How to install a Camaro T-5

[brendonak]

Brad,

In reading over this thread again, you note that the Camaro has better gear ratios for those with 3.73's and higher. Since I'm not sure what rear end I have in my truck, and I want to install a posi, if I were to install the posi with say 3.23 gears, could I just stick with the S-10 tranny rather than swapping tailhousings?

I'm going off the logic that the lower rear end would effectively make the higher gear ratios in the S-10 a non-issue.

Sorry if I screwed up the terms "higher" and "lower" when referring to gear ratios, I'm a bit lysdexic

[Mister laugh]

Do you remember how much you had to have your drive shaft shortened? I am seriously considering doing this swap with an s-10 transmission has sitting around, but what is preventing me is that i had my drive shaft "rebuilt" and balanced last year it cost alot and i don't want to pay for it again. I do however have sever inches of play left in the slip joint in the middle.

[Old Bluey]

I just dropped the muncie 4spd and cracked the driveway! I knew it was heavy, but not THAT heavy. My T5 is on the way. My clutch needed replacing, and I thought I better do it now instead of doing it twice.

Thanks for all the info and motivation, Brad!!

[63 & 64 Bowties]

great write-up Brad, thanks. Couldn't come at a better time too. I just found a T-5 out of a S-10 for $100. After reading this, I think I should be able to swap the input shaft to a Camaro input shaft, trim the S-10 input shaft retainer, then use a Camaro clutch. You see any problems with that?

[Old Bluey]

All Done. (Well, almost)

Thanks again for all your help Brad!!

[Average Joe]

Awesome thread! Thanks for all the effort you put into detailing this swap. I am new to this site but recently purchased a 1967 Suburban with a 283 and truck 4 speed. I think it has 3.73's and weighs around 4200. So my question is do you think this tranny would hold up and what kind of mileage improvements have you guys seen. I'm diggin the idea of a 5 speed burb.

[Brad]

I think the Suburban weighs alot more than 4200 and would be surprised if it held up for more than a few years behind that much weight.
Compared to my mild 350 which seems to be getting 12mpg on average, my 250 was getting 14mpg on average in town (4th gear at most) and up to 18mpg @ 65-70mph! The 250 had about 130K as well.

[Strider]

This is an excellent thread.
Brad, your work is very good.
Thanks for sharing.
The photos you show at the beginning are excellent and they show 1 thing that you have not stated. I have found only 1 site that details the difference between the camaro T5 and the s-10 T5 that may not be apparent unless you have photos of the 2 or the real thing sitting in your garage..................

The Camaro T5 input shaft is the same length as a saginaw or muncie trans.

I did not know this and was confused as to relative ease of install of the Camaro trans vs the S-10 T5 trans.

I knew that the S-10 T5 had a longer input shaft but thought the camaro one was the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm learning.

Thanks for all the good stuff.

Anyone want to sell me a Camaro T5 trans?????

[MrBlue]

Brad,
Thanks for Serving OUR COUNTRY!
Great write up as we have been searching for an T5 trans to install. Finding a S-10 is almost impossible. Do you think the shifter in this picture would work with a Camaro trans and a bench seat?
Thanks
MrBlue

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Strider

This is an excellent thread. Brad, your work is very good. Thanks for sharing.
The photos you show at the beginning are excellent and they show 1 thing that you have not stated. I have found only 1 site that details the difference between the camaro T5 and the s-10 T5 that may not be apparent unless you have photos of the 2 or the real thing sitting in your garage..................

The Camaro T5 input shaft is the same length as a saginaw or muncie trans.

I did not know this and was confused as to relative ease of install of the Camaro trans vs the S-10 T5 trans.

