i am considering swapping to a t-5. hawks has a conversion kit and it says it has everything i would need.
i havent asked them specifically, but is there any special tools i would need to do this swap?
i have a pretty badass socket set and a floor jack, but no power tools of any kind.

basically, can a motivated, but otherwise not so talented average joe do this swap

also, on a side note, i have noticed that i have very little to no extra foot room while i am driving.
its not bad around town, but gets old on long trips.
would someone with a manual trans comment on the foot room issue?
im 5' 8" and have size 10 feet so im not a huge guy.

 

Foot room??? You won't gain any foot room or really loose any either.

You also won't have your t-5 for long behind a healthy 5.7 TPI. T-5 is rated for around 300 ft.lbs of torque. Thats why they only put them in V6 and 305 cars.

 

The only special tool you may need is a clutch allignment tool. But I'm guessing the Hawks kit will have one, or the clutch you buy will come with one. Having a swivle socket for the bellhousing bolts helps too. Along with a really long extension (or a bunch of small ones put together).

I second the T5 as being kinda weak. I've killed two in my 83 (one non WC and one WC). I've got a mild 350 in it. I've got a 400 going into my 88 and I'm not even considering the T5 as a possibility.

 

well i dont really drive that hard, so hopefully it will be ok.
i want a manual, but i dont have 3000 for a t-56
and around here, any f-body you find in a junkyard is picked clean... all you can get are seatbelts and thats if you are lucky.

what i mean about the foot room is that i usually put my foot right where the clutch pedal would be, so if there is a clutch pedal there, then my foot will have to go elsewhere, and there really isnt anywhere for it to go IMO.
although it seems like maybe my lower dash is hanging too low, because with my foot on the ground, hovering over the brake pedal, my toes are pushing up on the plastic.

does anyone know of somewhere i can get a decent 5 speed for a reasonable price.
i would pay about 1200 or so for the trans, which would leave some left over for the rest of the stuff i will need.

i guess the other option is buy the hawks kit, sell the t-5, and buy another compatible 5-speed that is stronger...
(stupid weak trannys)

 

I wouldn't worry about foot room. I'm 5' 10" and wear a size 12 shoe and have no problems. I can fit my foot beside my clutch pedal with no problems, as well we rest my foot flat on the floorboard under the clutch pedal. I seem to recall rubbing the under dash panel by the brake pedal, but I haven't driven the car since last November.

The T5 is weak, and probably won't last behind the 350. That being said, lots of members claim to have made it work. It's all in how you drive it. $1200 for a 5-speed that can stand up to 350 abuse is going to be very, very hard to do. I don't even think you can get a T-56 from a regular(non-u-pull) JY for that. Maybe check Ebay, or Craiglist and see what you can come up with?