The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop t-5 into a 49 1/2 ton

hello i have a 49 chevy 1/2 ton with the original 216,i wanna put a t-5 in it and keep the original bell housing and stomp starter,i read the tech artichle about this and theres alittle confusion,in the article it says to use a 77-76 vega clutch disc for the conversion for use w the original flywheel,the disc is 9 1/8 which will work with the original 9" but the problem is the vega disc is 10 tooth 1 1/8 pline unlike the 14 tooth 1 inch spline used on the s-10 2wd t-5 does anybody have the solution to this problem on what disc i should use and what i am going to need for this swap any info will be greatly appreciated,thanks,dan

A mid-eighties Astrovan with the four cylinder has the 9-1/8" disk with 1"x14 spline input. Thats the one that I plan to use for my T-5 conversion.

will that clutch disc work with the original bell housing and flywheel

It's supposed to. It's supposed to work with the original pressure plate too. Take your old disk to the parts store to compare before buying. That's what I plan to do.

The Astro Van disc will work. I used it on my truck and the disc fits and works just like the original. You can actually get several sizes that will work. I bought the disc only from Standard Transmission in Fort Worth. I bought it from Corey Crump - 1-800-783-8726. If you go to NAPPA, they won't sell you just a disc, they want to sell you a "kit" with a pressure plate, a disc and an alignment tool for about $100.00. I got the disc from Corey for $35.00.
Joe

You might check out the placement of the Astrovan shifter. 'Cause on the Astrovans the shifter sits further back than the S-10 trannys. Might interfere with your bench seat......that's if you're using the T-5 tranny from the Astro.

The 85-88 Astro van with the V6 has the larger diameter clutch disc (10.5). The 2.5 liter engine has the smaller diameter clutch.

A T5 hybrid will bolt in without having to cut splines, shorten shafts, etc. (or add a 1/2" spacer)

Steppenwood, they are talking about using the disc, not the whole trans. Also the Astro Van transmission shifter is a bolt-on arrangement moving the shifter over 7" that also comes off when you unbolt it. Standard T-5 otherwise, however much better gear ratios.

what t5 will bolt right in?i plan on using a mid to late 80s s-10 2wd,will those t5s go right in without mods to the shaft lenght and splines,sorry im just trying to get every detail down beforew i tear my truck down,thanks,

The only T5 that will "bolt right in" without making a hybrid or trimming the shafts, etc. would be the Astro van from behind a 4.3 with a stock S-10 shifter. the other choice is the V8 Camaro unit and live with the angled lower mount.

I get the 1352-145 trans. from mid 80's S-10. They are cheap & plentyful & have the desireable gear ratios with the mechanical speedo drive. The modifications are easy to do.

Based on an earlier thread of yours, I decided to get a T5 transmission from an 85 S-10 to replace the 3-speed in my 57 Chevy truck. I believe you indicated that an adapter plate was required to connect the T5 to my 235 bell housing since the attachment bolts do not align. Someone else said the bolts should align perfectly. Should they or shouldn't they align if I have the correct vintage T5? I'm confused.

The holes line up fine. You have to drill the holes in the trans out to 1/2 in. This is easy to do as they are just a little smaller then that being they are metric & the case is alum. Get 2 allen head bolts for the upper bolts & bolts & nuts long enough to go through the lower & put nuts on the inside. You do not need a adapter plate but some build one to keep from modifying the front shaft & retainer.

That would technically be a spacer plate, not an adapter plate

I too used the 1352-145 transmission. extended the splines and i even ground a little of the clutch hub surface down.
Drill the tranny mounting holes using 1/2" drill bit.Drill them slow and straight.

I purchased my 9 1/8" clutch disc from berry at Best built parts.
part # 384190 $40.66 plus $7.00 core.
my clutch disc

Best built parts
2527 east kearney
SpringField Mo 65803
phone # 417-869-0703