I have an 87 GTA 350 TPI rear mount turbo, auto with 3.45 gears.
When the auto trans goes, I would like to swap to a manual.
There is a local wreckers that has a 91 Firebird wc T5 with all I need to swap for around $350, pull myself.
Reading about these swaps Im getting rather confused and more convinced that the t56 would be a better choice, although the t5 is my only option at the moment.
From my understanding installing the 3rd gen pedals it should be a direct fit but the t56 pedals need some adjusting.
Will the 3rd gen pedals work with a t56 setup and should I bother getting the pedals in that case?

 

Few thoughts:
Lots of people say to stay in boost, stick with an automatic.

I personally would skip any of the T5 models due to ratios alone and go straight to a 2.66 first T56. There are strength reasons to skip the T5 too, but more importantly, an incorrectly geared car is miserable. We all know how nasty to drive a reman. low-stall torque converter and 2.73 rear are compared to a factory high stall and 3.73 gears.

The 4th gen pedals have the master cylinder stud on the clutch pedal in the right place for the T56. Go with them.

 

I ran the 3rd gen pedals with a T56 without any issues.

 

So 3rd gen pedals is a go, what else should I pull?
Should I get the hydraulic clutch as well, or get that later from the t56 donor car?

 

You must used the slave cylinder assembly from an LT1 T56 car. The stock 3rd gen one will not work. The 4th gen one is pre bled. I would buy a new one from the dealer if it was me. back in 2004 when I did my swap I think I paid $125 for it new.

 

You will need the T56 transmission with bellhousing, LT1 flywheel, LT1 clutch, LT1 slave cylinder, manual shifter console plate, aftermarket device to recalibrate your speedo. Look at Dakota Digital SGi5 box. You will also need a to buy a trans crossmember for the swap. The stock one nor the 4th gen one will work. You must buy one from either Spohn or any other aftermarket company who makes retrofit cross members for the T56 to fit in a 3rd gen. the stock driveshaft and torque arm will work but I suggest stepping up to a cross member mounted torque arm and not a trans mounted one like the stock one.

 

Thank you for the advice, much appreciated.