The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Which S10 5 speed is the best

I can get a 5 speed from a 2.8 V6 and will it good enough or should I look for one from a 4.3,did the trans behind the 4.3s have mechanical speedos. Jeff

Most of the NWC T5's from the S10 V6's were the .72 5th gear transmissions. However, I ran some numbers and found that the (4 cyl) .86 T5's would work out numerically with the taller R & P ratios and in apps. where you need some extra grunt in 1st gear. To answer your question...it's the same transmission whether behind a S10 2.8 or a 4.3 but you'll have better luck finding one behind a 2.8.

As for the mechanical speedo's....all the S10 NWC boxes up to 89 are mechanical, if my memory serves me correctly. However, I wouldn't discount the electronic units in the later models. Granted, they do require a rather pricey adaptor, but have the advantage of fewer miles wear and it is possible to calibrate the box to get your speedo reading corrected. Getting a high mileage box rebuilt and paying a speeding ticket might just make the electronic T5 a viable option.

I am currently running an 85 NWC .72 T5 from a 2.8 S10,behind my tweaked 235 with a 3.42 R&P and a 28" tall tire. Final cruise is 68-70 mph @ 2000RPM and lets me drop down to 45-50 without a downshift. If need,be, I could run in 4th gear at cruise speed and stay well below 3000 rpm. Hope this helps.

Dave

Still tryin to pull all the threads together on these T5's Dave, so please bare with me. I was at the junkyard this weekend and out of the several dozen S10's only one had a floor shifter sticking up. Was this the only floor shift transmission that was used in the S10? I have absolutly no way of telling what year these S10's were and the junkyard owner couldn't tell me either. All he knew was that they were S10's and that he wanted $250 for a transmission.
Is there any way to tell in the vehicle what your looking at with out haveing it out laying on the work bench in front of you???
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

If it doesn,t have a floor shifter it,s an automatic. There is a metal tag under a bolt on the rear housing. In the lower left corner is the number 1352-. The numbers following are the i-d numbers, 145 being the most popular. It is on most of the mid 80,s. Take that number & log on www.mongosgarage & it will tell what year & the ratio,s. Daves got a good point using the latter model & an adapter or you could go to a set of custom gauges with electronic speedo. I have done 2 changovers & they have worked out good.

Lot's of good reading on the various variants of the NWC T5's on both this site, and Inliners. Obviously, the trucks you saw were either automatics or were already relieved of their manual boxes.

Exact identification of a NWC T5 that has been removed from the donor truck, can be confirmed by the checking the little ID tag on the drivers side of the manual box. If it's missing you have to visually confirm correct bell housing bolt pattern, shifter location, speedo output type (mech or electronic)and can physically spin the box, count the revs on the input and output shafts to verify it's 5th gear ratio. The numbers cast in the housing do not give you the year and OD ratio.

As a rule of thumb I've found that NWC T5's behind S10 2.8 and 4.3 V6's are the .72 OD and .86's behind the 4 cylinder. Later model NWC T5's w/electronic speedo's have an upward angled speedo output port while the mechanical boxes output port is horizontal. On the newer T5's you need to confirm the bell housing bolt pattern as being compatible with your 216/235 pattern.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell! Carry your list of ID numbers, a template with the bell housing bolt pattern and be ready to manually spin over some boxes to get your specific T5.
Hope this helps get you up to speed!

Dave

Ring & pinion. The ratio of the rear end.

Come on George, I know I sound kind of dumb some times but please, “If it doesn’t have a floor shifter it’s an automatic”! You’d think I was from Kansas or something’.
What I was getting at was, did they ever come with a 3speed or 4speed?
Of course you do make up for it in the next sentence so I can’t hold it against ya buddy!
Yep that’s what I was looking for, some good concrete way to ID what I should be keepin’ my eyes open for. Thanks for the mongos link I’ll bookmark it for later reference.
I have a ‘97 Jimmy 1/2 ton with the 5speed in it and it’s a dream to drive. After a hundred and fifty miles in the ’50, 216, 4sp, 4.56 truck I keep reaching for fifth gear, there may be one in my future if I can’t find one of those elusive 4.11 or 3.90 gears to fit the 3604. I at least want to be able to drive it on the tollway at 55 with out having to catch the engine parts as they fly off.
Thanks again for the edu.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Hey i,m an old man I don,t have to be cool anymore. All manual trans. were floor shift but good point. Some of the real early ones were 4 speeds & it is hard to tell them apart as they look alike. Look at the knob & try shifting to 5th gear way over to the right & up. If it,s a 4 speed it won,t go in.

