The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline clutch disc for t5 conversion

My brother is doing a t-5 conversion.

Best Bilt Clutch
2527 E Kearney St
Springfield, MO 65803
(417) 869-0703

Built him a clutch disc for him.
9" 14 spline clutch disc
will withstand a v-8
They machined the center hub so you do not have to lengthen the splines on the input shaft for travel of clutch disc.
9" clutch disc
9" clutch disc #2
9" #3
9" #4
$155 shipped
He will be putting it together this weekend,I'll let you know if it works.

Tim

Thanks for sharing this info. I'll be waiting to see how things work. meanwhile, I'll add some additional resources.

Dave Farwell of Vintagemetalworks makes an adapter plate for the T5. He referred me to a place in Texas but I have not contacted them yet. He said "Richie" is very knowledgeable and is familiar with the T5 adaptations required to install them into older Chevy cars and trucks.

Dave Farwell of Vintagemetalworks

Brake and Clutch Supply Website

Richie is at:
Brake & Clutch Supply
407 So. 8th St.
Waco, Tx, 76706
Ph. 254.752.4307
Fax 254.752.7533

Why do you have to get a different clutch disc for the conversion?

If you use a jeep 10 spline input shaft you could use the original disc.
The t-5 he has is 14 spline input shaft,so he had the clutch disc built for the conversion. no spacer plate or lengthening the splines are needed.Just cut the throw bearing collar and input shaft snout to length.

[quote=Whitedog]Why won't the 14 spline disc work?

You would have to use the S-10 clutch disc which only comes in the 9 in. size. You can use an Astro van disc but they want to sell the whole set. Then you would still have to grind down the splines.

I used a similar spacer plate a friend machined, that also meant I did not have to lengthen the splines or shorten the input shaft. Also found an Astro van clutch disc. Love the T-5 in my 46 pickup.

I have run across several different solutions that people use to adapt an S10 T5 for use in their trucks. Not that any one is the best, but here is what I have read about. Each approach has a different advantage over the others.

1. Tom Langdon has advocated cutting a short bit off the end of the input shaft and then grinding out (or machining) a portion of each of the friction disc inner hub splines. That way the input shaft splines don't need to be lengthened.

2. The adapter plate is a one time expense and solves the problem plus you can sell it if you ever switch to an automatic (if you have a bad knee or hip for instance).

3. A V8 Camaro T5 and an Astro T5 have the correct length bearing retainer and correct length input shaft so no modification is needed. Just use the correct splined friction disc and throwout bearing. The Camaro T5 will need an S10 tail housing swapped so the shifter is in the forward position.

4. This next idea is perhaps new to some. Look at the photos of the V6 Camaro T5 I have. It has a 14 spline input shaft that is too long (same length as the S10 input shaft). However, the splines are cut all the way back to the bearing retainer and it has a short style bearing retainer just like the V8 Camaro and Astro T5s. I have not done anything to it yet, but hypothetically, simply nipping off the correct amount from the input shaft is all that will be needed. I'm pretty sure no adapter plate would be needed.

Also included are some side by side photos comparing the length of an S10 and V8 Camaro input shaft.

14 spline input shaft - 1989 V6 Camaro World Class T5 - photo 1

1989 Camaro - photo 2

Astro van Input shaft - 14 splines and no adapter plate needed

V8 Camaro and S10 IS side-by-side

More

another

V8 bearing retainer on the S10 input shaft

Jay

For those of you who just can't wait for your T-5 adapter, try Hamilton Intakes. http://hamiltonintakes.com/products/s10-t-5-swap-adapter It appears from their site that they have them in stock.

Best wishes,

Les

Two months later,he installed the clutch disc and it shifts smooth. He didn't have to extend the splines at all. He did shorten the snout and the throw out bearing collar, that's it.

tim!!!!!

Thanks for the feedback. Your comment about the Jeep IS made me so curious that I forked out the money and bought a brand new 10 spline Jeep T5 IS. The number of IS gear teeth (21) is the same as the S10. On the bench it appears to be a great solution and the splines on the Jeep IS are cut further along the shaft than the S10.

Remove the S10 IS and replace it with the Jeep IS. Cut the Jeep IS to the proper length and then the bearing retainer too. The original clutch disc and friction plate from my original Saginaw will work (but a new one will be installed).

3 shafts side by side

The Jeep IS has longer splines.

Jeep IS fits 1965 clutch disc

Have you tried fitting the 10 spline jeep shaft in a clutch disc of a ad truck? It should fit fine.

I'm following your transmission posts.

Thanks!!!!

I have never tried it on an AD truck disc but the clutch shop I talk to in TX says it will work.

I figured it would,thanks for all of your posts of progress.