5 spd manual in 71' lwb - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Estanley · 06-25-2003, 12:56 PM

My bro-inlaw wants to know about putting a 5 spd man. from a late 80's model Camero in his 71'. He has the 3 spd man. now.

*67Fleetsidedream* · 06-25-2003, 01:22 PM

What is your brother inlaw plan on using his truck for? Hotrodding, pulling things, carrying heavy loads, mostly cruising? The GM 5 speed trannys are very weak. GM designed them only handle the torque that the stock TPI 305 or the V-6 produced. Is the car a V-8 or a V-6. V-8 tranny and the V-6 tranny have different input shaft counts. My suggestion is for him to save his money and get a Richmond Rod six speed or a Tremec T56 six speed. Both of these trannies will handle 400-450ftlbs of torque.
I have the T56 and am very happy with it.

mdill · 06-25-2003, 01:22 PM

There were two T-5's offered, don't know the
year cut offs, but the later world-class T-5
was stronger than the earlier T-5 and is the
only T-5 that might live (for a while) behind
a mild V-8. I am not a camaro expert by any means so
there may have been other 5 speeds could have been
in a camaro that might be a better choice.

Project1970 · 06-25-2003, 01:43 PM

Nah, there's no such thing as a strong Camaro 5-speed. There's a reason GM never even put them behind the 220hp-ish L98 350.

Estanley · 06-25-2003, 02:32 PM

His truck is basically just a driver. He ocasoinally pulls a small trailer with a riding loawn mower on it or a couple of motorcycles. Right now he has a stock 307(POS). He will never really hot rod this truck, its just mainly a driver for trash and yard work and stuff. The only reason we were thinking a Camero 5spd. was we were thinking we could find on cheap. What other GM 5 spds would work?

Longhorn Man · 06-25-2003, 03:37 PM

The 5 speed out of a later model truck would be the best bet. Get ahold of Huck for details.
The T5 probably would loive hooked up to a 307 and not being pushed hard...but it is a weak tranny. Same one the Mustangs had (the 'ole 5.slow) and many of them went bad with the 302 being stock.

gr8scott51 · 06-25-2003, 04:50 PM

The T5 in my '68 (behind a 300 horse 350) is holding up fine, but it's just a cruiser. If you plan on using the torque (racing, towing, etc.), then it's not the tranny for you. The Camaro version won't work welll in a truck for a couple reasons: 1) the shifter is mounted on an angle 2) the shifter is located at the end of the tail shaft (if you have a bench seat, you'll have to cut a hole in it).

I used a NWC (Non-World Class) T5 from an '85 S10. That located the shifter in just about the normal floor shift position and gave me a 0.72 overdrive. A spacer plate is required (or cutting the input shaft). A clutch assembly from an '89 V6 Chevy Astro van works. Remember to get the drive shaft from the S10, too, you'll need it to match up to the output shaft.

I am very happy being able to cruise the hiways with everyone else. The inliners group has a lot of useful information on how to choose a T5 and install it behind an inline 6.

good luck, Scott

Longhorn Man · 06-25-2003, 04:54 PM

Interesting...the S-10 one is one of the weakest ones out there.
The camaro one is mounted on the bellhousing a little crooked too.

gr8scott51 · 06-25-2003, 05:03 PM

Yeah longhorn, it was a trade-off. But I really wanted a true overdrive. The stronger T5's usually have a 0.83 5th gear, so I used the NWC. Of course it was rebuilt prior to installation with a few improvements, but I am not hard on my ride.

Longhorn Man · 06-25-2003, 05:11 PM

Cool.
there is a cat running around town with an S-10 T-5 (WC...NWC...I don't know) bolted to a 454. I couldn't believe it esp considering it has a 6-71 on top.
I started asking all kinds of questions about that when he pointed to his Ford Daulie on the other end of the parking lot wioth a trailer hooked to it. "That is as far as I ever drive the thing...it darn well better hold up to it."
Sad...real sad IMO.

crazy longhorn · 06-25-2003, 06:56 PM

the tremec 3550 or TKO would be a nice trans, & a little freindlier on the wallet than the 6 spds. I have the Richmond 6 spd.....not cheap, but the gear spacing is great(about like a M22, but with 1 lower & 1 higher gear). They have that nice gear whine the old rock crushers had also

The old longhorn will run 100 mph in 4th gear, & goes there quick! She will also cruise @ 80mph in 6th @ 3000 on the 4.10 gears. I havent decided, a little more cam or slightly taller gears.......the bigger cam would probably be more fun tho... crazyL 40 something , but going on 17

06-25-2003, 12:56 PM	#1
Estanley Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Eatonton, GA, USA Posts: 191	5 spd manual in 71' lwb My bro-inlaw wants to know about putting a 5 spd man. from a late 80's model Camero in his 71'. He has the 3 spd man. now.

