I just simply love driving a stick shift. I find it really fun. However... I have a 1989 L98 engine... I was wanting opinions on if I used a T-5 with G-force upgrades. I know about the case of the T-5 flexing and that being the main problem with the tranny. I do not intend on ever taking my car to a track, or putting it on the strip. It is my everyday car that I enjoy and want to enjoy further as a stick shift. I wanted to do a swap with a very minimal amount of extra work. I already have everything to swap over to a stick, ( stock bellhousing, pedals, clutch fork, upper lower boots, console plate, blah blah blah...) just no tranny itself. My engine is very very very mildly modified. (aftermarket intake runners, headers and exhaust, polished heads) The only time I would really ever put my foot into it is when those stupid high school kids and their damn rice burners come around. outside of that, I just drive. So, thoughts? good idea? bad idea?

Thank you.

 

If you really have that much restraint the T5 will live. It wasn't even rated to handle the torque of a stock 350, let alone a modified one. Full throttle=broken tranny

 

I think I'd fall asleep if my Bird was automatic. I hate not shifting.

Sounds like a good idea. I have a T5 mated to 357SBC that's pretty well modified. Next year the AFR heads and better cam are going in and I'm not babying it anymore after that. I'm swapping over to a TKO600 in the next month or 2.

You have it right though, you must baby it. My T5 has survived this long because a) it used to also have a stock 10-bolt b) I had no replacement trans if I broke it. I never power shifted, no clutch drops or ever real hard launches from the stop light. I only even tried a burnout 3 times and I gave up in fear of breakage.

Wish you were closer, I'd be happy to sell you my T5.

 

Yep, mine has. KCMO maybe we'll meet up sometime. I'm planning a thirdgen get-together here in Lawrence in the spring.

JamesC

 

And I would gladly buy it from you.
Yea, if you plan one, I would try my hardest to make it!