lasher_350

I have a chance to buy a whole 1983 T/A for 100 bucks. It has the t-5 in it as far as I know. Would it be worth it to swap my 700r4 for the t-5 (I truly miss shifting myself as that is what I was trained to use)...I've read all over this board that the t-5's are weak but rebuildable, and I don't plan on racing with this. I'm an old guy daddy type, just like the action of shifting. I don't see my car making any more than 300hp tops. I'm just wondering if it would be worth my time doing it. (I think the rear end of this 83 is a 3:73, but not positive at this moment, which would also be swapped over from my 2:73's) Any comments or opinions would be great!!!

MdFormula350

go for it!! the 83 t5 cars had the 3.73 gear i think, but non posi..
the t-5 can handle a 350 stock or a bit mild, just not beating on it hard all the time.. even if you dont use it you could part the car out and make your money back plus some..

alloy

iTrader: (16)

Our 87 IROC-Z w/305/TPI 5spd car had 144k on it before the T5 let go. And the only thing that went in it was a bearing. Unfortunately it was a NWC trans and I lost the front cluster bearing which wiped the cluster gear. Total for the rebuild with new cluster was $330. Not bad for 144k miles. And I should mention that we autocrossed this car for 5 years 2 weekends a month, and took numerous road racing schools in it. We didn't beat on it, but used it hard. And after a rebuild it shifts better than when it had 4 miles on the clock.

Something that you might consider is changing the shifter. I just put a hurst billet plus shifter on my car and what a difference!! It's truly amazing how much better it is. Got the shifter from Jeg's for $165. This was one of the best mods I've done to my car.

If the rear in the other car is 3.73's, then you can swap in a zexel posi from a 4th gen. It will bolt into that housing with one mod (that's if it really has 3.73 gears) The zexel will work with 3.23, 3.42, and 3.73 gears without any mods, but you will have to find a set of 28 spline axles out of a 90 or newer car to use the zexel posi. The posi is $100 from SLP. I got a complete used rear with 28 spline axles and 3.42 gears for $100. My zexel from SLP will be here on Monday, so can't wait to get it put together. You definately don't want to use the 2.73's with the 5 spd. I have 3.08's with mine and you have to slip the clutch to get it moving from a stop light. The 2.73's would be much worse.

Dan

ZRated85355

Dont worry about the strength of the T5 I have been racing my car and driving it every weekend for 1000 miles and it had 127000 on it before the swap. It shifts smooth and never grinds so its not broken.

rjmcgee

I'm doing the same thing, even an 83 FB doner. THe clutch will be mechanical instead of hydraulic. Really doesn't matter to me much but thought I would let you know. Mine is out of a V-6 car so we will see how long it holds up.

ZRated85355

The V6 tranny is allmost the same as the V8 one. The only differences i have found are the input shaft spline and the gear ratio in 1st gear. 1st gear is soo low you could probobly pull a house down. I dont use 1st i just start in 2nd.

lasher_350

Is Hurst the only manufacturer to make a short throw shifter for the T5's? Not that I don't love their product (had a 4 speed speed shifter in my 80 Elkie and it was more than awesome), I just would like a little comparison shopping. All I saw on eBay were Hurst and ford short throws... And man, all the positive comments about the swap has me JAZZED!!! I wish I could get the donor car today and do it next week! But alas, I must bide my time, dang it......

Could I just slide in a Powertrax posi unit in the 3:73 rear if it is non posi? That should be a straightforward procedure, shouldn't it? I like the looks of the Powertrax posi unit...

Is a mechanical clutch worse than hydraulic? Is it harder to swap over? There again, it doesn't make a **** to me, just so long as I can shift her myself...and I grew up on mechanical...soooo....

alloy

iTrader: (16)

B&M also makes a short throw shifter for the T5. But I've had hurst shifters for 30 years now and have yet to find fault with, or wear one out. (I'm talking real "hurst" shifter, not the "Indy" shifter).

The price is the same for either hurst or b&m, $165 from Jeg's, so I went with the hurst and am not sorry I did it. The only thing I'm sorry about is all those years I put up with the stock shifter. Should have done this 10 years and 100k miles ago.

I also looked on Ebay for a long time for a shifter and said the heck with it and bought new. Again, not sorry I did. As far as mods go, everytime you shift you use this mod. It's not like a posi that's hidden and you only notice it once and awhile. I drove about 70 miles in city driving today and I'm still excited on how nice the hurst is. I only wish you could drive my car around the block. That's all it would take to convince you.

Anyway, I don't know anything about the powertrax. I'm going with the zexel.

383backinblack

I have detonated several of these. the only thing going for them is they are cheap

I dont know where you people are getting these t5's, but any trans shop or tranny guy will tell you how weak they are. the shafts and gears are one piece castings, making them extremely weak, and the case is very prone to flexing. repeat, the t5 is NOT a good transmission.....in most cases a car with a stock 305 will experience trans problems with a t5 after 100,000 miles if its been well maintained and not beat at all. If you are going to make any kind of power you need to either go the worldclass t5 route(still not that strong) or get a tremec or a t56, or any aftermarket 5 speed.

ive had 2 t5 cars, including the one i have now (which now has a tremec tko) both cars hadt trannies with toasted synchros, and f*cked up gears. the syncrhos in a t5 are awful as well.

if you already have a 700r4 id stick with it, its much more durable than a t5 is. Also, the swap from an auto to manual is a pain in the ***, and youd be getting an inferioir transmission in the end

i dont want to be a jerk or anything, im just telling you from experience, t5's are grenades. there are several other threads here, and on cz28.com where the problems with t5's are discussed

400Z28Racer

iTrader: (4)

I'VE REPALCED MY T-5 4 TIMES IN 8 MONTHS BEHIND 305 WITH BURND VALVE AND HEADER LEAK :lala:

lasher_350

Wow...I can't believe General Motors would even mass produce something like that to put in their cars...Ford, either, for that matter...I wonder why they skimped so much on the 5 speeds when they had older more solid trannys to work from....if a 700R4 is more durable than a T-5, then that's pretty bad, as the 700R4 is the weakest automatic transmission in history!

Maybe Fred Flinstone was onto something when he just foot-pedaled his car!!

I'm still trying to decide if I want to swap, though...I've got a hard head!! ha ha

400Z28Racer

iTrader: (4)

400Z28Racer

iTrader: (4)

now I am replacing my tranny for 5th time in 8 months
today it broke down

lasher_350

I had a friend who kept going through saginaw 4 speeds...and it was just a 229 cid v6....turns out his rear end was bad causing it. Swapped out the ring gears and hasn't had a problem since.

FyreLance

I would think you'd get a DIFFERENT TRANNY by now.

400Z28Racer

iTrader: (4)

dude i gonna replace it!!!!
i gonna use tranny out off my dad's tractor :lala:

by the way happy thanksgiving for everybody

Eightyninef

my T5 works perfectly fine after many autoxes and road course events.

the drag strip may do them in.

lasher_350

Has anybody heard any bad things about the 1983 model T-5's? I read on website for making hotrods to stay away from 1983 model year t-5's for some reason...any logic there?