I just bought an Iroc that has a 350tpi that is backed by a T5. I know the t5 trans are on the weak side, so what do I need to look out for?

For example are they more prone to breakage due to hard shifts, accelerating from a dig, or accelerating while already in a gear with the clutch engaged?

Anything I can due to reduce the chances of breakage? Trans braces/mounts, etc?

The car won't see the strip and I drive it relatively easy. Just rather be safe than sorry.

 

Yeah, if you drive in more or less a normal manner, they actually hold up quite well behind a 350. What you want to avoid is high rpm clutch dumps from a standing start, and powershifting (i.e. shifting without lifting up on the gas) will kill one in very short order. I've read post after post where guys were powershifting and 3rd gear usually breaks. But lots of guys who drive them without beating the snot out of them, have had them last a long time with a 350.

 

What Pat said...

Drive it as if there is an egg in the drive train that you're trying not to break.

The thing that is the hardest on them is shock loads. Speed-shifting, and clutch dumps. Me, after driving 4-speed cars for decades before I got my 83; I didn't even realize that it was POSSIBLE to lift the gas pedal between gears, let alone NECESSARY. I tore up about a half-dozen T-5s by about 1988, BEFORE I put a 400 in it, which just made it about 10 times worse. When I finally got some driver's ed in about the early - mid 90s sometime and learned about lifting the gas between gears, they started lasting a whole lot longer. Of course that also meant that my 0 - 5th gear time increased by at least 2 seconds, about like your grandma would drive, which I hate ANYTHING that slow; but I sure did like not having to spend so much time working on those damn things any more. But then I put in a T-56 and I was able to go back to driving normally again.

 

Ok thanks for the info. I couldnt imagine swapping in half a dozen transmissions. I've been out having tons of fun with this L98 5 speed. It performs alot better than my 305 auto.

 

Drive it like a normal car and you will be fine. A lot of guys here have put many miles on T5 that lived behind 350s.

Make sure you don't miss your shift into 3rd and don't put super sticky tires on it then dump the clutch.


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