I have a 83' Firebird with a 68' 327 corvette engine that has plenty of power. It currently has a 5-speed manual tranny, I want to swap it out for a 4-speed manual out of a 80 something T/A. I used to have a 75' T/A with a 4 speed and I liked how it performed, so this is what got me thinking about this. My question to the group is would this be a wise decision? From exsperience I know the 5 speed is not a veary strong tranny, is the 4 speed better equipped to handle a H.O. engine? I am going to disasemble the 4 speed soon to check if the sync. and gears are in good shape is there anything inparticular I should look for that wear in these tranny's? Will the shifter fit thru the hole in the floor? The 4 speed shifter is mounted on the tail shaft and the 5 speed shifter is intergrated into the top of the tranny. How about the drive shaft and tranny crossmember... will it fit correctly? One last question... will I need to get a new clutch disc to match the splines on the 4 speed or does the 5 speed disc have the same splines on the input shaft as the 4 speed?

Thanks allot in advance for any info....
Drew

 

Why not just get a World Class T-5? I was going to do the same thing, with the 4-speed, but I found it better to run the WC T-5. It can handle alot more power than the basic T-5. Check it out, I think you'll like it.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...

 

I'm sure your looking for a strong used 4-speed, so find a 2ndgen Z28 and rape it of it's BW T10 trans. Next you'll need the trans crossmember from a stick 82 F-Body since they had 4-speeds. That should do it, I think your manual linkage clutch stuff from your 83 will transfer right over...but don't quote me on that.

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1989 Camaro RS LO3 WCT5 "The Hose Queen" 0-60' 2.34 1/4 15.8@87mph
http://350.StreetRacing.org

 

Just a tip,but the WC T5 is marginally stronger than the normal T5,my 305 has beaten up 2 WC T5's,next step for me is a TKO.they can handle much more power,and ive seen TKO's go low 10's for a very long time. Just my .02
Dirk

 

not to get off subject, but RacingLT1: what part of DE are you from? i live in dover...

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86 Z28 red,
originally LG4,
new 350,
non comp Qjet,
T-5 five speed with new clutch,
stock 3.23 gears, Edelbrock Performer intake,
crane 272H cam,
Accel 8mm wires,
Edelbrock performer cat- back,
Homemade cold/forced air intake.
KYB GR-2 struts and shocks.
Grant GT leather wrap steering wheel.
Sony X-plod stereo.
Optima 6x9's

Future mods:
NOS,
Edelbrock TES headers, hi flo cat.
4th gen interior
6 point roll cage
3.42 gears
hurst billet/plus shifter
Edelbrock STB
Telstar rims

cars i've beaten:
95' Avenger, 88 Mustang GT, 70' Mustang , 97 Dodge Ram, 94 firebird formula, 92 Mustang GT, 94' 3000GT VR4, 97' Accord Rice Rocket (just barely), countless many ricers....

 

I did this once too. If you can find a muncie 4 speed they are even stronger than the t-10's. Although I brok one with my 65 327 and had to go with a richmond. As far as putting the muncied in my car, I needed a custom made trans mount and torque arm mount. The drive shaft needs to be 3 inches longer. The shifter fit through the opening but it wasn't centered... was in the front left corner but this was alright still was able to shift ok. Like the other guy said find a 4 speed firebird camaro I think they were offered in 82, 83, and 84, and rape the tranny and torque arm mount and the drive shaft and you dhould be alright. Take the shifter too so it will hopfully come up through the hole the right way. If it doesn't well at least with mine I had to cut the center console since the top of the shifter didn't come through the boot. I hade everything custom made because I have yet to come across a 4 speed 3rd gen F-body Well Good luck!!!

 

You'll need a bellhousing for a four-speed; 83 was the only year the five speed was offered with a mechanical clutch linkage - 84 and newer used hydraulic - and the tranny mounting holes on the bellhousing are drilled to turn the tranny at a 17 degree angle to allow the shifter to be positioned closer to the driver. The linkage itself might work - not sure of that though.
The clutch discs will most likely be different - the V8 T5's used a 28 spline input shaft; all others that I am aware of used 10 splines.
You'll need a longer driveshaft - one out of any 3-speed auto or 4-speed manual will fit; one from an overdrive will be too short.

Pete

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Pete's Place
HiOutput <a href="http://www.hioutput.com/rpmworld.html">Virtual Racing Team</a>

<IMG SRC="http://www.hioutput.com/pics/SC.gif" TITLE="Pete's 83 SC">
My 83 SC...(originally V6) 204,400 mile LG4/5-speed from an 84 Z28, 3.42 one-tire-fryer, T-tops, PW, PH, boxed LCA's, Hedman Hedders and y-pipe, Dynomax cat-back, .420" lift cam, custom air induction .....best ET is 14.935@94.14</P>

 

I have a T-10 and it has the 26 on 1 1/8 spline shaft just like the T-5s. I have heard all of the Muncie, vs Borg Warner stories, but I think that they are both good trannys. In '84 was when they changed to the hydrolic clutch, so you have to get the earlier versions, which I have never seen. I bought my T-10 for my T/A, and after alot of research, I picked the WC T-5 just because of the ease.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...

 

The hydraulic clutch will work fine with the T-10. You don't need the BH out the 82 (the only year with 4-speeds), any year will do.

The huge majority of 4-spd 82s had Saginaws, which I wouldn't put in anything I would ever drive. Very few came with T-10s. If you find one, snag it; even if you don't want it, somebody will pay big $$$ for it sooner or later.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."