I was looking in to swapping out my wc t-5 for something better. That and I was out at the track and ran a stellar 13.1@109 couldn't get to the next gear to save my life. I know the motor is putting out more then the t-5 can take so I thought I'd ask You guys for some input

Thanks in advance

 

Are you looking to stay manual or go to an auto? If manual, your choices are basically the T56 or a TKO.

If auto, then there are more choices. You would have to decide how much you want to spend and do you want overdrive still.

 

I dont have a preference. I don't think the t-56 would hold up to the 7k shifts. And I've heard that the tko is real sensitive at rpm above 6500 so I don't know. LOL how about 4l80e?

 

I'm in the same boat so I've been doing research on this subject. If you still with a manual transmission you basically have four choices.

G-Force T5 upgrade kit -Rebuild your existing transmission with new internals

Pros

• Use your original transmission housing
• Direct replacement fit (No additional hardware needed)
• Supports between 500 and 600 foot pounds of torque
• Least expensive solution

Cons

• Still uses the World Class T5 housing which is reported to be weak

TKO 500/600

Pros

• Supports between 500 and 600 foot pounds of torque
• Potentially easier installation than T56 transmissions

Cons

• Expensive installation / adapter kit required
• Somewhat difficult to install

T56 (Swap from another car, preferably an LT1 F-Body)

Pros

• 6 speed with dual overdrive gears
• Common and very cheap

Cons

• Many of these transmissions are old and must be rebuilt adding to the cost
• Additional hardware may be required to adapt it to 3rd generation F-Body
• Supports only 400 foot pounds of torque (1993)
• Supports only 450 foot pounds of torque (1993-2002)
• Not a direct fit. The transmission tunnel will need to be modified to allow for proper shifter placement

T56 Aftermarket/Retrofit

Pros

• New transmission
• Can support up to 700 foot pounds of torque
• 6 speed with two over drive gears
• Can be had with your choice of overdrive gearing
• Somewhat easier to install than some specific versions of the T56

Cons

• Expensive
• Requires some additional hardware for istallation
• May require cutting/modification of the transmission tunnel

Please correct me if I'm wrong but this is based on my current understanding of using these transmissions in our cars.

 

I think the T56 can handle that but I am not certain of this. The 4L80E is an automatic transmission and if your car came with a manual transmission there are additional things you'll have to do in order to make the automatic transmission work in your car. So that comes with its own challenges.

 

LOL car was a 305/700r4 been there converted that LOL
Have you heard of anyone runnig the 4l80?
Plus my head is starting to hurt LOL dumb car

 

I've heard of a few 4L80E swaps being done but nothing much beyond that.

 

the t56 has very similar internals to the t45 in my mustang, from what i'm told (obviously besides the t45 being only a 5 speed). That said, i've gone through a couple t45's in my stock 260hp car (granted i beat the crap out of it and i'm probably not the smoothest shifter).
Also, check out the gear ratios for the t56... i know some of them have a pretty tall first gear so you may loose some of the off-the-line grunt. The t56 first gear was closer to my second gear than it was to my first in the t45. Seeing that my car is slow enough as it is, i opted for the 5 speed when i swapped over from automatic.
Also, my car was most definitely faster with the automatic in it, however it wasnt nearly as much fun

 

That g force upgrade about how much does it run? And when you run the rpms up to 7 k will it shift OK? I do like the gearing of the t5 would the new internal keep the stock ratios

 

I don't know if it will shift to 7,000RPMs or not. The G-Force transmission website does not state the prices of their kits but as I understand it from another forum member, the kit runs about $1,400.00. If you send them your transmission they'll install/rebuild it and send it back but labor costs factor in.

 

Hey thanks for the help I'm still confused tho to many options to choose from I would like to keep an overdrive gear because it my DD and can't afford the car to be down. And on the other hand I have the urge to say f it and slap a 400 in it and not worrie about overdrive

 

go with the th400 and if od is a must get a gear vendors setup and do a little modding to make it fit. not cheap but then you have a 6 speed auto that will hold up to whatever you can throw at it.

 

Yeah I'm starting to lean that way still looking around at other Trans

Anyone know what a stock 4l80 will hold up to?

 

I used to run an '89 firebird with a blower. I ran stupidly faster than that with a WC-T5. Never a problem.

A good shifter helps. Usually guys miss third and break it.

TKO would be nice.

I'd stay away from the T56. I had one in my '96 Z28 and didn't like it. While it is typical to get flamed on the forum for not liking a T56, I don't care. Silly, heavy, shift goofy.

-- Joe

 

well i havent driven a car with a t56, but seeing that the internals are very much the same as my t45, i think i can relate. It's the worst shifting tranny i've ever had. I can even bang through gears much faster in the ranger. A shifter is supposed to help out alot with that though.

