The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop T-5 married to a chevy torque tube?

Is there a adapted kit available for putting a T-5 into a 1954 chev 3100? I've got the 355 gears in the rearend and I don't want to change out the whole drive line. Is there any transmission that works other than the original?

Patrick's has a kit for mating a Saginaw to the torque tube. See page 14 of the catalog.

When I was a youth in the early fifties, the cool transmission for a stovebolt was the 1937 Packard. HRM gave instructions for the conversion. When Chevrolet came out with the open diveline in 1955 I converted my '53 to open, with a mid-ratio three-speed.

Hoyt

Thanks for your input. I will check Patrick's.

The kit from Patrick's will not work with the T5. It's specifically made for the Saginaw 4 speed with the 3.11 first gear, and includes a new mainshaft and tailhousing.
To my knowlege, no one makes a kit for the T5 to a torque tube. It could be done, but it would be an expensive one off custom job.
You may want to consider converting to an open drive if you want to run the T5. Converting your diff to open drive a not too complicated, it's been covered in several threads.

The link to the Packard transmission article should be ok now. The Packard is probably not what 54John3100 is looking for, but the question was, :"Is there any transmission that works other than the original?" The Packard is just part of history now. There may be a few still in use by the dedicated period-perfect guys.

Hoyt

It would be easier to lose the torque tube rear or get Patricks 3:36 gear set, really TALL tires. Also how about the Saginaw with factory overdrive? Just wonder if you are planning on setting any land speed records?

The best thing I ever did with my 46 1/2 ton was get rid of the torque tube rear, just gives you so many more choices.
Best of luck

What cars would that Saganaw be used in?

Give Patrick a call and hear what he recommends.

Hoyt

Patrick's site isn't too specific as to what vehicle applications the Saginaw would come from, only that it's an iron case, 3.11:1 first gear, and has 2 id grooves on the input shaft. That transmission only gets you better gear spacing, it does not have an overdrive, so top end will be the same.
The 3.38 ratio mentioned is for the '55-'62 trucks, it's not compatible with the torque tube.

Thanks guys. I've sent for a catalogue from Patrick's and emailed them with what I want to do. Seems to be a good place to start.
Incredable knowledge on this site!

Back in the 50's before there was a "Hone-O-Drive" driveshaft inline overdrive we made a case that held a Borgwarner OD unit and mounted it where the center hanger for the 3/4 ton changes from a torque tube to an open driveshaft. Chevy 3/4T used this torque tube/open drive set up for several years. It kept the same closed drive tranny but turned the 3/4 tons 4.56 gears to a 3.20 final when in OD. The first case didn't have the input shaft to the OD straddle mounted in spread apart bearings and gave trouble but after this was corrected it pulled our Hudson circle track car thousands of trouble free miles without the engine screaming like a banshee.

It's not the speed I'm needing. I have 355 gears in the rearend. It's a rough start up in first with the three in the tree. It's a better geared trany I'd like.