracers that have had their T5 last more than a season, while, as many others has said, many WC T5 have craped out within months of the car's purchase date.
There are many threads that deal with T5 upgrades just do a
You will learn a lot, hear many opinions, and then pehaps you can make your own personalized decisions regarding your T5...
-Andrew

 

Good point - I forgot to mention:

I've never done, nor am I very interested in, 1/4 mile drags and such.

I would, however, be doing some SCCA road racing.

 

Try www.car-part.com for junkers.

You should be able to score a transmission & bell housing for $1000-1200 depending on mileage and all. The more you can get with it, the less you'll have to buy new; to a point. You'll HAVE to have a different crossmember, which won't come used; and if your new motor has the older 2-piece rear main seal, you'll have to buy the $special conversion flywheel$. You'll have to do SOMETHING about the speedo, as the T-56 speedo setup as it stands is incompatible with a thirdgen. But, you should be able to get the whole conversion into your car, for around $2200-2500. I doubt it can be done for much less than $2k.

That's what I'd do, instead of mess with a T-5.

Oh wait - I already did! I almost forgot. I have a 96 T-56, the JTR tailhousing, Spohn crossmember and torque arm, new GM hydraulics, Centerforce flywheel, and a Hurst shifter. I have about $2000 in mine, but I collected parts as they popped up on the radar, for about 2 years. To just go out and buy them all RIGHT NOW, and pay retail type prices, that stuff would have added up to well over $3000.

 

I got my T-56 about a year ago on E-bay for $700...I took it apart and it looked brand new.....sincro looked like they were never used, ect, when I re-build my car in the coming month or so I plan on putting it in, you just have to look, it took about 2 mo. of watching E-bay, use the search " (T-56,T56) " to get the best results, just make sure it is out of a 94-97, 93's are allitle weeker, and have crappy ratios, and 98+'s are from LS1's and won't fit without externsive mods. by the way, mine is a '95, and the trans code is DLF (big sticker on top of the trans)all cars with the same trans('95-97) will have the same code ('94's are allitle diffrent ,and have a diffrent code, and 93's are way diffrent and also have a diffrent code)

 

So...am I to understand that T-5 case stretch is inevitable?

I ask because there are a few members on Thirdgen who own a Geforce T-5 and seem to have no problem with them behind some HP...

sofakingdom...did the case have problems when the internals failed? Just curious...

 

G-force kit good start - but costly, but with the beefed up internals, you increase the amount of radial and axial loads/forces that the shafts, gears and bearings can take.... thus hypothetically minimizing the amount of case stretch - this is arguable though.... Tremec's upgraded T5 can be purchased with a new hardened case - not sure about the specifics though and or cost.
Again it all depends on the application. check out www.5speeds.com before you spend the money on the G-force kit. Read up on the rear countergear bearing retainer upgrade that is sold.
Although there are many members with the G-force kit and now have no problems, there are also many members who have run a stock T5 for a longer (than expected) time with no problems.
For great insight regarding G-force upgrades maybe TKOPerformance can chime in....He knows his stuff
Unless you know that your T5 is ready to give up the ghost, I would personally drive the car for a while. That said, If you are certain that you are going to hit the track ASAP and put many road racing hours on your drive line then perhards a rebuild with the good parts or even an upgrade is the way to go to save you the possible hassles on or off the track...
Just my
-Andrew

 

-And why argue about it here? Call around and speak with people that do these upgrades for a living, and ask them about the massive casing flex only found on T-5's. Only then can you make a decision that you yourself will be happy with.

 

I was waiting for Confuzed to chime in...as I remember him as of the guys who is running a Geforce unit.

So Confuzed...what you are saying it that it appears to be a non-issue for you, right?

Have you dragged your car, like with slicks or drag radials?