I currently have a t5 5 speed transmission need advice on what should I do to it when I swap to a 350 with new heads carb headers basically performance trying to reach 350hp.should I get it rebuilt it has 144,000 miles on it or just get a different transmission all together?any advice?
JamesC
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Apr 15, 2026
Quote:
Common board wisdom maintains that a T-5 won't hold up long under abuse: dropping the clutch at high RPMs, sticky tires, hard shifting and so on. A search will no doubt reveal more info. That said, if you drive with common-sense moderation, the T-5 will last a long time--at least mine has.Originally Posted by sanchez_anthony
I currently have a t5 5 speed transmission need advice on what should I do to it when I swap to a 350 with new heads carb headers basically performance trying to reach 350hp.should I get it rebuilt it has 144,000 miles on it or just get a different transmission all together?any advice? JamesC
Alright thanks what kind of tranny would be a good idea?
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The Eager Teen
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Aug 28, 2022
A T56 out of a 4th gen is the most common and I believe easiest upgrade.
How would the shifter fit on the interior would I have to get the center console from a 4th gen also?
How would the shifter fit then?or would I have to get a 4th gen console also?
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From everything I have seen the 4th gen manual console is the same for the 5 and 6 speed. I do not know this from actually having both. I have just started looking at options on the 5 speed myself because of 5th gear whine.
Now, I do have plenty of experience with the 5 speed behind the 350. i have broke two mainshafts where the mainshaft goes into the bearing of the input shaft - broke the nub off where it goes in - lasted a few months. The 350 at the time was about 400 to 450 hp and I was not gentle with it. I changed to an auto in that car.
I now have another car with a tpi 350 rebuilt with about 300 hp-ish. Never dumped the clutch no hard shifting just a work car. The T5 has probably 300,000 miles on it and it is now getting 5th gear whine. So it lived a natural life span mostly behind a 305 tbi/3.08 gears and the last 10k to 15k behind the 350/2.77 gears. I would NEVER drive a T5 rough.
I am trying to decide whether to rebuild the T5 (GREAT mpg with it) or go auto. I do not have money for a t56 right now and cannot justify the upgrade for my work car. Just worried about getting into it and finding gears or shafts need changing due to wear.
So, if you want to use that hp that you are paying for you need to ditch the T5 - or just drive it as is until it blows.
Now, I do have plenty of experience with the 5 speed behind the 350. i have broke two mainshafts where the mainshaft goes into the bearing of the input shaft - broke the nub off where it goes in - lasted a few months. The 350 at the time was about 400 to 450 hp and I was not gentle with it. I changed to an auto in that car.
I now have another car with a tpi 350 rebuilt with about 300 hp-ish. Never dumped the clutch no hard shifting just a work car. The T5 has probably 300,000 miles on it and it is now getting 5th gear whine. So it lived a natural life span mostly behind a 305 tbi/3.08 gears and the last 10k to 15k behind the 350/2.77 gears. I would NEVER drive a T5 rough.
I am trying to decide whether to rebuild the T5 (GREAT mpg with it) or go auto. I do not have money for a t56 right now and cannot justify the upgrade for my work car. Just worried about getting into it and finding gears or shafts need changing due to wear.
So, if you want to use that hp that you are paying for you need to ditch the T5 - or just drive it as is until it blows.