Well after months of research and months trying to find a T5, the SM420 4 spd to T5 5 spd has begun.
Yesterday, I pulled the bench seat out and took the tranny floor cover out. This morning I disconnected the driveshaft and then my buddy came over with his cherry picker.
Man o man! I can't believe I went thru so much trouble when I changed the clutch back in February. We had the truck on a lift and pulled the tranny out the bottom. We even went to the trouble of pulling the bellhousing.
This time, we wrapped the chain around it, took out the mount bolts and eased it out thru the cab with engine hoist. Then with a little fanagling, got the pressure plate and clutch out from between the crossmember and flywheel. That was 10 times easier than 8 months ago!
Much to my surprise, the input shafts and bearing retainers are virtually identical (aside from 10 spline vs. 26 spline). I had to shave only about 1/16" off the T5 input shaft to match the SM420. And of course I used a 1/2" drill bit for the metric mount holes.
I woulda had it mounted except the clutch disc I was expecting to come in the mail didn't show up. :mad:
Tomorrow, I'm off to the boneyard for a yoke and driveshaft.
-David
Kustoms-and-Sleds