06-25-2003, 01:22 PM	#3
mdill Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Richfield MN Posts: 44	There were two T-5's offered, don't know the year cut offs, but the later world-class T-5 was stronger than the earlier T-5 and is the only T-5 that might live (for a while) behind a mild V-8. I am not a camaro expert by any means so there may have been other 5 speeds could have been in a camaro that might be a better choice. __________________ 72 3/4 ton 4X4 Suburban (and way to many FSJ's (J series jeeps)

06-25-2003, 01:43 PM	#4
Project1970 14.1 @ 96MPH Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 2,811	Nah, there's no such thing as a strong Camaro 5-speed. There's a reason GM never even put them behind the 220hp-ish L98 350. __________________ Project1970 - LS1 Swap Complete!

06-25-2003, 04:50 PM	#7
gr8scott51 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bremerton, WA Posts: 1,839	T5 is okay The T5 in my '68 (behind a 300 horse 350) is holding up fine, but it's just a cruiser. If you plan on using the torque (racing, towing, etc.), then it's not the tranny for you. The Camaro version won't work welll in a truck for a couple reasons: 1) the shifter is mounted on an angle 2) the shifter is located at the end of the tail shaft (if you have a bench seat, you'll have to cut a hole in it). I used a NWC (Non-World Class) T5 from an '85 S10. That located the shifter in just about the normal floor shift position and gave me a 0.72 overdrive. A spacer plate is required (or cutting the input shaft). A clutch assembly from an '89 V6 Chevy Astro van works. Remember to get the drive shaft from the S10, too, you'll need it to match up to the output shaft. I am very happy being able to cruise the hiways with everyone else. The inliners group has a lot of useful information on how to choose a T5 and install it behind an inline 6. good luck, Scott __________________ Silence is golden, duct tape is silver. - Scott

06-25-2003, 05:03 PM	#9
gr8scott51 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bremerton, WA Posts: 1,839	yeah, but............ Yeah longhorn, it was a trade-off. But I really wanted a true overdrive. The stronger T5's usually have a 0.83 5th gear, so I used the NWC. Of course it was rebuilt prior to installation with a few improvements, but I am not hard on my ride. __________________ Silence is golden, duct tape is silver. - Scott

06-25-2003, 01:22 PM	#2
67Fleetsidedream Wiseass secured himself a BAN Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: MOON!!! Posts: 2,282	What is your brother inlaw plan on using his truck for? Hotrodding, pulling things, carrying heavy loads, mostly cruising? The GM 5 speed trannys are very weak. GM designed them only handle the torque that the stock TPI 305 or the V-6 produced. Is the car a V-8 or a V-6. V-8 tranny and the V-6 tranny have different input shaft counts. My suggestion is for him to save his money and get a Richmond Rod six speed or a Tremec T56 six speed. Both of these trannies will handle 400-450ftlbs of torque. I have the T56 and am very happy with it.

06-25-2003, 02:32 PM	#5
Estanley Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Eatonton, GA, USA Posts: 191	His truck is basically just a driver. He ocasoinally pulls a small trailer with a riding loawn mower on it or a couple of motorcycles. Right now he has a stock 307(POS). He will never really hot rod this truck, its just mainly a driver for trash and yard work and stuff. The only reason we were thinking a Camero 5spd. was we were thinking we could find on cheap. What other GM 5 spds would work?

06-25-2003, 03:37 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	The 5 speed out of a later model truck would be the best bet. Get ahold of Huck for details. The T5 probably would loive hooked up to a 307 and not being pushed hard...but it is a weak tranny. Same one the Mustangs had (the 'ole 5.slow) and many of them went bad with the 302 being stock.

06-25-2003, 04:54 PM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Interesting...the S-10 one is one of the weakest ones out there. The camaro one is mounted on the bellhousing a little crooked too.

06-25-2003, 05:11 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Cool. there is a cat running around town with an S-10 T-5 (WC...NWC...I don't know) bolted to a 454. I couldn't believe it esp considering it has a 6-71 on top. I started asking all kinds of questions about that when he pointed to his Ford Daulie on the other end of the parking lot wioth a trailer hooked to it. "That is as far as I ever drive the thing...it darn well better hold up to it." Sad...real sad IMO.

06-25-2003, 06:56 PM	#11
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,403	the tremec 3550 or TKO would be a nice trans, & a little freindlier on the wallet than the 6 spds. I have the Richmond 6 spd.....not cheap, but the gear spacing is great(about like a M22, but with 1 lower & 1 higher gear). They have that nice gear whine the old rock crushers had also The old longhorn will run 100 mph in 4th gear, & goes there quick! She will also cruise @ 80mph in 6th @ 3000 on the 4.10 gears. I havent decided, a little more cam or slightly taller gears.......the bigger cam would probably be more fun tho... crazyL 40 something , but going on 17 __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....



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