The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 3600 T-5

Would a T-5 be a good trans for a 3600 that will still be used as a truck? I tried using the search and I couldn't find anyone that had any experience. I want to upgrade the trans in my Dad's '50. We both still use this as a truck, but the 4-speed with the granny gear isn't helping too much on the freeway. Our heavy loads consist of sand/gravel, firewood, and the occasional building materials. Any advice would be great. Thanks, Ken

The T5 is a light duty transmission found behind 2.5 liter 4 cylinders and 2.8 liter V6's in the S-10. The V8 Camaro version has a higher torque rating.

For occasional use, it would work, however for extended use, it will eventually fail. I would recommend a NV3500 or NV4500 or even the ZF from a 88 - 98 full size for long life.

Which engine are you putting it behind? can you change your final drive ratio?

This will be behind a 235 for now. One day i might get a 261, but thats mostly just dreamin. I want to keep the original style rearend. I will be swapping it for a later style 3/4 style with Bendix brakes, but thats all. would the NV3500/4500 bolt up to an old stovebolt? Do any of these newer transmissions have granny low and overdrive? I really dont know anything about the NV's or the ZF.

Welcome to the Stovebolt Page. There is more good information in the heads of the Page's readers than will ever be found in books. I have a T-5 in my 57 3100, and don't like the gear ratios, so I have spent a lot of time studying options. There is plenty of info on the web about NV 3500/4500s. If you see 1990s 1/2 - 3/4 ton Chevy and GMC trucks for sale with 5 speeds, I think they are all the NV boxes. For my purpose, their 1st gear ratio is too low- too much like a granny gear, but if I were to need an OD trans for a real work truck, that's what I would use. If you decide on a T-5, study them carefully. Understand the difference between World Class and non-WC, and don't buy one unless you know the tag number. The tag no. will tell you the ratio of all five gears plus reverse, and what vehicle it was used in. The fact that it was used in a 85 IROC Z or an 82 Firebird means nothing . There are several websites such as www.britishv8.org and mongosgarage.com which list tag nos.

I was trying to find some more information about a good heavy duty swap. It looks like the NV3500 is out of the question because of the one peice tranny/bell. I really couldn't dig up much on the "zf" either. It looks like the best way to go would be the NV4500. I think there was someone here on the Stovebolt that put one in his truck. Said the one to use was out of a gas dodge due to a mechanical speedo, and a longer input shaft (so an adapter could be used). If anyone has any pictures of this swap, or knows of a source for adapter I would appreciate it. Advice on which gears to go with would be nice too. The only thing I'm worried about with this tranny is how far apart the gears are.

Advance Adapters has the bellhousing adapter. It does need a little bit of machining to work. I have done the swap. Drives like a dream. PM me and I'll send you pics.

John

Get the NV out of a Durango / Dakota or get your hands on a TKO3550 or TKO 500. Early 90's GM's used ZF's. The NV didnt come out until later 90's

If you want to go a T5 route and have some torque capacity, you will need to build a T5 hybrid and use the GM F-body V8 transmission with the rear housing and top cover from an S-10. This will not require machining the splines shorter or cutting the input bearing retainer or pilot like the standard 14 spline S-10 variations.

http://www.inliners.org/Jack/t5_page.html
http://www.inliners.org/Jack/T5tech.html

If you want better gearing than that, then find the gearset out of an Astro T5 (3.50:1 first) and make a frankenstein transmission.

I went with the V8 hybrid. I put it in my 46 1 ton behind a rebuilt 235. I like it and there's tons (pun) of information on getting it right. Nice and simple to do which suits my skills.

my T5 Hybrid was made by MTL, manual transmission wherehouse in sacramentohttp://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=manual+transmission+wherehouse+in+sacramento&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=4634995396539792869
it's in my 3104 behind a 292

Ok so now some of you think a T5 is a good swap for a 3/4 and up truck? I dont want to lose the ability to use this as a truck, but want the benefits of an overdrive and better highway speeds (I know I'm greedy). For the most part it won't be used for the extreme loads like firewood, sand/gravel, dirt, concrete, etc. I would like to use this daily after a little driveline rehab. Than I could benefit with the ability to tow a small boat or trailer, and be able to move furniture and construction supplies. I thought the T5 would be good, but I always hear about it not being the strongest choice. I like the idea of being able to make it look like it has the stock shifter also. More opinions/Pro's/Con's of tranny choices for 3/4 up trucks would be great. Especially if it's still being used as a truck. Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. I'm not far from Sac either so that could be an option for me. I'm stationed at Travis AFB (in Korea right now)

It all depends on how you use the truck. The S10 the T5 will be coming from is a 1/4 ton truck. Can you move furniture or construction supplys with an S10? I would say you could.
Tow a small boat? Probably. Tell you what, I use to abuse the hell out of a little S10 shop truck when I was a sheet metal apprentice. Loaded to the hilt with ladders, welders, gang boxes full uf tools, materials. It was rode hard and put away wet. We had that truck for a long time and never had a transmission problem.

I have a '52 3600 that I plan on using for work and if I did put an OD in it, it would probably be an NV4500. But then again I won't be needing to go much faster then 55, so I probably won't do the OD swap. I have a NWC T5 laying around the shop, I might try it at some point just for kicks, to see how it holds up.

You might also consider a 3 speed with the Borg Warner overdrive. They put them in 1/2 ton trucks.