47-59 Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

daveshilling · 08-26-2020, 06:54 PM

After everything I've read so far, it looks like locating a T-5 transmission for the swap is the most difficult part! Found one for sale in another state for $150, and almost considered driving there to get it.. but after gas and 20 hours of driving, it wouldnt make sense.

For those of you with the T-5, how are you liking the swap overall? Is it worth it to swap in the T-5 with the stock rear or should I wait until I can replace both?

Its a longbed so I will have to modify the driveshaft twice no matter what.

MiraclePieCo · 08-26-2020, 08:24 PM

I can't speak to putting a T-5 in a TF but about 10 years ago I put one in a '34 Ford behind an SBC. I liked it a lot. Good gear spacing, low 1st gear. Mine just happened to be the World Class version, it came out of an S-10 and I found it locally on Craigslist for $120. I see that they're now going for $500-$1000. It was only a matter of time until their popularity with the hotrod community rendered them scarce.

I'd go get the out-of-state one. The adventure of chasing parts is part of the fun of a build. It will only take a day (instead of waiting interminably) and you'll be well on your way to getting it on the road. I don't know about your rear end decision.

mr48chev · 08-26-2020, 08:29 PM

Never seems to be a shortage of T 5 transmissions around here and a guy about 25 miles from me who always has a batch for sale that he has cleaned up and checked the internals on. https://yakima.craigslist.org/pts/d/...163418023.html

MiraclePieCo · 08-26-2020, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Never seems to be a shortage of T 5 transmissions around here and a guy about 25 miles from me who always has a batch for sale that he has cleaned up and checked the internals on. https://yakima.craigslist.org/pts/d/...163418023.html

That's a bargain. I suspect the pickup version with the mid-shifter might work better in a TF than the car version with the rear shifter. You'd have to measure first to see where it would place your shifter in relation to the seat.

daveshilling · 08-26-2020, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Never seems to be a shortage of T 5 transmissions around here and a guy about 25 miles from me who always has a batch for sale that he has cleaned up and checked the internals on. https://yakima.craigslist.org/pts/d/...163418023.html

Oh man, thats awesome! I wish there was someone around here rebuilding truck versions (i have a bench seat) and selling them for $400... I'd be on my way instead of typing this.

Jemezcrusher · 08-26-2020, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveshilling

Oh man, thats awesome! I wish there was someone around here rebuilding truck versions (i have a bench seat) and selling them for $400... I'd be on my way instead of typing this.

Got mine at a upull it yard for 125. 150 dollars in bearings and such and watched Paul Cangialosi’s videos on YouTube so I could do the work myself. Had to swap out the input shaft and I used a 3.73 posi out of an Explorer fo the rear. Later I found two T5’s (one truck, one mustang) for 150 bucks from a guy on craigslist. Wanted a spare for the 50 so will do bearings on the truck one

Really happy so far.

svr · 08-26-2020, 10:48 PM

Spend a little time studying which numbers you want, they made a lot of different gear ratios. I have an S-10 one out of an ‘86 with a V6, has a .73 od and is fairly wide ratio in my truck. Have another on the shelf i picked up that had no tag so not sure what it is but the od is only a .86. Suspect it came from a 4 banger. A good list is www.britishv8.org.

mr48chev · 08-27-2020, 12:31 AM

I see him at a couple of swap meets every year with a pretty good batch of interesting transmissions.

I have a 88 S-10 trans for my flathead V8 that I paid 75.00 for from a Kid who bought it for Camaro and then figured out it wouldn't fit. I've got a Dodge AX-15 for my 48 out of a 96 Dodge Dakota. I sold the bellhousing for almost enough to pay for the Novak adapter.

**73kay** · 08-27-2020, 12:34 AM

Ya look up lugnutz 65 or something like that. He has a great website on all the t5 lingo. If you can score a 93 s10 tranny that’s the strongest WC bolt in for your Chevy. I have one behind my 350. You still need to trim the input shaft nose and maybe the collar but that’s not too bad. Lots of good info on that site though.

**73kay** · 08-27-2020, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73kay

Ya look up lugnutz 65 or something like that. He has a great website on all the t5 lingo. If you can score a 93 s10 tranny that’s the strongest WC bolt in for your Chevy. I have one behind my 350. You still need to trim the input shaft nose and maybe the collar but that’s not too bad. Lots of good info on that site though.

https://lugnutz65chevystepside.weebly.com/

mr48chev · 08-27-2020, 12:49 AM

His T-5 Jeep input shaft swap info is maybe his best offering. Lets you use a common 10 spline clutch disk of what ever diameter you need. https://lugnutz65chevystepside.weebl...ter-plate.html

daveshilling · 08-27-2020, 11:30 AM

I'll definitely do the jeep spline shaft, for sure. LugNutz is selling a T-5 on ebay too, but its upwards of $500 already...

Sounds like yall have been pretty happy with the swap, hopefully I can stumble upon a used transmission for less! Anyone in Norcal know a guy who knows a guy??

mr48chev · 08-27-2020, 08:25 PM

All I can say is off the beaten pull your own parts wrecking yards that don't have customers that take every T 5 that shows up on the lot. Sometimes reading between the lines on FB market place adds or Craigslist adds helps too.

That and know exactly what you are hunting for and How to ID it. This gives you the codes and how to read them. It's how I found out what my T-5 came out of originally. Mine is just going behind a mile Ford Flathead in a light car so being NWC isn't an issue.

