The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop T5 vs 4 sp or auto

Hey folks, hope all had a great Christmas!

Just wanted some opinions about what u prefer in your truck. I'm at the point where I need to decide which one to install.I have the T5 but not sure if thats what I want. The rear is from a 1979 Cutlass automatic good highway gears and the motor is 1968 327 Camaro. I will be driving my 1948 every day possible except snow and known rain.I have read up on the installation of the T5 but never installed one. Have installed many 4speeds, and autos no problem .Is the 5th gear worth going thru the trouble to install does the OD help that much. I'm sure on highway but around town? I'll be happy with 16 to 18 mpg and the 4 sp always works well. (mun. or sag.)
Any input would help! Thanx

I had the t5 in my last truck and loved it. I wonder however how it will work with your automatic rear gears. might be a little tall.

I have put the T-5 in my last 2 pickups. If you like to shift for yourself like I do it,s a great way to go. I,ve used them behind 350,s & have had no problems but they are a little light. You won,t want to do any drag raceing or burnouts with it. I don,t think it will be geared too high with a 3.08 or lower rear end. For heavy loads you still have 4th gear & can still run down the highway.

Thanx for your input guys! The T5 came from a 89 camaro V8 car, but with the rear end gears I might be just as good with a 4 sp with less trouble to install, and I love shifting gears,especially in an old Chevy truck.

will the t-5 tranny from a camero work in the 60-66 trucks due to the shifter position being in the back as opposed to the forward shifter position in the s-10 5 speeds? I have the same delema. I've got the tranny, no the truck (235 engine).

Blackcat, the gearbox will work, but you need a tailpiece (that's the segment with the actual shifter) from a truck unless you are splitting the bench and want a center console.

Bowties, if your four speed is a true 4 speed, and not a low geared one like the original from these trucks, you probably don't need the T5. If, however, you have an original tranny (mine was a 420) then the T5 would be a huge improvement-and you notice it not only at the top end but around town. Since you have more (and taller) gears, you don't have to wind your engine as much between shifting. For drivability that tranny swap was the most significant thing I've done to my truck.

The last T-5 truck I drove showed a pretty even split between gears too;the rpms dropped almost exactly the same amount during every shift. Not that critical,but still a neat thing.
Speed

Bigblackcat,
when I installed a 4sp w/350 into my '66 everything went great , the only thing I had to do was move the 6 banger motor mounts to a diffrent position because those trucks were built for 6s and V8s. The M21 tranny and Hurst shifter worked great but the shifter is close to your gas pedal leg, but you get use to that.The T5 tail shaft from a S10 will put the shifter where you want it on the Camaro tranny because I have to do the same thing if I want that in my '48


tlorber, I have removed all of my original drivetrain so I was debating weather or not to put in a 4 sp or a T5 . I have tall rearend gears in a 10 bolt and it came from a automatic,V8 car. I have the T5 and the tailshaft but do I want a 4 speed or the T5 ?

wrenchbender,
what year truck did you install the T5s into?

I put one in a 55-2 about 2 years ago. It had a 350 that I freshened up with a minor engine kit, aluminum intake & Q-jet. Ran great. After I sold it I bought a 58 step side. I put a new Goodwrench 350 in it & the T-5. I haven,t driven it much yet as i,m still working on the body but it runs real good. I have a 70 step side with 350 & 700r-4 auto o,drive. It has 3.08 gears & 29 in. dia. tires. It pulls real good even on long hills with A/C.

Wrenchbender, Isn't the 55-2 frame alot diffrent from the 47-54s? Cause i'm trying to see weather its worth putting in or not. If not then i'll sell the T5 and install a 4sp. I'll be driving alot around town and hopefully a couple of kruzes about 100 miles away.But if I decide I want to drive to Texas and back I know my '48 will be ok.
Thanx for the opinions, Mike

Good info here, guys.
To remove the tail shaft from a S10 trans, does it simply unbolt, or are there snap-rings and things?
The local junkyard has an S10 with a 4spd, so I'm thinking it'd be a good idea to have that tail shaft on my shelf while I decide what I want to do.

My truck is a '62, with the front saddle mount and rear bellhousing ear mounts. I'm thinking a T5 would bolt right in and I wouldn't have to worry about fabbing a cross member right now, plus don't have to deal with shifter linkage of an auto.

Brad

That 79 Cutlass rear end is probably 2.29 ratio. I used to have one. You wouldn,t want any higher gear than that. You are right a 4 speed would be better.

Mr. Wrenchbender, Thank you for the info and the load off. I have a nice T5 w/S10 tailshaft if you know anyone who would like to buy or swap...

Brad54, look thru the search index in this site and someone has the info and pictures you need. I found them here about 6 months ago but cannot remember where. I didnt seem hard at all. Good luck! bowtie

Hey bowties...check your PMs. I'd like to find out more about that T5 you have for sale.

Brad