the car originally had a v-6, and i am putting in a 383, i dont really have the money to buy the appropriate tranny and was wondering if i could adapt the t-5 that came off this v-6 for a short time. what parts would i require to do this? thanks, jeff

 

Yes. Do a search. I converted from auto to T5 and checked into the v-6 tranny issue but I haven't done it personally. From what I remember you have to cut (hack saw???) about 1/2" off the end of the input shaft and use the v-6 clutch disc and the v-8 pressure plate. I believe the rest just bolts in. But be gentle with it as the v-6 has a lower torque and horsepower rating AS WELL AS having a lower first gear ratio in most cases. What that means is the stress is greater in first gear on an already weaker trans. Not to mention the greater torque potential of a 383. It's kind of a receipe for disaster. Just don't bang it around and you might make it til you can afford a v-8 tranny. Even with my v-8 trans I don't dump it in first (well...) and I don't power shift. It's held us for a couple of years for me.

 

How did you deal with the different in spline count? My understanding is that the V8 is 26 while the v6 is 14...

 

Well I didn't actually. I just did the research. By using the v6 clutch disc with the v8 pressure plate you side step the spline issue. If I remember correctly the v6 clutch disc is a little smaller by a 1/4" or so. I just didn't like the idea of doing a lot of work to make a weaker tranny work. But if I had already owned a v6 tranny I may have used it knowing that it probably wouldn't hold up long. Hey if it works for him a while and he already owns a v6 trans, why not?

Let me be very clear on this. I DID NOT USE A V6 TRANS. I only did research on it when I was planning my auto to manual conversion. I don't know if it will work or not, just what others told me and what I deduced from checking into it.

 

You need this disc: http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku



The difference between the V6 and V8 transmission is the gear ratios and input shaft, that clutch disc takes care of the input shaft issue. The V6 trans has a 4.0x first gear, and the others are more suited a bit to the V6 also, the torque capacity on T5's largely varied with the first gear ratio, with its 4.0x ratio, its not able to hold a ton of torque, and should only be done either to: A. Get you down the road knowing you better not beat on it hard.

or
B. Get you down the road and you have another one sitting and waiting to go in when it blows from you beating on it.

The other things you'll need are the correct flywheel for your crankshaft flange, a V8 bellhousing with fork (v6 and V8 forks are different)

 

Well you would have to use the V6 clutch which other than being smaller than an 8 cyl. in over all diameter also has a narrower cross section of friction material. If you have any kind of healthy 383 the clutch isn't going to hold it. those 2.8s made very little power and the transmissiom was a match for that. remember if you frag the transmission its easy to damage other parts of the drivetrain at the same time.

 

Obviously you didnt follow the link I posted. The disc is the same as the V8 disc, its just got the correct hub for the V6 input shaft.

 

yes that peformance aftermarket clutch disc is the same size as a OEM V8 disc. I was talking about the OE setup or what you would find at a parts store. You can put a stronger clutch infront of a weak tranny and be no better off. Alteast with a weaker clutch you would be more likely to have clutch slipping occur before transmission failure. But the point is moot either way the T5 especially a 14 spine one is not a reliable performance transmission by any stretch of the imagination

 

I wanna know how the hell you got the bell housing to bolt up.

 

well you would have to get a bellhousing off a V8 car because a 6 cyl will not fit as the V8s are 90 degree and the 6s are 60 degree

 

will the bellhousing of an 86 v8 t5 fit on an 88 v6 t5, i wasnt sure because i think the 88 one might be a world class t5

 

use any v8 t5 bell housing, the input shaft will have to be cut 1\2in and rounded off,vet a v8 slave and there is a place i just ordered my cluthc disk from,its a zoom disk,1.5in 14spline its $89, ill post the phone number and part number too , i do not have it off hand,any other questions just ask i just did the swap