The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Putting T-5 tranny into 41 pu with 235

I understand I need to modify input shaft, but thats all I know. Any help with details would be greatly appreciated.

Try a search with the key word T-5 or T5. A lot has already been posted.

I did a T-5 recently on a 54 235 in a car using a truck bellhousing. Here are a few of the issues:

* S-10 T-5s from older trucks have mechanical speedos which are much easier to adapt. The S-10 T-5 locates the shifter closer to the front of the transmission so you can keep your bench seat.
*Later model T-5s have an intergal bellhousing, won't work with 235, but will with 250 and 292.
*Camaro/Firebird T-5s were installed behind 2.8 V6 and 5.0 V8. They have different shifter location towards the back. Later models have electro speedo, expensive to convert. They also use different first gear ratios, V6 trannie has 3.75 or 4.00 first gear; V8 trannie a 2.95 first gear. The 4.00 makes for a quick shift to second. Camaro T-5 also was designed to mount at an angle, about 20 degrees off of straight up and down. This makes the rear transmission mount a custom. When you mount it, the transmission will be indexed straight up and down, but the shifter will lean to the right and the mount will be at an angle. The 5.0 T-5 is stronger than V6 T-5.
*Some 235 bellhousings don't fit a T-5. The 235 car bellhousings through 54 used torque tube and the bolt pattern for the transmission is smaller.
*The T-5 is longer than original set up, might need to revise rear transmission crossmember.
*The transmission bolts on T-5 are metric and slightly smaller than the 1/2 inch bolts in your bellhousing. Just drill them out.
*The input shaft on a Camaro T-5 is just the right length. The input shaft on a S10 T-5 is a bit long. Some people find the S10 needs the bearing retainer modified to give enough movement for clutch. Not a problem with Camaro trans.
*I needed a new speedo cable for my T-5 because it was farther away than my original, got one from NAPA.
*The T-5 uses auto trans fluid.
*The V8 T-5 can use a V8 clutch, but the V6 T-5 needs a clutch to fit the 14 spline input shaft. I used an 85 Astro Van Clutch and pressure plate with a different throw out bearing. I had a 11 inch clutch surface on the flywheel.
*Don't forget to put a new pilot bushing in when installing the trans. I didn't and got to do it twice as nice. Standard Chevy bushing worked, $2.00.
*Some guys use the V8 Camaro trans with the back half of a dead S10 T-5. Gives the best of both worlds, nice shifter location and stronger transmission. Good article in tech section of Inliners.org and another on Stovebolt.com tech section. Requires relocating speedo gear and dismantling part of transmission.
*You will of course be running an open driveline and non original rear end. If you haven't converted to open driveline, that's a whole nother topic.

Good luck, I really enjoy the T-5. There's a big post about what rear end to use, try one of the calculators and plug in the rear end ratio, the T-5 overdrive ratio and your tire height. It will give you an idea about how to match things up.

Thanks for the info,I have already done some research on this. I am fairly new to stove bolt&this pc,I will look up t-5 in a search. Next question,how do I get that sub name off,{apprentice wrench fetcher}.As I have already built my truck from ground up ,and have built a 235 thats tearing up my original 3spd & close driveline.After tranny& rearendupgrade ,I will finnish rebuilding my 261,no sense in that with present tranny & rearend. All help accepted. thanks Don

Hi Don,

One additional note that "realmccoy" touched on. You will need to upgrade your bellhousing with a 48 or newer. The bolt pattern in not the same on the T-5 as the old 3 speed toploader. You will also need to decide how you want to mount your brake and clutch. Your old bellhousing has mounting holes and the later does not. most folks build a clutch/brake pedal mounting bracket that attaches to the new bellhousing. I'll attempt to post a pic of one I did.

Rick


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Don - When you make enough posts, you will be advanced. One thing that I don't like about the early t5 is that if it ran low on fluid, it's toast. Some mechanics will overfill them from the top to avoid this.

I have already found the corect bellhousing,I'm going to sandblast it rite now so its ready to be worked with.Today I talked with a friend to look over the inside of the tranny for me,before actual instalation.I think I have brake & clutch figuredout,maybe.I also have extra motors,flywheels,etc.,so i can put all this together outside the truck first.I like the idea to put it together without clutch first to inspect spline clearence.Thanks again ,please keep info comming. Don

Try reading the tech article on this website...

gearhead ,I REad the news letter on this site after I posted my questions,thanks though.I sopose my real question is how much has to be machined off the input shaft ,if the best thing to do is put it together without clutch and measure to figure uot info ,thats what I'll do.I certanly learned allot here ,considering how much Ilearned already, for anyone else out there looking into this ,make sure check overdrive gearratio of your tranny,I just learned about that .thanks again

Rick ,I read you had done the clutch and brake assembly convert from 41 style to 48 @ latter. It also said you had pictures, I would be extra interrested in seeing those pictures, as that is where I'mm at now on this project.