 

I've had a couple cars now with T56's. Compared to the T5 the T56 is WORLDS better. The T5 shifts like crap and the clutch/pedal engagement is the worst I've ever experienced.

 

Never had a problem before hitting gears the car sounded like a auto with a big stall. Have a good shifter in the car .

 

What was the wieght of the car
Was the torque arm still on the trans

 

If you're shifting at 7,000 RPM, I wouldn't get a manual transmission unless it had dog-ring engagement or face plating to replace the synchros. Just my opinion

G-force offers this option for the T5

Liberty gears also offers gearsets with this option for many transmissions, including the tko 500 & 600. Possibly the T56 as well, been a while since I checked (they call it face plating or pro shifting, depending on how you get it set up)

This is if you want to keep a manual of course

 

3640 with me in it.

I ran a jegster torque arm mounted to the floor. 26x8.5" slicks some passes, other passes just on bfg drag radials. Ran 10mph+ faster than your times, and a few seconds

6200rpm shifts on a vortech S-trim.

-- Joe

 

Well the T5 push clutch is like every other push clutch on the planet.

I had both the LT1 T56, and ZF6 in my corvette. Both had the 'pull style' clutch which is somewhat absurd.

The ZF6 shifted really bad, and the T56 better but nothing like a nice smooth T5 with a hurst shifter.

The previous owner ate 2nd gear on the T56, and the trans was replaced before I got it. He blamed the stock shifter. I sold it with a B&M shifter, and the current owner lost 2nd gear on trans #2.. It's on trans #3 now, and just hit 80k on the odom.

It's a Z28, and has been flogged, but c'mon.. A stock LT1!?..

I have an A833 in my car now, well actually it's on a cart under the car in the garage. Given the options, I'd probably go TKO or 3550. Plus, any car with a big cam can't use 6th gear anyway unless they are cruising at twice the speed limit. Even in my corvette, with a 3.54 rear, and a moderate camshaft (224/230 degrees) the motor would surge at low RPMs in 6th gear at anything under 70mph.. Speed limits are 55-65 around here, and in traffic at times it's hard to maintain that. 6th was just a bad joke!

The car I have right now is big and heavy compared to a thirdgen, with a 3.73 rear so the .72 over drive is just fine. I just wish it had 5 speeds not 4..


-- Joe

 

I didn't have my Firehawk more than a year and didn't put but 800 miles on it while I had it. So I won't stick up for the T56 in it too much. I will say that the stock shifter wasn't the greatest. As for my GTO though, I've put 60,000 miles on it in just over 4 years and bought the car brand new. The clutch is nice and smooth with a nice point of engagement. You can finesse the hell out of it. The car is very well behaved at lower speeds even in the mid range of gears. The shifts are smooth and solid. I've got no complaints even in stock form. Actually that car is totally stock down to the paper air filter. My T5 based third gen on the other hand, not so much. When you give it clutch you give it all. The thing is either engaged or it isn't. The pedal engagement is way at the end of the pedal travel and its harder to push in than I think is necessary. My Firehawk had a firm clutch, but it was easier to push in than the one on the T5.

It has been a massively enjoyable experience. Whether I'm engaged in "sprited" driving or just cruising.

 

Yeah the stick is more fun but sucks loli still have the torque arm on the Trans so ill have to address that when I do what ever swap.

 

The t56 in the goat is a Viper speced tranny, AFAIK, which will be quite a bit better than the ones in Camaros or Mustangs. I'm pretty sure it has better syncros and a few other bonuses.

 

man i love 5th in my Mustang (.62 5th gear, same as the t56). Once i get above 55 i almost never shift unless i'm feeling spirited. Traffic moves at about 80mph here though. As long as i keep it above 1k rpm's it drives just fine, even in the mountains. I guess you're right, a lumpy cam might change that though.

 

4l80E are tanks.. at least 45lbs more then a 700 or 350...and the tail conversion will cost 650.00
I have one I was going to use and never did

 

If you want a transmission that can take any thing you through at it i have heard nothing but good from jerico transmissions. http://www.jericoperformance.com/#

 

If I went 4l80e I would use the speed sensor in the rear diff.
Plus my speedo hasn't worked in a LONG time

@stroke those are sweet transmissions but the price tag almost gave me a heart attack LOL

 

Well I've been doing a lot of reading about different Trans 350/400/700/200/4l60/65 & 4l80/85 tko500 600 And so on so i called the transmission Guy told him What I want and the all mighty dollar. And after all that I think I'm going to do a 4l80e(mn8) its big ugly and should hold up. Because long-term use is top priority. I've never been a fan of overdrive automatic but I guess ill give it a shot. LOL
I could call it the big ugly swap lol

Thanks everyone for your input

 

you will need to convert the 4l80E with a manual valve body
if you you don't have the 4l80E yet.. PM me.. I have a low mileage
I have had for 3 years not used since the pull from 2500 HD PU

 

@88 pm sent