Hey guys, Im working on restoring my 1992 Firebird and I was wondering if I changed my auto, would it be worth it? I want to but i know that shifting can be a bitch sometimes. So to all you manual guys out there, can you help me? Should i stay with AUTO or go to a T5??

 

That's really a question that you have to answer for yourself.

 

i want it, but i want to know from other members if i wud like it (im 17 and this wud be my first time driving stick) lol

 

How can a bunch of strangers tell you what you'd like?

 

i think im more scared that im not going to like it and regret it, but i do want to do it..but i guess i wud like input the most

 

I would say that if you have a friend or family member with a stick ask if you could drive around in thier car. I learned from a family friend that had a 2005 mustang gt a few years ago. Also if you are restoring it and you arent sure if you want to do the tranny swap just wait until you are done with everything else.

 

Well it depends on what you want. If you end up giong with a 350 like it says on your profile your going to tear a t5 to peices, so you would need to get a different transmission like a t-56. I blew up my t-5 with a slightly upgraded 305. Doing a t-56 costs nearly $2000 so it's pretty expensive. "I" don't really like automatics very much. You may hate a manual, you should at least learn to drive a manual so you know if you absolutely hate it before you do a transmission swap in your car. If you ust want to beable to choose what gear you're in get one of those shifters that let you shift your auto manually.

 

noone i know has a manual lol, but i think i will most likely do it when everything else is done, like u said..thanks!

 

the 350 im thinking about wud probly be a 5 year project ( im working on getting a job) so i dont think thats in teh clear yet,but yea, my 305 tbi is stock except for a rebuild 55k miles ago. how would i go about getting my transmission to be able to shift like a manual when its an auto...i mean like do i need a whole new tranny or what?

 

That is not true.. I have a WC T5 they claim is rated for 300HP I'm way over that
the major issue with the T5 is the stock shifter.. it fights to go in 3rd.. and thats were you will destroy your gears.. the PRO 5.0 shifters is the BEST shifter out there..anyone that owns a T5 it is mandatory to replace your shifter.. the other factor is way to many people
shift like HE MAN....not needed

 

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/ca...0400700r4.aspx I'm pretty sure it's one of these that let's you select gears manually.

 

My previous TA. I had A Trans go full manual valve body kit.. HP pump and all the rebuilds for a 700.. and trans cooler
it shifted great for a while. barked 2nd for a while then died.. if your going to build your engine with real power.. the 700 is not going to last long

 

A "built" motor obviously needs a "built"trans, A 700 will support about 500 HP pretty easily and cheaply along with a like amount of torque.

If one was on a real budget and had the time you could build a 700 in your garrage for a couple hundred that'll do the job.

If your interested and not afraid to do some junkyarding I can walk you through a great buildup that includes a beefier than stock case, better sun shell, input shaft and planet sets for cheap. Quality clutches/band fluid and a cooler are mandatory along with whatever shifter, valvebody/shift kit and converter you want.

 

when i get to it, i wud love to have you give me that info. that sounds really neat and interesting for me

 

The ultimate question is why do you want to do it?

On the V8's, if you look strictly at HP and losses through the drivetrain, both the manual and automatic (350/auto and 305/manual) are pretty much equal. The 350 of course has more torque.

The fun of driving is going through the gears on a winding road.

So, once again, why do you want to do it?

 

yea hah that does sound mightyyy tempting, i think i am gonna go with my first choice and stick with the manual