I'm glad you figured that out. I thought I'd made it pretty clear but will see if I can make it more clear in the text.
Thanks for compliments.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by MrBlue

Brad,
Thanks for Serving OUR COUNTRY!
Great write up as we have been searching for an T5 trans to install. Finding a S-10 is almost impossible. Do you think the shifter in this picture would work with a Camaro trans and a bench seat?
Thanks
MrBlue

No, I'm almost positive it won't work. The angles are completely off. Take a look at the close up I've provided for my shifter and bench seat. You'd need to have the shifter come forward almost immediately above the floor and then swoop back towards the driver. Check out Tri-5 shifters as I've mentioned before, or make your own. I actually had made my own at one point but it was pretty ugly and found a nice Hurst that I just cut down instead and redrilled. Another option is to have your seat cut out in the right spot and reupholstered. Not worth it IMO ($$$) but I've seen it done very nicely.
Good luck.

[shaneo2112RUSH]

i have to say!! what a great write up!!

Ive installed my T-5 in a 68 1/2T lwb 327 motor with bucket seats, aluminum bellhousing. made my own crossmember and mount for the angle of the tranny. I also had 3.08 gears in it and boy was it a screamer going down the highway but it was a good running truck i have to show you guys some picks of it when i get a chance.

right now im doing a ground up modifications on the truck and have it all taken appart, i sold the motor (I still kick my self in the arse for selling it) and still debating if im going sell the T-5, reinstall the T-5, or go automatic!!

[Strider]

Originally Posted by shaneo2112RUSH

i have to say!! what a great write up!!

Ive installed my T-5 in a 68 1/2T lwb 327 motor with bucket seats, aluminum bellhousing. made my own crossmember and mount for the angle of the tranny. I also had 3.08 gears in it and boy was it a screamer going down the highway but it was a good running truck i have to show you guys some picks of it when i get a chance.

right now im doing a ground up modifications on the truck and have it all taken appart, i sold the motor (I still kick my self in the arse for selling it) and still debating if im going sell the T-5, reinstall the T-5, or go automatic!!

What do you mean it was a screamer going down the highway?? With 3.08 gears it should have been just barely humming in 5th gear, no???
Sounds great nonetheless!

I also found this for those who want to install the s-10 T5 with the 14 spline clutch from summitracing or advance adapters.
Check out this link: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ADD-716104/

Its a centerforce 14 spline - 1 - 10.5 inch clutch. This will work with your T5 instead of a wimpy vega or some other crappy sized clutch.

Cheers!!!!!!!

[Brad]

Originally Posted by shaneo2112RUSH

i have to say!! what a great write up!!

Ive installed my T-5 in a 68 1/2T lwb 327 motor with bucket seats, aluminum bellhousing. made my own crossmember and mount for the angle of the tranny. I also had 3.08 gears in it and boy was it a screamer going down the highway but it was a good running truck i have to show you guys some picks of it when i get a chance.

right now im doing a ground up modifications on the truck and have it all taken appart, i sold the motor (I still kick my self in the arse for selling it) and still debating if im going sell the T-5, reinstall the T-5, or go automatic!!

The 3.08 gears are not ideal for a truck/T-5 combo as the 5th gear wouldn't be very useful. I recommend 3.73 or 4.10 gears only.

[Brad]

Thanks again for all the compliments everyone! I hope this helps you if you're considering installing one in your truck or vehicle. When I wrote this I wanted a clear and concise write-up so that others wouldn't be scared of doing this like I once was. I tried to make it as simple as possible for the shade tree mechanic like me. In early 2009 I sold the '67 that the T-5 went into and sadly the new owner yanked it out along with the L6 and installed a 350/350 combo soon after he bought it. Perhaps one day I'll buy another classic vehicle with a 250 and install another T-5!
Keep on truckin'
Brad

[Strider]

I have 1 more thing to add that might be useful!

Hamilton Intakes has a website that makes S-10 T5 trans adapters and other things to mate a T5 to your engine of choice.

http://hamiltonintakes.com/

I bought a spacer and it worked beautifully to make up for the length of the S-10 T5 input shaft!

Good luck everyone!

In the end, there can be only one.

