Hey guy I need some help making a choice, and I alway wanted to learn about cars but never did get the chance to so I'm not exactly a gear head and I'm new to 3rdgen so sorry if I have no clue what I'm talking about,

I recently picked up a 87 iroc z camaro thats seen better days and the first task I have to do is get the transmission taken care of.

It has a lot of trouble staying in reverse gear and pops out and grinds a lot yet all the forward gears run fine. Did a bit of research and found out theres a good chance its the synchros. Did further research and discovered the whole reason they didn't put the 350 paired with the t5 and why it was only available with the 700r4. So I popped the hood and I see a 350 siting under there that the last owner swapped in. "gee I wonder why the tranny went" *sarcasm*

So here's where I stand.

If I fix the t5 will the 350 just bust the trans again? And if so what would be a good trans to throw in that can handle the 350 without giving too much trouble for me to install?

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

Welcome to TGO, Urban.

If you don't abuse the T-5, it'll last a long time behind a 350--at least mine has. If you're worried and/or wish to put the money toward something stronger, swap in an aftermarket piece. A quick search will show you what's available.

JamesC

 

Thanks man! I wasn't too sure about fixing or rebuilding it but now I'm certain.
Going to get it done prolly this week.

 

Probably nothing wrong with "the synchros".

First off, reverse DOESN'T EVEN HAVE one. It's completely unsynchronized to begin with. Like all manual transmissions designed before about 1990, you have to put it into a forward gear that IS synchronized FIRST before putting it into reverse, or it will grind. A "rebuild" won't change that.

If that's all that's wrong with it, it's not broke. Just drive it. But avoid clutch dumps, speed-shifting, and rear tires that develop traction. A good way to think of it is, pretend there's an egg between the crankshaft and the rear end; and drive it so that you don't break the egg.

 

What reason did you discover the truth being they could not get an emission compliant certificate and did not want to go through the trouble because they were already working on the 4th gen or the fake reason about strength?

A lot of guys here are running the T5 behind a 350 for a long time others are not. I think there is a lot of variation in how people drive. If you are not going to be beating on it get it rebuilt, add a cluster plate for 50 bucks and enjoy.

If you are going to the track go for something stronger.


here is a good thread

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...iles-your.html

 

All of the above is why I joined here, I don't know enough about cars and I figured if any one would know it would be the people at TGO. Thanks for all the feed back and the link guys!

 

I seriously got tried of searching around and not knowing whats true -.-

 

Does this hold true even if it starts to go stays backwards stays for a bit then suddenly pops out and grinds?

 

SOMEONE PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG.

I believe if you are poping out of reverse it means you have a bent shift fork.

If it just a reverse shift fork you are in luck all you have to do is take the tail housing off and replace it.

While you are in there take the cluster off and add this

Here is the cheapest one I could find

http://www.allstategear.com/BORG%20W...RT%20PLATE.htm

 

Yeah, except that means someone didn't know how to put it in reverse properly and chipped the teeth. Easy enough to fix with a basic rebuild and usually a new reverse idler gear.

 

Sounds about right the last owner wasn't too bright and told me a lot of bs and abused the car big time
"headlights don't work" I got the headlights to work
"trunk doesn't open" I got the trunk to open
"power locks don't work" got those also
The list goes on and on but I'm guessing he didn't know how to put it in reverse either

 

That's for the link ! I'll go order it and drop the tranny Thursday morning

 

shift forks tend to snap the tongs due to the aluminum and iron castings. Aluminum ones occasionally wallow the bore which fits over the shift rail. I've never serviced one that was actually bent.