Does anybody have a V8 with a five speed and posi? I've got a T-5 on my 350 right now, but no posi. Just wondering if anybody had any transmission failures with the added traction that a posi setup would give. Cause right now I don't have to worry about my trans busting - Back right tire just spins away...

 

Umm.......V8's are both 305 ci or 350 ci. The 305's are vastly available w/ either set-up and the 350's are mostly all auto's. Actually, very few 350's were produced w/ a manual tranny. Basically, if someone says it's a stock 350 w/ a 5 speed they're prolly F.O.S. b/c they are very rare.
To answer your Q., if you don't beat the crap out of it and service everything regularly, you'll be OK w/ a posi, etc.

------------------
Alex (AKA chevyboy) '91 RS 327 stroker, trans-go shift kit>> manual valve body, cat-delete, MSD (ignition, coil, 2-step, timing retard/ advance),Flowmaster, complete Edelbrock suspension including shocks, struts and lowering springs. CRAGAR drag wheels. Lowered 2.25" in front and 1.5" in rear....Best E/T 12.84 @109 mph...(got spray?)plus more!!

 

Yes, I know that the most five speed transmissions came on V6 engines, and that some were factory with 305s. I did not think that the T-5 was ever offered factory with a 350, but could be wrong about that. Anyways, the point of my question is this...
The T-5 is known to be weak compared to the autos. It was only offered (i believe) on 305's and V6 cars. Don't know about the availability of T-5's with posi rear ends though. So, the five speed was only offered with the lower powered engines and I wanted to know how much of a problem anybody has had with one on either a 305 or a 350. Basically, what kind of power they were able to put thru the manual tranny (with posi) before they had problems. Sorry if that rambled on or if it jumped from thought to thought too much. Thanks again.

 

As far as the cars that came with the posi-traction and T-5's they were available on 305 TPI engines. The WC-T5 (88+ years) were rated at 275 ft-lb torque and I am easily exceeding that on my setup. The 82-87 non WC T-5 were rated even lower so if you are going to get one get it out of a 88+ V8 f-body car.

I have had my WC T-5 behind my setup now for about 90,000 miles and I dump the clutch a lot going from 1st to 2nd. I rebuilt the tranny right after I put my 300hp 350 in the car and the posi came only a few months later along with the posi I went from 3.08 to 3.42 gears. The tranny was due for a rebuild since it had 130k miles on it and the synchronizers and bearings were getting very loud. I think the rebuild kit I bought from Motive gear had stronger parts due to how well it's holding up to the abuse. I have taken it to the drag strip about 6 months ago and put it through some hard launches but I wouldn't recommend taking the car to the strip regular b/c the tranny probably will come apart if not the 10" rear will.

As far as street use is concerned I think the WC T-5 has held up great but I am going to a T-56 when I change motors again along with a built 12" rear.



------------------
1988 TA 300+hp 350 w/ TBI and Holley TB unit, Holley projection intake,
WC T-5, 3.42 gears w/ Auburn posi. MSD 6A, edelbrock TES headers, dynomax 3" cat and cat-back system, ACCEL coil, polyurethane bushings all around, aluminum driveshaft, Mr. Gasket open air cleaner.

1993 S-10 w/ 4.3L V6 TBI, slightly bigger cam, Mild polish job and 3 angle valve job on heads, Edlebrock TES headers, Dynomax cat back, MSD 6A, ADS chip

2000 Kawasaki KX 125

 

The World Class T5 is rated at 300 ft/lbs, so anything over that, and it could break. I've got 380 ft/lbs at the rear wheels, and I still havent gotten my T5 built up enough to take it all. The T5 will last forever if you drive it normally, but if you race it, it will break eventually.

------------------
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
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

I have a 350, wc t-5 and a posi 3.45 9 bolt and it is hold ing up great, this 5 speed is by far the best I have ever used.


------------------
86Z28, GM 350, Jet perf Q-jet & chip Dual snorkel air cleaner, Edelbrock performer intake, Edelbrock headers, Edelbrock cat-back, Off road pipe, MSD 6AL, Accel Super Coil, Taylor Spiro-pro wires, Rapid fire plugs, Jet fan switch, World class t-5, Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Ram Flywheel, Center force dual friction clutch,Aluminum drive shaft, BW disc rear 3.45's & a posi, PBR calipers, Earls braided brake lines, Polygrapite bushings all the way around, poly tranny mount & torque arm mount, Hotchkis lower control arms & panhard rod, Rancho limiter straps, KYB struts & shocks, Gm Wonderbar, Edelbrock strut tower brace, SSM sub frame connectors, Jamex lowering springs, Carbon metallic brake pads, Crossed drilled rotors, Mobil 1 Tranny fluid & motor oil, GM syntheic rear end oil, K&N, Grant stering wheel, 1,200 watt system, Jet Black Paint, 91 Z28 rims, 92 wing, Tinted windows.

 

I've got a 305, 5 speed and Posi.
Took it to the strip a couple of times.
My friend has a 98 V6 Firebird with an ATI-ProCharger running @ 9psi, his T-5 tranny makes a grinding sound when under full throttle, so his tranny is almost shot. When he drives the car casually, tranny seems fine.

------------------
Zepher
'86 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, LG4 305, 5 Speed, CF DF Clutch,
Edelbrock 1406 Carb, Edelbrock Performer RPM 7101 Intake Manifold.
Edelbrock Open Element Air Cleaner: Flowmaster Exhaust, 160* Thermostat,
Grant GT Steering Wheel, MSD HEI Coil, Taylor 8mm Wires, Recaro Seats,
Alpine CD+Changer,Rockford & Soundstream Amps, Premier TS-1040C Subs, Polk Audio highs/mids.
Best ET: 14.94@91.67
WS6 Trans Am

 

my sons car was a 305 TBI w/WC T5 and posi. it also had the aero spoiler ,88 SC camaro.

------------------
ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd

 

My t-5 has been unreal. I hammer it every time I drive it. It has almost 100,000 miles on it. I have a reputation for beating my car more than anyone. I use a centerorce dual friction and a hurst shifter with it. I have been 13.20 at 105.5 and many other dragstrip outings of similar values. I know that behind a nitroused 350 is pushing the limit but what can I say!!

------------------
1991 Firebird
350 L98 (was a 305 TBI)
T-5 transmission
Edelbrock TES and cat back
Accel manifold
NOS
subframes
jegster torque arm
MSD Digital 6
AFPR
Lakewood lcas
hurst linelock
SLP cam
relocated battery
cold air
Hypertech chip
centerforce clutch
poly bushings and mounts
etc..

14.1 @ 99mph with just headers and catback

with NOS and other mods???? twelves??

 

Mine was originally a 305 H.O. (carb) with t-5 and posi 3.73's. It broke after 190k on the 305 and 8k with the 355 (320hp-350tq)

I'm now a t-56 and a TPI 355 with 420 at the wheels.

------------------

Cody "cyZ28" Young
'84 black on black Z28

355, 5-speed (on the way out. What goes back in, ooohh baby!!)