Today I was finally able to wrap some things up with the L31 swap-had to replace the regulator, guage cluster, and install a Lokar cable and bracket to work with the vortec intake and quadrajet. Anyways the t5 has a new clutch and flywheel as well as all new hardware and I double checked everything and used a torque wrench during install. I've driven the tranny in another car so I know it's good. But even with the shifter in any gear the car will still move as if it's in neutral. Also the clutch pedal doesn't feel right. I do see the slave cylinder moving underhood when the pedal is pressed. Any ideas on what I should check? Btw I haven't tried to move the car after fixing the other issues since it's like 90 degrees right now and I was already messing with it for an hour or so today.

 

What did you put in the crank; a pilot bushing, or a bearing?

 

A bronze bushing from Napa.

 

Wait a minute here...

Are you saying the trans NEVER PULLS???

Is this a V8 motor and a 6-cyl transmission?

 

Vortec 350 and a v8 t5. I'm saying with the engine off on even ground the car moves even in gear as if it's in neutral. I haven't tried with the engine running. I was thinking about the install and what could be the issue:
With the engine out I installed the pilot bushing in the back of the crank. Installed new flywheel w/ new bolts and torqued everything in the correct pattern. Installed new clutch and used the alignment tool. With bellhousing attached to the t5 I then wiggled it until it splined in. If it didn't spline correctly you wouldn't be able to get the tranny in enough for all the bellhousing bolts to be threaded all the way right?
Also the tob was already on the fork and installed and I did make sure to face the clutch disc the correct way.
Im not new to manual transmissions and do know some can move an inch or so in gear before it catches but this feels like it's in neutral. I am using a pro 5.0 shifter that I haven't adjusted but I don't think that has anything to do with the car moving in gear.

 

You SURE it's a V8 transmission?

How many splines did it have? (approximately, even...)

 

Yes. I pulled this particular t5 out of a Camaro with a 305. And I believe it's 26 for the v8s. My spare t5 is from a v6 which is 14 if I remember correctly so I am aware of the difference. I've driven the donor car with this particular t5 and everything worked properly. The only thing not new is the slave cylinder from this current car I installed the engine and t5 in.
I'm trying to think of every possible scenerio in my head as the car is an hour from me otherwise I'd just jack it up and start taking things apart. Even if I were to try and install a v6 t5 which would be 14 splines it would not spline into the sbc clutch right? Anyways I'm 100% positive this is a v8 t5 as it does have 26 splines and I personally pulled it from a Camaro mated to a 305. I actually bought my spare t5 thinking it was from a v8 but when I got it home and took the sbc bellhousing off I noticed the 14 splines and the different clutch.

 

Guys I'm stumped. This car just does not want to get back on the road-if it isn't one thing it's another. Someone save me on this! Lol
:/

 

Did you miss the cup with the ball when you installed the shifter?

 

I'm guessing that's the small plastic piece the ball at the end of the shifter bottom sits in? No it's in there.

 

With the clutch pedal released, how much end play do you have between the slave cylinder rod and the fork? If this is not adjusted correctly (too tight), it will release the clutch maybe enough for the disc to slip. Is the fork correctly mounted on the pivot ball? Do you have the correct length pivot ball in the bell housing?

 

With the driveshaft disconnected from the rear it feels like it's in neutral even in gear. The clutch pedal feels good and I checked the Slave cylinder and it looks good too. With the engine running and letting off the clutch in gear it makes a slight grinding noise and won't move. Next Saturday I'll have time to pull the tranny and get a better look. Any ideas what the problem could be? My buddy said either the input shaft is messed up or somethings not right with the pressure plate. Again I have driven a car with this same tranny before I pulled it so I'm pretty confident the tranny should still be good.

 

TTT

 

Still sounds like you have a 6-cyl trans and a V8 clutch.

Post a pic of the clutch gear splines when you pull it out.

 

Will do-won't be able to until next Saturday though.
What would a v8(14spline tranny) do with a v8 clutch or vice versa?

 

A 6-cyl 14-spline clutch gear is smaller OD than a V8 26-spline one. It just slides in and does nothing. Or more precisely, does EXACTLY what yours is doing: the clutch spins with the engine, the gear sits still. They do not "hook up" at all. It is the simplest explanation that accounts for what's happening.

See my signature for a mental technique that is absolutely invaluable when trying to craft an explanation to attempt to account for some observation. (inductive logic)