I know, why bother. I have a 69 camaro 350/350. I hate automatics. Muncie/t-10 are in the $1000's of dollars now. Tremec, a fex thousand, 6sp, a few thousand. So, 3rd gen T-5 or sagina 4sp. I have a 390 gear now, my motor is about 270 horse (gm crate with carb, intake hedders,etc), I have no plans on motor upgrades till I'm done with brakes and suspension.
I want a manual trans. A t-5 is good 250 maybe 300 horse and they're $250-500. What do I have to do to make it work. Add hydralics, add pedals, can I buy kits for pedals and hydralics, where should I look?
Let's see if I can offer some suggestions since I have a pretty good bit of experience with manual trans 3rd gens. For hydraulics, you should be able to use a 3rd gen F-body master/slave and all the related pieces from a donor car. Use the T-56 clutch master cylinder mounting bracket template (try Street and Performance's tech article section for a copy of the template or buy a pre-made bracket from BMR). It should have the exact same angle as the T-56 hydraulics and use the same adapter methods to connect it to the first gen clutch pedal assembly. The rest of it should be cake, especially if you can buy the whole thing as an assembly from a donor car. I do suggest that you buy a NEW or newly reman T-5. They are indeed weak and typically a used from from an F-body is trash (or at least they were in my experience before I gave in and bought a T-56 for my car). Hope this helps get you started - feel free to ask questions or PM me.
BWT, you can find a good muncie or super t10 for under a grand quite easily.
a saginaw's probably stronger then a t5, fwiw.
don't forget 3rd gen t5's carry a 17 degree twist.
if you're going to do fab work, shorten the d'shaft and change to hydraulics, you might as well get a t56 from a 4th gen and use that instead; same hassles for the most part, not much more money, and you wont break it the st time you powershift 3rd like you will a t5.
i've even broken 5th gear in one; the gm t5's are just crap; their best was rated at only 265lb/ft, if i recall correctly.
if you insist on doing it, find one from a tpi car; it'll be world-class and have the best chance of living and also closer ratios.
your 390 rr gear will help somewhat in the durability department with any choice, though.
goodluck.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
3rd gen T5 in first gen.
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