i am pushing right around 350 to the wheels want a manual tranny to put behind motor when its dropped in..... Built T5 or stock T56... Running a 3:73 rear... i desktop dynoed my motor.. makin 440 to 460 hp

What should i do.. which would be smarter/easier for the money

 

I don't like the T56 since the 6th gear is useless, and its mad heavy. You can get an aftermarket synchronized gearset for a T5 for around $1100, they are not cheap.

 

I don't like the T-5 because I've torn up countless ones of them.

The T-56 is an altogether better transmission in every way. The weight penalty isn't severe enough to be worth avoiding it in favor of something as inherently fragile as the T-5.

Go with the T-56. Put at least a 3.73 or preferably 4.10 rear gear in it. I just have the stock gears (3.73) in mine, and they're barely enough, with the T-56.

 

sweet because all the t56's i found were 3,000 and more..

now do you know what i would need to do a swap from a turbo 350 to the t5??? i would do a search but i dont wanna get just bits and peices id rather get it all in one post
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hey uh "dom" lol .. good point thats why i was wondering about a Built T5 any thoughts??

 

I'd suggest a wrecked V8 T-5 car.

Same for a T-56 swap. You can often pick up a whole car for less than a junkyard will charge you for just the trans.

 

if i were to put in a t5 i would use a third gen body obviously not if it were a t56 it would be a forth gen but what year fourth gen.. and what modifications would i need to do to fit a t56 under my car


and about the aftermarkett gearset for the t5 how strong are they??

 

94-97 is the most direct swap. 93 will work but isn't as good a transmission. 98-up will work but requires more modification. Any will require doing something about the speedo, and a different crossmember (not stock). And, you'll have to elongate the shifter hole in the tunnel about 1½" compared to the T-5 hole.

 

right now i have a turbo 350... i was told id need to notch the trannywell by someone.. cant remember who tho... is that true?

 

6th gear is a fuel economy overdrive and nothing more. and you're only talking about maybe a 30 lb difference in weight. why "strengthen" a weak transmission when you can replace it with a better one for near the same price.

 

Probably someone who had never installed one.... pretty typical.

No "notching" is required. The ONLY modification to the car, apart from stuff that un-bolts and re-bolts, is to cut the shifter hole about 1½" farther toward the rear than it comes, in T-5 cars. In auto cars of course you'll have to cut the whole hole anyway.

 

well the only t56's i could find were around 3 gs how much is a t5???? i had my hands on one at one time for a hundred bucks.. anyway how much am i looking to spend for either of the trannys???? and will a 94 bell housing bolt to my 84 350 block...???? ..

justfor ***** and giggles how much do any of you think itll cost me for the whole swap weather it be t5 or t56

 

I paid $800 for a complete T5 setup for my Camaro a few years ago. Pretty much the upper end cost wise and wouldn't do it that way again. But the tranny was rebuilt and it had every nut and bolt needed to do the auto - manual swap.

Only problem is three years later I have an $800 bellhousing, shifter, and flywheel. I have changed everything else. I am getting ready to do a auto - manual swap on my wifes Firebird and got most of the pieces out of a dirt cheap parts car this time. If doing a T5 getting a cheap donor car is a great way to go.

As far as the T5 I have had great luck with the one that's in there now and am pretty close to the power level your aiming for. But then again I'm cheap and don't want to spend the $'s on a better tranny.

 

im using the cs 274 cam the solid version of your if im not mistaken... and im using the prm airgap also.. butim usind trickflows kenny sumthin or another series heads
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anyway i still dont know which one im gonna go for... pros and cons everywhere.... but before this thread i was prefferable to the t56... just didnt wanna pay 3 grand for it.... is there anyway to build a t5 up to hold the power that a t56 can??

 

Werd. T56 > T5

 

how much do you think id be looking to pay????

 

I got a 94 z28 6 speed put into my 91 z28 with the 350 and automatic. the complete install including labor was about 1700. also includes clutch assembly (hydrolic) pedal assembly (get the fourth gen assembly). its very easy like the only guy on here who sounds like he knows what he is talking about said. Do the T56. t5 is junk.. P.S. with enough horse you can push that 6th gear pretty nicely

 

where on earth did you get that???? seriously.... and will a 94 belhousing bolt to my first gen 350 block..;. its a 1984 block

 

Here's a link, for people who like to do some research instead of bashing the T5, on how to make one handle 500 ft-lbs. Several years ago it couldn't be done, but today it can.

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...uild/index.php

They show a Ford application but I contacted them and they have all the same parts for the WC GM T5.

Stock for stock obviously the T56 is a lot stronger, but I got my world class T5 for $100 and then rebuilt it with new gears and new hard parts for another $500-600. The gear kit from the above site is a little over $1000, which I may do eventually. The 6th fuel economy gear wouldn't help with my 3.73s because I am only turning 1400-1500 rpms on the highway in 5th as it is.

Point is, a world class T5 is not a throw away if you know what to do with it. If you put lots of HP through a stock T5 you will break it, we know that already.

 

I installed the 6 speed three mounths ago and would never go back to the slush bucket T-5 I waisted four of those turds. And yes I can SHIFT.
I bought a whole 95 Z for $2,200 purchased a SPOHN 6 speed x-member & torque arm for $300 and change. Useing all the parts off the 95 it was a pretty simple instal, and havent missed a gear

 

Regarding the bellhousing question, YES, it will bolt up to any first gen small block as long as it's a 93-97 T56. They changed the bellhousing pattern in 98 when they went to the LS1 motor. As far as cost goes, there's been a couple of complete T56 setups for sale right here on the site recently for $1500. As far as which tranny to choose, it's really a personal choice. I opted for the T5 since I have a cable drive speedo and a 3.23 geared rear. It just made more sense to me since the speedo hooks right up with no extra BS, and 6th gear would be completely useless with a 3.23 rear. I may end up putting 3.42's back in, but that still isn't enough rear gear for a T56. Another thing I don't like about the T56 is the astronomical price for a decent clutch($500-$600). I won't argue for a second that the T56 is quite stronger though. I'm just going to take my chances with a T5 for now. Besides, if I break the T5, I've also got a Tremec TKO sitting on the garage floor, and it bolts right up to the T5 bellhousing/clutch.

 

been a while since i posted on here i havent had my computer....BUT does anyone know round about how many rpms id be turning with a 4:10 rear gear with a t5 and 26-27 in tall tires???? i know theres an equation but i dont know how it goes anyone wanna tell me???

 

I used an rpm calculator on a transmission website, and you'd be doing approximately 2500 rpm at 65 mph if you have the T5 with the .73 5th gear. This figure isn't 100% accurate, but it should give you a general ballpark idea.