i heard on pre 85 t5 trans you cant use hydrouit slave cylender true or not?

 

82-83 used mechanical linkage 84 up used hydraulic also different bellhousing

 

You can use any 83-92 T-5 trans with the hydraulic slave assembly as long as you have the correct bellhousing and release fork, which would be any 84-92 bellhousing.

 

you will also need the pedals as they are also different

 

Does anyone have a pic of the difference in hydraulic and mechanical bellhousings?? I would really appreciate a picture of either.... or both

 

I could probably snap a pic of the hydraulic style and send it to your email address. They're real easy to tell apart though. The hydraulic style has a big cast in bracket right in front of the release fork hole. The cast in bracket has two small holes for the bolts and one big hole in the center of it for the slave cylinder to fit through. Chances are you won't even see a mechanical style one for sale anyways, since it was only used in 83, so they're quite rare to come across. The main thing you have to watch for when shopping for a hydraulic style is that you don't end up with a V6 one as they're different from the V8 version. It has to be an F-body specific bellhousing too, since the trans is mounted at an angle in the thirdgen f-bodies instead of straight up like most others. I just found a pic of the correct hydraulic one on ebay. Go to ebay and type in this auction# to take a look at the pic. Auction#110014154901.

 

Thanks that was perfect!

 

Hello everyone,

I was just browsing about when I came acroos this forum. I have been through this conversion with my '80 El Camino and thought I would add my $ 0.02. Despite being a full frame car, the issues surrounding the installation of a T-5 in one are the same as for the Camaro. Because I am running a blower, I needed to trade in my wimpy Saginaw 3 speed for something a little more agressive, so I went with a T-5 Word Class.

The stock Z-bars and clutch link will not work with the T-5 set up because they are too weak, too short, and the geometry for the T-5 clutch is different.

It is true that the angle mount bell housing is required and difficult to find in the manual clutch form. I went with a lakewood housing for camaros with the correct transmission mount anlge and a z-bar set for a 68-70 Chevelle. The arrangement works great, if you don't mind the cost of the housing and the gazillion botls on the scatter-proof housing. At least there wonm't be any arguments about safety compliance at the track.

Finally, it is true that the V-6 T-5 transmissions are different. The input shaft on the V-8 models had 10 or 26 splines. The V-6 T-5s (which were also found on some Astro vans!!) had 14 (or was it 12?) splines. I did a swap for a friend using one of the V-6 units. Trying to find a 14 spline clutch and disk set that would fit a 10.5" or 11.0" flywheel was a living hell. Avoid it if you can.

I hope that helps you avoid some of the pitfalls of the planned swap.