I'm going to be swapping a WC-T5 into my 1991 Z28 hardtop this spring. The car will have a 60k mile 305tpi, it already has headers, the cat is gone, and it has Magnaflow exhaust, K&N filters, just little things. My question is, I want to stay true to the originality of the car, and keep it a WC-T5 instead of spending tons more, and getting a T-56, and then making feel much more "non factory". The car will only be sitting on your average street tires (245-50-16). I do like to dump the clutch every once in awhile, chirp a gear or two, and I like down shifting into corners, and general spirited driving, will a WC-T5 hold up to that? I'm not always hard on manual cars, just every once in awhile, it's fun to have a spirited drive, you know? I am going to be attending college for two years and this is the only car I have for the time being, and I don't want to have my tranny go out. From personal experience, will a WC-T5 hold up to my driving habits?

 

I would think it would be fine as I had more motor (350 w/ RV cam) and drove my IROC hard for 212,000+ miles without any trans problems. It's not even the WC trans just the one that came in my 87 stock. So I would think if your trans is in good condition you should be fine. The only thing I replaced was the clutch/pres plate 4 or 5 times over the life of the car.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...273-post6.html

 

Think you would be alright, guess it depends on the shape of the tranny you get but you could always go with a G-force rebuild.

 

It's always a crap shoot.

JamesC

 

I agree with the above comment.

I did the same thing you're proposing... in my '91 Z28 as well. The first thing you'll want to consider additionally is your rear axle gearing. I'd be willing to bet you got the same 2.73:1 ratio as I have and let me tell you, even with a 'performance geared' T5 (from '89 Formula TPI), the 2.73's kill it. I could practically drive down the interstate in 1st gear.

Anyway, as for the trans itself - Do I regret the swap? HELL NO! Do romp on the car anymore? Not so much. If you're at speed and downshifting, or havin' fun on the highway with it, you're fine. Most of the damage to the T5 is from hard launches. Dropping the clutch or doing a nice smoky burnout with a T5 is NOT ADVISED. Have others done it? Sure they have. But is it worth risking damage to the trans?

Some will argue that they abuse their T5 and it still holds up, but compare that with the number of people with broken/damaged T5s and you'll see what I mean.

If I had to do it all over again, I still would do the swap, but just realize that the 700R4 could handle more abuse than the lowly T5. The first time you pick it up, you'll realize it, too.

If you're gonna drive like you stole it, the T5 probably isn't going to last long.