Ok so i have bought this car with a t-5 behind a '78 350. Yes I know the tranny wont last, 500 miles on it and reverse is already grinding, the tranny is getting too hot, and the clutch burns sometimes. My question is, when the tranny blows out, what do i need to do so it can handle the 300ish horse and 350ish torque I am giving it? thanks guys, I suck with transmissions and i need one that can take a lot of abuse, but i want to stick with a manual.

 

Either drive it softly, spend $1000+ on the T5 upgrade kit (see the vendor's posts on these boards) or swap in a T56.

 

Ok, this is going to start a war! I have a 91 RS. First a little background my age. I am 51. So, you will not get any lies here! I buitl this car so I know what is in it. The only stock part left on the car is the T-5. The car has a 383 stroker pushing 500HP I installed an Eaton Posi with 410's. The car had all the goodies. I road race it on slicks/ take it to the drags on slicks. It will run 12.3 all day long on the stock T-5 benn this way 3 years now.
Think I am kidding at Matt at GMMG........................................

 

Like Kevin said you can either drop money into the T5 to have it built or do a T56 swap. The other option is a tremec TKO500 but the only one that will bolt back in with out any modification having the existing T5 built up

 

i too have a t5 mounted to a 530 horse 406
granted i do not powershift or use slicks on this car
but it has worked flawless


p.s. a world class 1991 t5

 

If your T-5 is getting "hot", you might want to check the fluid level along with what type of fluid you're running in it. Mobil-1 Dextron III synthetic seems to work best in mine. But I also add an additive due to the aftermarket gearset I'm running.

Just do a T56 swap, and you'll be able to beat on it all day long and it'll never break!!

-I know that was sarcastic, but what REALLY matters is how much of your car's power is actually going to the ground. If I had a 1200 HP back-halved Camaro capable of doing wheelies at the track, I doubt any stock trans would hold up very long. In that case, I'd get a built Powerglide or a Lenco...along with a 9" or 12 bolt rear, extreme duty driveshaft etc...

 

There's always that one lucky person that can get away with this. My wife used to drag race 2-3 times a week in hot muggy Houston with a Vigi 2800, stock transmission, NO TRANSMISSION COOLER and slicks. She ran low 13's (96 TA). She managed to get away with it for 3 years until she finally broke the transmission.

I still remember getting the call on her way home from the drag strip. She had lost 3rd gear and wound up driving home on the highway in 2nd gear (with 3.73's none the less).

I was surprised the transmission lasted that long racing it like that. The only thing I can equate the longevity to was that she wasn't driving it daily in stop 'n go traffic, idling, heating up the fluid.

Beware, the ides of racing your transmission.....

 

http://www.jegs.com/i/Richmond+Gear/...61#moreDetails

That should hold up for ya. Even comes with a shifter, crossmember, and T/A mount for our cars.

 

wow what a beast! is this a direct bolt in? seems like thats all you need right there. i think im getting one of these ASAP!

 

Not to be a nay sayer but for that kind of cash you might as well buy a built T56 from D&D they're 2500 including the bellhousing. Then spend the money you saved on a tubular, cross member mounted torque arm.

 

Luck story 1,000,xxx ...

Yeah my 89 wct5 is holding up well behind my 5.7 HSR bla bla bla ...

I don't power shift (but I wish I could!) I do drag race and turn 8.60's (1/8 mi)with only a 3.27 gear. Went through a zoom MF clutch and now having great success with a Ram powergrip HD. I launch at 3000 and let it grab. I don't "side step" the clutch or anything (but I wish I could!)

If it holds up over time I'll be happy. If it don't I am leaning twards the T5 upgrade gears. Yeah I know you can get a stock six speed that's really great for the same money bla bla bla ...

Like so many things in hot-rodding it's all about personal preferance. I like the T5 and shift enough as it is. I'm not running super deep gears so the "extra" OD isn't really a benifit. I already have the T5 everything (flywheel, clutch, shifter etc) Is having a sixth gear better? Why not seven? Oh well now I'm just getting pissy but you know what I mean.

I believe if one has a WC T5, in good condition and treats it like a tranny rated for 300 or so horsepower, it's a good choice. If you want a tranny you can treat like a "junkyard dog" it may not be the best choice. But that's all it is, a choice.

Like the old ad said, "you can pay me now, or pay me later".