How much should $$$ I expect to dish out for a WC T5? Either from a pick-and-pull yard or otherwise.

I'm told the T5 dropped in a previously auto car with 2.73s will decrease off the line performance. But is this decrease so obvious as to outweigh the fun of driving a stick shift? I'm partial to manual cars - grew up driving them but I'm stuck with my horribly pathetic peanut cammed 88 IROC and its POS 700r4.

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'88 IROC 305 TPI
Gutted airboxes
160 degree T-stat
Advanced base TPS voltage
Relocated IAT sensor
Momo steering wheel
Ram-air setup coming soon
Flowmaster muffler

 

Here in Atlanta, pull-a-part has ANY transmission for $42, any where its somewhere between 450 to 650 used, rebuilts or no less than 850.
I did the swap from auto to manual in my 89 Iroc with 2.73 gears and I could tell a difference between the two different transmissions. The auto did get off the line quicker but it is more fun drive with a manual, and even more fun when the T56 goes in two weeks from now, and yes eventually the rear gears will be swapped out, more like the whole rear end will be replaced.