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Mod | | Forums66 Topics126,777 Posts1,039,270 Members48,100 | Most Online2,175 Jul 21st, 2025 | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 643 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 643 | Will a S10 4cylinder 2000 T5 match up to the GM bell housing on 58 GMC truck? Just want to be sure before buying.
Thanks in advance
Danny 1958 GMC stepside GMC 302 six cylinder 3 speed OD trans
| | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 | 2000 model year? I don’t think the S10 had a T5 in 2000.
1951 3100
| | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 | Danny, A quick search of 2000 S10 data on pages 33 and 35 of this document show an NV3500 5 speed being offered behind both the 4 cyl and 6 cylinder engines. It replaced the T5 and has an integral bell housing instead of the separate bell housing and transmission your truck came with. From a bit of further reading, it seems the bell housing pattern will possibly bolt up, but there are other issues which will need to be addressed in making this transition. If you search the web for NV3500 transmission conversions you can see what is out there on the subject. A recent conversation did discuss a shifter issue with a members' Chevy small block and NV3500 installed in his AD Chevy truck, but I couldn't find any conversations about using that transmission behind a '58 GMC. Perhaps some of our GMC guru's will chime in with more info??? Dan
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
| | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 643 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 643 | I didn't know that it was not separated. So that transmission is a "No go". This is why I reached out here first. Thanks.
Danny 1958 GMC stepside GMC 302 six cylinder 3 speed OD trans
| | | | Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 224 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2018 Posts: 224 | Hello down there in Brenham, Texas. Just had to respond ! That 3 speed overdrive behind a 302 sounds like the cat’s meow already! Why would you need to change it? I believe the GMC was a sturdy 3 speed. Hope can provide some pictures of what sounds like a pretty neat truck ! Charley
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235261 project engine “Ole Blackie”Follow along in the DITY1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996 1931 Packard car, 327 i 8 auto
| | | | Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,986 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,986 | GMC did not offer an OD transmission on the 1 ton and smaller trucks from 55.2 through 60. Danny's OD must have come from somewhere else.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
| | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 916 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 916 | I will say this- with a 3.73 rear end and 215/75/15 tires (27.7 diameter), with my T5 I am in 5th gear at 40 mph. I chose the wrong rear end gearing. Unless I go back to the tall trailer tires that were in the truck when I bought it.
~ Dave 1950 Chevrolet 3600 3/4-ton with 261 engine & T5 Transmission | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 643 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 643 | I was thinking a T5 might be better with stock rear3.90 Also bought 3.55 gears that I will never use  I will keep it the way it is. By the way I also put a 3spd OD in my 1960 Bel Air sedan w 235. Thanks everyone.
Danny 1958 GMC stepside GMC 302 six cylinder 3 speed OD trans
| | | | Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,986 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,986 | I will say this- with a 3.73 rear end and 215/75/15 tires (27.7 diameter), with my T5 I am in 5th gear at 40 mph. I chose the wrong rear end gearing. That is only 1800 RPM in 4th gear (1:1) at 40 MPH with your current setup Dave. And assuming a .82 OD in 5th gear on your T5, 40 MPH would be 1475 RPM. Hardly over revving your engine in either case.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
| | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 916 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 916 | Bill,
The 261 is something that I am still getting used to- and I have no tach in the truck. I think that the rpm’s seem much higher to me than they are because I have never driven a stovebolt before (I just finished the truck this week). This engine must be way more comfortable pulling at low rpm’s than I realized᠁.
~ Dave 1950 Chevrolet 3600 3/4-ton with 261 engine & T5 Transmission | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 Moderator, Electrical Bay | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 | Please see this post from a week or so ago: https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1498381/1.htmlThere are ways you can make the T5 work in the AD truck and have the first 3 speeds operate almost indistinguishable from the original (stock) AD setup. That is to say you will still be able to use it as a pickup. People occasionally tell me there's no way I could use a 3.07 rear end in a pickup or that I'm mistaken about my rear end gearing, but really it is all a matter of math and understanding the engineers who designed these trucks knew what they were doing. We're working on preparing a report that explains gear ratios, ratio options, etc and our hope is to make it a sticky message that will be easily accessible. With the original AD scheme, you had a rear end with a ratio of 4.11 and a transmission that began with a first gear ratio of 2.94...that gave you an overall first gear ratio of 12.08 (ideal for a half ton pickup with an inline 6). In my case I simply flipped the formula end over end and went with a first gear of 4.03 and a rear end of 3.07...which gave me an overall ratio of 12.37. The original AD transmission was a wide-ratio 3 speed ending in 1:1. The T5 can be generalized as a slightly less wide-ratio three speed transmission with a fourth gear of 1:1 and an overdrive 5th (which could have been between .72 and .86). This post began as a question about the NV3500. That is a different animal from the T5. It is heavier and the ratios are different. There are other variants of it (used in Jeeps). One is the NV3550 and it separates from the bell housing, but to make it compatible with the GM bell housing you must buy or make an adapter. In my opinion the whole NV approach is both costly and could be a challenge to find the proper rear end (with a 6 lug hub and the correct width).
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 4,109 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 4,109 | I have a t5 from an s10 in my 1954 with 2.73 gears from a 1979 Nova. I cruise at 70 and 2100 rpm. I have 235/75/ 15 tires.
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am.1954 3100 Chevy truckIn the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
| | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 Renaissance Man | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 | If you can hear yourself think driving a Stovebolt engine on the highway, you are not revving it high enough.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 4,109 'Bolter | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 4,109 | Now that I have hearing aids I hear more than I want to.  . I hear every rattle and clunk and I think did anything important fall off?
Ron, The Computer Greek I love therefore I am.1954 3100 Chevy truckIn the Gallery 2017 Buick Encore See more pix1960 MGA Roadster Sold 7/18/2017
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