you guys are gonna be really pissed at me for asking this, but i searched and couldnt find the actual reason why GM didnt put the T5 in 350TPI cars. Is it REALLY beacuse the T5 was too weak?

 

yes!

 

according to the trans' rating, yes, it is too weak.
- GM isn't gonna put in a trans that isn't spec'd for the power....

 

Thats really not true. I own a 1987 IROC w/ a built 305 t.p.i. which is probably pushing close to 350hp and has alot of torque. I drive my car hard on a daily basis, and although the motor was built 30,000 miles ago, the tranny has never ever had a rebuild. It shifts fine, no grinding and takes alot of abuse while still having 145,000 miles on it! My t5 is not even a world class and handled a 4.10 rear end gear ratio. I am even currrently running a spec stage 3 clutch. Does anyone really think that a stock 700r4 having 145,000+ orig. miles on it could be capable of the same without a rebuild? Most years the 305 (tpi's) backed by a t5 did better in the quarter than the 350s. I would have to say that GM just made a critical error by not capitalizing on a 350 t5 combo.

 

Personally, I wouldnt bother with the old clapped out 700-R4 or an old T5. Too much reliance on luck. Sometimes they work, sometimes they dont. A manual is alot more efficient as there are no clutch packs, TC, or front pump, but the 700, as long as the hard parts are ok, can be rebuilt to handle some decent power reliably. After alot of milage, though, most of the hardened outer portion of the gears can wear away, leaving them with little resistance to wear or pitting.

 

ive reas and heard before that the t-5 will hold up bette though with a good clutch and steaper rear gears. my 700r4 went to 220,xxx until it went and it was only the front seal that went out and i could probably just putin a new seal but i dont wanna risk getting it back in the car than having to pull it back out again. but my lil mildly built 305 and 2.73 rear killed it!

 

- that's why it lives. A lower rear gear makes for less load in the driveline.

Not that a T5 won't handle it, it's that it's not rated for it. GM wasn't going to put in a trans that isn't rated for the power.
- My T5's all went through much more "abuse"(not neccessarily mis-treated, just much more power/traction) than any stock 350 output. - They're still not rated for that kind of power.

 

I have heard a rumor once that the reason they didn't use the 5speed for the 350's is because it would put the camaros and firebirds into a position where the corvettes wouldn't be top dog. Manuals get a little more HP and would make the corvetter look bad if the camaros and firebirds have the same rating or better.
Just hear say.

 

The manual trans 305's only got more hp because later years got the L98(350) cam. - If they had done a manual trans 350, the hp would have been the same at the flywheel, but more would have been at the tire because of less drivetrain loss. - But yes, GM would hold back a car from being able to best the vette.....

 

ZR1....

 

I stated previously that my t5 handled a 4.10 ratio in my 10 bolt. that was only for about a year until I could no longer take the constant shifting during normal everyday driving. I now have 3.42s in the rear and I would have to say that this is the ultimate setup for any borg warner t5. Anyone else out there agree?

 

3.73's feel nice to me