Hi there,

In a fit of 80’s nostalgia I have convinced my accountant (aka wifie) to allow me $2,000 to purchase a Camaro! Wait…this is related to transmissions. So I have been looking at the boards and it looks like a nice 87+ LB9 with a 5 speed will be out of my price range. I may be able to swing a L69 from 83 with a 5 speed. I am worried that 190hp will be a little on the dull side and it sounds like adding more will mean a short life for the poor T-5.

Now, what I could do is find a nice 82’ with the T-10, toss out the TBI Lump and replace with just about anything else (thinking 290HP GM Crate motor). The nice thing is that here in the Emerald City cars build before 1983 are exempt from emissions testing so what I drop into the bay of an 82’ won’t get me in hot water with the WA dep. Of Ecology (or whoever runs the test).

So, my question is how much torque was the stock T-10 in the 82 Z28 built to take. I understand that it is significantly stronger than the T-5 and that’s why the 350 in the Vette was backed by the Nash modified T-10 (I think). I have been on the web and I haven’t been able to find the specs of the O.E. T-10 for the Z28/TA. Does anyone know how much torque the motor can take or if there is a good informational site?

Another thing, does anyone know the difference between the T-10 in the 82 F body and the “Super T-10” Richmond Gear offers today? I know I could go with a T-56 (in theory) but I think a straight emissions free engine swap is an easier (and cheaper) proposal than a T-10 (or T-5) to T-56 conversion. Besides, for anything less than a LB9 I would need to do some motor upgrades anyway, right? J

 

The T-10 in the 3rd gen camaros was indeed the famed super T-10. These are rare keep in mind. They have an aluminum case, and reverse is left and FORWARD. The plane T-10, had an iron case, and hasn't been in production since 1963 or something. Remember, AL case = super T10. The crappy saginaw is much more common in early 3rd gens... and crappy.

These are rumoured to be very strong. I don't think there was a factory rating on these trannys for strength. So i'd look at what people have done with their vettes. Many have big blocks and sticky tires. Any large amount of power would blow out your rear end first. And your wallet with that $2000 cap.

TBI lump in 1982? Crossfire was around, but not common. I have a VIN H, 4bbl stock. (however it's beefed up now).

 

The super t-10 is supposed to be about as rugged as the old M22 muncie tranny, but with better gear ratios. Ratios vary on the BW trannys, though, depending on the number of grooves machined into the input shaft.

Anyway, I read an article some years back that rated the ST10 at approx 450lbs of torque..pretty good.

The ST-10 is one of GMs best kept secrets (as far as four speeds go), because its as strong as an M22 (or close) and a bunch cheaper because they showed up OE AFTER the 'golden' musclecar era. I bought a really nice example at a swap meet for $400 last year. I doubt you can touch an M20-22 muncie for twice that.

I must also mention though that I broke one a few years back street racing my '69 on Dunlop GT Qualifiers, which doesn't say much for that particular tranny. I guess nothing's perfect.

 

Super T10s can be modified to take quite a lot of power and abuse. A friend of mine here runs one in an early Nova with a stout small block, slicks, and a racing clutch and clicks off low 11s. He goes through a clutch disc a season, dumps the clutch at 5,000RPM and the car just hooks and goes. He's never brokent he trans. It has been modified by Liberty Gear with stronger gears, but I'm not sure if it's a clutchless shift or not. He does drive it on the street through, but he could just not mind not being able to downshift it, not sure.

I agree that they are a well kept secret. The kind of use described above has sealed the fate of many a Muncie, M22 or otherwise. You can't touch an M22 nowadays for less than a grand, and that's one that will need a total overhaul with parts that are as hard to find as hen's teeth. I sold my last M21 about four years ago for $800, today I know I could get nearly twice that. You used to be able to grab them at swapo meets for $200 and M22s might have cost you $500-$700. The musclecar boom has skyrocketted costs.

The Super T10 was used throughout the boring years when the cars were weak kneed and a V8 couldn't muster the power of a modern turbo 4 cylinder. This means that they are plentiful, and strong, with upgrades available. Sure, there's no overdrive, but if you're lookign for strength on the cheap the Super T10 is where it's at.

 

Thanks guys!

It sounds like the T-10 would be the way to go for a tough budget Z28. Yes I agree on the muscle car cost escilation. Its even getting into the 70's now. I remember when late 70's Z28 were a dime a dozen, now even the old 170hp Z28's are pricy with a 4 speed.

I can't imagine spending 30-50K on a car that (adjusted for inflation) would sell for $15K today. Of course the Chevelles, Impalas and Novas (not to metion Camaros) were great cars, but I think the 3rd Generation is where its at today. Buying an 82 or 83 camaro (or 85 IROC) today is like buying a DZ302 Z28 in, say, 1978. Ok, maybe not a DZ302 but you get my point. In the mid to late 70s car dealerships could barely give away cars going for $50,000 today.

Anyway, thanks for all the help.

 

Oh Man. Don't get me started on the prices of musclecars. My wife won't even let me watch the Barris-Jackson auction anymore, because I get worked up and start pinging off the walls.

I've owned lots of musclecars through the years. Wish I had them all back now.

 

Yeah? How's this for a story...

In 1997 I went to the Atlantic City Auto Auction in Atlantic City New Jersey. It was a show I had gone to for years with my Dad, and was one of the main things that influenced me to buy my first car when I was fifteen, which was the 1967 fastback GTA Mustang I still own. At this time I had the car restored to near perfection, so it was worth quite a bit of money even then. I saw a 1968 Shelby GT500KR fastback for sale. It had all the goodies, the 428 Cobra Jet, the 4-speed, the Drag Pack, and it was black on black with white leMans stripes. I talked to the seller, who was a dealer of old Ford automobiles. The car was basically in good driver condition, not as nice as my '67, but driveable as it was, and with a couple grand worth of detail items would be up to the same standards. I struck a deal to trade my car plus $5,000 for the Shelby. The problem was I didn't have the cash, so I tried to get my Dad to back the deal. The plan was to buy the car, fix it up to like new condition, then sell it and buy a more practical musclecar. After doing this I'd easily be able to give my Dad back his investment. He just wouldn't pony up, so without the funds for the deal it fell through.

The same car (in near mint condition) at a recent televised auction sold for $122,000. My '67 is probably currently worth around $25,000. I should have taken out a loan...

 

Yea, I always thought I grew up in the worst time ever for a car guy. I graduated highschool in 91 and all the affordable cars at the time were from the mid to late 70's. Cars that were either too big, too slow, too unreliable or just too expensive. I remember working all summer to by the most beat up 70 LeMans...it may have been a candidate for flintstone breaking (i.e. foot through floor) and it did have a thriving colony of mold under the back seat. But man did the transplanted 400 sound goooood!

And it was much more fun to drive than my buddie's Honda Qualude....

 

I love my T10, its pretty much bullet proof!! Few weeks ago, I blew up my 10 bolt rear end at the track doing a burnout (350ci, prolly 370hp) and the T10 didn't even flinch!

 

Ok, I'm gonna give away my age here, but what the hell. True story. I sold my '57 Thunderbird at auction many years ago, and had money in hand when, an hour later, bidding started on a stunning red w/gold 67 Shelby GT-500 dual quad 4-gear convertible. The Shelby looked great and sounded great, but I wanted a Camaro. The Shelby sold for 2900 bucks. My T-bird had brought $3300.

A week or so later, I bought a real nice burgundy 71 Z-28 four speed for $2300. It was three years old at the time.