I was thinking maybe next summer of ditching the 700R4 and getting a Tremec 5 speed (I plan on building a sick engine over the winter). Could someone give me a basic idea what all I will need for the swap? So far I can think of the tranny, clutch, pedals, shifter, and maybe a newa crossmember. I'm sure I'm forgetting something cause I've never done this before.

 

Find a T-5 car in the junkyard and get everything you can off of it, that'll make it alot easier for you.

Doing the pedals will be the biggest PITA. Otherwise it's not all that bad.

The transmission mount on the Tremec sits 1" lower than the 700R4/T-5. We have a crossmember built specifically for putting a Tremec in a ThirdGen. We also have a complete crossmember/torque arm system for the Tremec as well.

I should have some installed pics up on our upcoming new website in the coming weeks.

Steve

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Spohn Performance, Inc. - F-Body Suspension Specialists

 

I went to a T5 manual..and it was a BIG PITA. Definatly doable...I did mine over a weekend, but not much fun. Like Steve said the Pedals are the hardest part. The bigger you and your hands are, the worse other than that...it's not that bad.

 

I have done these swaps on vehicles including the 3rd GEN's. I wouldn't suggest the TREMEC AT ALL. I have friends with Mustangs that have destroyed TREMEC 3550 trannies and one has been through 3 of these units. The pedals are a PITA, but alot easier if you remove the seat. that reservior can be a bastard also on some cars. I would STRONGLY suggest the 93-97 T-56 gearboxes. They are VERY strong and they won't break un less you do something STUPID. They are basically a DIRECT bolt-in for the 3rd GEN. Good Luck HTH's

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88 Monte SS 355 TPI/LT-4 HOT CAM/AFR Hydra-rev/ T-56 6-Speed

 

There's a section in the FAQ on switching from Auto to T5, check it out.

The Tremec is no good??? Whoa... I was going to get a Tremec to avoid the hassle of putting a T56 in.

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1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.25 @ 107.18 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies

 

Im struggling to decide what to do myself. Ive found a pretty good deal on a WC T5 that is complete. Im jsut nervous about it holding up behind a 350. I really dont race much though. Any thoughts?

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Mark Lock
- 86 IROC-Z - My car, mods and ET's
- -= IROC Online =- - The site dedicated to the IROC-Z

 

Hey lock, for what you want, the T-5 should hold up fine, the 3rd gear cluster is usually the weakest link in that tranny, but there are people who are running them for a long period of time without failures. The Mustang guys actually prefer them and they power shift the hell out of them. Good luck with it. People have them behind 400's, but they don't go beyond the gearboxes limitations, like 4000 rpm clutch dumping. THAT WOULD CERTAINLY KILL IT WITH THAT KIND OF TORQUE SHOCK.

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88 Monte SS 355 TPI/LT-4 HOT CAM/AFR Hydra-rev/ T-56 6-Speed

[This message has been edited by 88SS6SPEED (edited September 11, 2000).]

 

I will agree that the pedals are a real pain. The clutch master cylinder isn't exactly fun either.

If you are going through all of that trouble, go ahead and swap in a T56.



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'91 Z28 Blue/Silver ZZ4/ZF6
335.9 rwhp 374.9 rwtorque

 

The Sept. issue of Car Craft has an article on swapping a T56 into a third gen. F-body.

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We need Perry Mason

 

Go with the T56. Then you won't have to worry about it quitting on you. It really isn't hard at all. 2 days total and 1700 bucks later I was cruising down the road with a BIG smile on my face .

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88 firebird formula
350 Vortec TBI - IT RUNS.....kinda
Edelbrock performer 2116 - mild cam

My Formula

 

Is there anyplace on the web that you can order back issues of Car Craft?

I can't seem to find anything except their Car Craft ballot site for nhra and the like.

thanks

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GndPrx
http://www.caraudioresources.net

 

It's not very hard. It's rather tedious and frustrating. I've done it twice myself. I'd like to suppliment some things missed in the tech section swap.

P.S. I'd go with the Tremec, it's rated at 550lb-ft of torque, much better than a T-5.

It is mentioned to use the padding as a guide. This is near impossible! The first time I did it I near massacured the padding and ended up with half a hackjob. The second time mine was a perfect image with the carpet except when I put in the pedals I ended up needing to move it a little bit up. All in all it didn't come out bad. I suggest hanging the pedals then using the 'brakcets' that come down off the pedals to mount the mastercylinder as guides instead then estimating for the mastercylinder itself. I did my second one in about 3 hours taking care to make it nice this time . For the shifter hole, use a side grinder and get it done with! The first time I used a side grinder and it worked great, second time I went at the shifter hole with a dremel. After going very slow I ripped out the side grinder. Just be sure not to catch the carpet on fire.


The basic problems with the swap come down to not knowing about manual transmissions and not correctly having the master cylinder installed / hydraulics bled. The problems I found possible with poor master cylinder mounting is clutch pedal can hit U-bolt causing clutch not to fully release, the cable that keeps you from shifting out of park without the car in on position's bracket can get in the way and if the master cylinder isn't straight with the pushrod it will hit it at an angle.

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1984 WS6 Trans Am Hartop
Former L69 Car under restoration
1984 WS6 Trans Am T-top car
4-bolt main 350, headers, Holley 650, T-5 and 3.23's.
Daily driver and restoration

 

I just did this swap a couple weeks ago. Watch the angle of the rod on the master cylinder.I didnt have a pattern to trace so I had to guess. I bent that rod three times before I practically made a new section of floor board. She works fine now except for the speed sensor doesnt fit. Check out VDO if you are putting an older tranny in an electric speedo car.

 

i wonder if it would be feasible to somehow hookup a solenoid of some sorts to a pushbutton clutch on the side of the shifter itself, that'd be crazy but really sweet and it'd eliminate most of the PITA pedal work, just a thought, a very very crazy thought, but a thought.