Would an S-10 5-speed be easier to use?
That would be my choice all day long. You will need to pay attention to the rear axle gear ratio, and choose a T-5 with the best 5th gear overdrive ratio for the axle ratio you are going with. They range from .72 to .86 overdrive.
If I were to put a T-5 behind a 216, I would chose a T-5 with a .72 5th gear ratio, and a 4.10 or numerically higher ratio rear axle gears.
You need a higher ratio rear axle gear ratio to keep the RPM higher in order to get as much torque/horsepower out of that relatively underpowered 216.
With this setup, you will be in the optimal power range every time you shift gears. No more lugging the engine every time you shift gears and no more screaming engine right before shifting gears.
