i want to install a t5 manual in my 86 iroc. i have a TH700-r4 in her now but im tired of it. im wonderig how hard a job to switch the two over because i have never done a tranny swap before. any feed back is greatly apprecciated.

 

The "is it hard" questions are always difficult to answer, because we have no way of knowing what you consider "hard" or not. If you have all the parts from a parts car readily accessable, then it's fairly straightforward: move all the parts from one car to another. But many people get stuck hunting down small missing parts. The worst part of the swap would be (in my opinion) installing the clutch pedal and the shifter. They're both "easy" as far as how to do it, but when you have to cut holes, people start calling it hard. If you can pull a tranny, you can put one in, and that's most of the way done right there. Don't forget the computer, also. It's gonna expect a torque converter rather than a clutch. The easiest way is to get a computer from a car of the same year and engine but with a manual transmission and swap it out. There's several other ways to correct that aspect, but it's late and I'm tired. Do a search, and also check out the <a href="https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/manualswap.shtml">tech article</a> on this site.

BTW, f-body T5s aren't known for their ability to handle a lot of horsepower.

 

so would instaling a t-56 be better all around but more difficult to install than a t-5? i would probly need a special crossmember right?

 

yes u will need a diffrent cross member for t56 u can buy them
i didt think the swap was to hard just do a lot of study before u do it. the t56 would be the better choice but alot $$$$
got my t5 fore $100, $60 fore the rest of the stuff and $300 fore
the clutch kit. i think 6speed clutchs are higher a good one
later rob