[shaneo2112RUSH]

Originally Posted by Strider

What do you mean it was a screamer going down the highway?? With 3.08 gears it should have been just barely humming in 5th gear, no???
Sounds great nonetheless!

I also found this for those who want to install the s-10 T5 with the 14 spline clutch from summitracing or advance adapters.
Check out this link: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ADD-716104/

Its a centerforce 14 spline - 1 - 10.5 inch clutch. This will work with your T5 instead of a wimpy vega or some other crappy sized clutch.

Cheers!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Brad

The 3.08 gears are not ideal for a truck/T-5 combo as the 5th gear wouldn't be very useful. I recommend 3.73 or 4.10 gears only.

The 3.08 is what i had to go with just to get it on the road!! iI didn't have the money to get new rings and pinions for the truck!! she did good from 1st to 4th gear and like you said!! 5th did not do much!

[Silvertip1]

Brad: Awesome info and thanks for taking the time to do it. You have definitely saved me a lot of wasted time screwing it up! I was going to go with a 7004R4 behind my L6, but I really don't like automatics all that much. I drive to the Seattle area and back on a frequent basis for work and I really want my '71 as my daily driver for work when I can't take my Acura due to the site conditions. Is the tailshaft conversion difficult or require any special mods to make it work with the Camaro trans? I would like to keep the Caddy bench I have in the truck, but a nice pair of heated buckets sounds nice (thanks, again).

[52MercRR]

New to the site, but enjoyed the article. I am running a T5 in my son's '72 swb. It is an S10 tranny and I just shortened the input shaft and throwout bearing sleeve with a cut-off wheel. It dropped his rpm from 2600 @55mph to 1800@55. We just upgraded the motor to a GM crate 350 with 360ft lbs of torque rating, so we are replacing the T5 with a traditional 4 speed. I'll have to post the T5 set-up for sale soon. BTW, I used an Advance Adapters 14 spline, 11" disc to match to his original clutch. The driveshaft was shortened 3 1/4" and cost with new u-joints installed was only $85. Glad to see other people not afraid to try new performance upgrades and sharing their experiences.

Regards,
Red

[oldblue1968chevy]

Ive gotta 373 rearend, 3spd on the column, and 300 hp 350. Which tranny do I run, camaro or s10?

(I have a worn out 350 but will be building a 350).

And what bellhousing do I need? Cool

[52MercRR]

Your stock bellhousing should work fine. The camaro tranny needs less modification, but shifter is way back. Clutch discs are readily available to fit the camaro spline also, even in 11". You can always swap tailhousings with an S10 tranny for shifter location. The problem is T5s are only rated at 245lbs torque, unless you use a world class which is 300lbs torque. My 16 yr old son is running one in a '72 with a GM crate 350 with no problems so far. But I don't think it would withstand much abuse, ie: heavy towing, burn outs, hard acceleration. Check out BritishV8.org and 5speeds.com, they have a lot of info on T5s.

Good Luck,
Red

[oldblue1968chevy]

ive never been in a transmission..barely a motor lol

Camaro is a 6spd right? My truck gets used as a truck, as of yet, no towing trailers..some loads in the bed though.

Would I be better off with the camaro trans or s10? Didnt find much on 5speeds.com..

[Mister laugh]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

ive never been in a transmission..barely a motor lol

Camaro is a 6spd right? My truck gets used as a truck, as of yet, no towing trailers..some loads in the bed though.

Would I be better off with the camaro trans or s10? Didnt find much on 5speeds.com..

No they are both 5spds. if you have a 300hp 350, and use your truck as a truck niether one is for you they wont hold up to abuse. If you really want a t-5 you will have to build one.

[oldblue1968chevy]

not even the camaro tranny? i got a bud at school is puttin a late 80's camaro 5 spd behind a 350...

[mongoose]

camaros came with everything from a st10 to a t56...

but no.. a t-5 won't hold up to the abuse if you're going to be hauling heavy loads.. or a trailer.. etc. imo.

although.. im not one to talk, the saginaw that is in my truck is now on it's 3rd motor.