So here's my beef. I've got an 84 z28 with a 355 that I'm converting to 5 speed. Now i realize chevy never made the 350's with the T-5 because the torque can tear it apart. But I also know that there are people out there who have gotten away with it, and whatever, it's a project and its a start. But down the line I'm going to have to make some changes if I want to have any real fun in this car. So what I'm wondering is what is involved in converting the stock T-5 to either a T-56 or TKO-600. Aka, what of the original setup (pedals, slave, cylinder, reservoir, yada, yada) can i still use and what needs to be changed with each. Now I'm really more interested in hearing from guys (or girls) who have done this in their cars and really know what I'm talking about rather then just theory. Like what NEEDS to be done rather then what SHOULD be done. So if you can help me out with an idea of what I'm looking at I'd appreciate it.

Each has it's Pros and Cons. There's a T56 swap sticky at the top, AFAIK there are lots of TKO threads, but none ever made into a sticky.

Ask yourself what your budget is, how much fab work you can do, what is your primary goal for the car (street/strip, DD, strip-only, SCCA, etc.), your current/future power goals, etc.. One may be better than the other depending on these and other questions.

From what I have seen on here, you could talk to Mike Fortes at http://www.fortesparts.com/ . I have been talking to him over the last couple of days regarding a tranny for my car. I have a different challege, with a engine that produces 800lbs of torque a standard T-56 or TKO will not survive. Mike directed me to the new t-56 Magnum which is rated at 700 lbs torque

My 87 T/A originally had an a4 in it. It let go so I did a T5 conversion in it knowing full well that it would only be temporary until I found a T56 to suit my needs. The only thing I kept from the T5 setup was the pedal assembly. You can use an adapter plate on a LS1 style T56 and retain everything you had used with the T5. I just used a LT1 style T56 and switched everything. Hope that helped answer some of your questions.

i have a tko600 in my car.

you use the stock bellhousing, with an adapter plate, you can buy it all from Fortes.

you can use the stock style clutch, flywheel, pedal and hydraulics.

You need some different wiring pigtails, which come with the trans when you order it.

the stock driveshaft length will work, but you need a ford c6 yoke.

you need a shifter that it offset 2" back. Fortes makes a offset hurst shifter that works, and i just swapped that out for a steeda tri-ax, which also works, but you need to lengthen the shifter handle a little. its not quite long enough.

you need to modify you trans crossmember, or buy aftermarket. Sphon makes a cross member mounted torque arm setup for the tko. Im using a UMI crossmember torque arm setup for a 700r4/t5 with 3/8" spacers to lower the crossmember to make room for he trans.

The only weird part of the setup is that the trans is a bit taller that a t5/t56, and the trans tunnel isnt quite tall enough for the trans, so with it installed, the output shaft is pointing slightly down.


Now, you dont find used tko setups very often, and new the entire deal is around 3k, includeds crosmember parts and everything.

the t56 can be had from a lt1 4th gen, and you can usually find the trans for under a grand. where-sa the tko trans new is 2k