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/Bo...T5-ID-Tags.htm

Marty68 · 08-28-2020, 01:12 PM

i have 3000 miles on mine. I have a 283. with the truck bellhousing. (larger hole) the trans came out of a 93 4 cyl. so world class but ford bellhousing pattern. I bought an adapter plate from Novac. to adapt to bolt pattern accommodate for longer shaft and accommodate for larger truck hole.
pros.. mpg is good
torque tube gone
trans is world class.

cons 1st is a bit too low
5th is I bit too low.
80 mph is 3k 60 is 2100.
speedo is electronic
I have wondered if I could put different gear set in to get higher 1st and 5th.
Marty

08-26-2020, 06:54 PM	#1
daveshilling Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: roseville Posts: 823	Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion After everything I've read so far, it looks like locating a T-5 transmission for the swap is the most difficult part! Found one for sale in another state for $150, and almost considered driving there to get it.. but after gas and 20 hours of driving, it wouldnt make sense. For those of you with the T-5, how are you liking the swap overall? Is it worth it to swap in the T-5 with the stock rear or should I wait until I can replace both? Its a longbed so I will have to modify the driveshaft twice no matter what. __________________ My Current Trucks: 1958 Apache BBW 4.8LS/4l60 "Lucky" Built By Me 1958 GMC BBW LS1/4l60 "The Kraken" Built By Delmo

08-26-2020, 08:24 PM	#2
MiraclePieCo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: USA Posts: 2,249	Re: Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion I can't speak to putting a T-5 in a TF but about 10 years ago I put one in a '34 Ford behind an SBC. I liked it a lot. Good gear spacing, low 1st gear. Mine just happened to be the World Class version, it came out of an S-10 and I found it locally on Craigslist for $120. I see that they're now going for $500-$1000. It was only a matter of time until their popularity with the hotrod community rendered them scarce. I'd go get the out-of-state one. The adventure of chasing parts is part of the fun of a build. It will only take a day (instead of waiting interminably) and you'll be well on your way to getting it on the road. I don't know about your rear end decision. Attached Images __________________ 1951 Chevy Panel Truck Last edited by MiraclePieCo; 08-26-2020 at 08:32 PM.

08-26-2020, 08:29 PM	#3
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,322	Re: Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion Never seems to be a shortage of T 5 transmissions around here and a guy about 25 miles from me who always has a batch for sale that he has cleaned up and checked the internals on. https://yakima.craigslist.org/pts/d/...163418023.html __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

08-26-2020, 10:48 PM	#7
svr Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Othello washington Posts: 400	Re: Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion Spend a little time studying which numbers you want, they made a lot of different gear ratios. I have an S-10 one out of an ‘86 with a V6, has a .73 od and is fairly wide ratio in my truck. Have another on the shelf i picked up that had no tag so not sure what it is but the od is only a .86. Suspect it came from a 4 banger. A good list is www.britishv8.org. __________________ 57 short box, 235, T5, C4 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=739132

08-27-2020, 12:31 AM	#8
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,322	Re: Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion I see him at a couple of swap meets every year with a pretty good batch of interesting transmissions. I have a 88 S-10 trans for my flathead V8 that I paid 75.00 for from a Kid who bought it for Camaro and then figured out it wouldn't fit. I've got a Dodge AX-15 for my 48 out of a 96 Dodge Dakota. I sold the bellhousing for almost enough to pay for the Novak adapter. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

08-27-2020, 12:34 AM	#9
73kay Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Indy, IN Posts: 633	Re: Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion Ya look up lugnutz 65 or something like that. He has a great website on all the t5 lingo. If you can score a 93 s10 tranny that’s the strongest WC bolt in for your Chevy. I have one behind my 350. You still need to trim the input shaft nose and maybe the collar but that’s not too bad. Lots of good info on that site though. __________________ Andrew 1953 3100 292 T5 1985 K5 Blazer 350 700R4 208

08-27-2020, 12:49 AM	#11
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,322	Re: Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion His T-5 Jeep input shaft swap info is maybe his best offering. Lets you use a common 10 spline clutch disk of what ever diameter you need. https://lugnutz65chevystepside.weebl...ter-plate.html __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

08-27-2020, 11:30 AM	#12
daveshilling Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: roseville Posts: 823	Re: Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion I'll definitely do the jeep spline shaft, for sure. LugNutz is selling a T-5 on ebay too, but its upwards of $500 already... Sounds like yall have been pretty happy with the swap, hopefully I can stumble upon a used transmission for less! Anyone in Norcal know a guy who knows a guy?? __________________ My Current Trucks: 1958 Apache BBW 4.8LS/4l60 "Lucky" Built By Me 1958 GMC BBW LS1/4l60 "The Kraken" Built By Delmo

08-27-2020, 08:25 PM	#13
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,322	Re: Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion All I can say is off the beaten pull your own parts wrecking yards that don't have customers that take every T 5 that shows up on the lot. Sometimes reading between the lines on FB market place adds or Craigslist adds helps too. That and know exactly what you are hunting for and How to ID it. This gives you the codes and how to read them. It's how I found out what my T-5 came out of originally. Mine is just going behind a mile Ford Flathead in a light car so being NWC isn't an issue. http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/Bo...T5-ID-Tags.htm __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

08-28-2020, 01:12 PM	#14
Marty68 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: west coast, Wi Posts: 534	Re: Hardest part of a 235 with a T-5 conversion i have 3000 miles on mine. I have a 283. with the truck bellhousing. (larger hole) the trans came out of a 93 4 cyl. so world class but ford bellhousing pattern. I bought an adapter plate from Novac. to adapt to bolt pattern accommodate for longer shaft and accommodate for larger truck hole. pros.. mpg is good torque tube gone trans is world class. cons 1st is a bit too low 5th is I bit too low. 80 mph is 3k 60 is 2100. speedo is electronic I have wondered if I could put different gear set in to get higher 1st and 5th. Marty



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