There is a tag on the drivers door that will tell you the year ( if the door is original and the tag has not been painted over) Also don't forget that F bodys camaro and firebirds also used the t5. I have a question for you guys, I know that the t5 is a popular swap but how come there isn't more guys using the NV 4500 5 speed used in the full size pickups from early to late 90's?? I would think they are stronger. I went through 2 t5 trannys in mu s10 over the course of 10 years and the clutch was never worn out I just replaced it because the tranny was out. Have heard the same from other s10/f body owners. I currently have a t5 in my 84' trans am. I haven't had any problems but it only has 64,000 original miles. I've been thinking about a t56 6 speed swap for the trans am but the car is a nice totally original one so I hate to fool with it.

The NV 4500 is a 3/4 to one ton truck trans with a granny gear and overdrive,it would be overkill for a 6 cylinder in a smaller vehicle. Jeff

It is also somewhat difficult to adapt to the older 6 cylinders due to the mounting bolt pattern. It can be done, but is somewhat spendy. I looked into it myself, but decided that it would take more effort to adapt and I wanted a more bolt on trans. So I went with an original 3 speed/od.
Denny, on the S10s, they did make some with 4 speeds, especially in the earlier models. I think maybe up to '84. No 3 speeds, though.

I guess so? the bolt pattern on the bell housing is the same as the t5 they used the nv4500 in 1/2 tons too with different gear ratios. my old 94 c2500 had one. yes they would be more expensive. I can't see it being over kill didn't these trucks have granny gears so start with??? and isn't that the reason we are looking for a overdrive tranny?? sounds like the perfect tranny to me? my 2500 had a low first gear but nothing like the granny gears in the old 4 speeds. yes one tons had a lower first gear. also all s10 up to 84 and some early 85's had 4 speeds 86 and on should all be t5's camaro/firebird started using the t5 in 83

Sorry, forgot that you older guys were adapting the t5 to your original bell housing. I'm stuck in the 60's/70's. I still think it would be a great tranny behind a newer inline six or smallblock truck.

I was looking into a NV 4500 for a 66 F250 I have and a new trans along with everything needed for the swap except for a driveshaft was over 2500.00,if it has the same bolt pattern as the T-5 then the cost will be down a bit but due to not needing any adapters and I think a new trans alone is about 1800.00 and rebuilt ones are going for around 1200.00. I dont think those trans were ever put in 1/2 tons only 3/4 or one tons,1/2 tons did have a 5 speed but I think they dont have the removable bellhousings and could not be adapted without major work. The NV 4500 would be a excellent trans for a truck that is still used as a truck but would be way to much for a truck like my 37 1/2 ton that will never haul a load except for groceries. Jeff

What do you mean by older guys as my 37 is 24 years older then me,I too am stuck in the 70s sometimes since those were the years I had the most fun. Jeff

The T5 wasn't used in full size trucks. The 5 speed in the '88-'06 1/2 tons was a Getrag sourced unit, with the integral bellhousing. This trans did also see use in 4x4 S-10s with the 4.3. The NV 4500 was used in the 3/4 and 1 tons, also used in Dodge 3/4 and 1 tons. They share a common bolt pattern, not the same as the traditional GM pattern used on the T5. It has wider spacing. Also, the only variant with a mechanical speedo drive is the early 2wd Dodge version.

By older guys, I mean Guys with older trucks than I have. which is more that half the population here. Although I have had my eye on a 59' close to home that they won't sell yet. It's been sitting next to the garage for the last 7 years. she is looking sad covered in leaves. was a nice truck a few years ago also the half tons had a nv "3500" the baby nv 4500. I guess some early 88-91 1/2 tons had t5 also? so you guys may want to check when you pass by that 1/2 ton at the yard. chevy and dodge both used the nv 4500 in 3/4 and one tons. Chevy from 93' and dodge from 95' No Jeff I wasn't calling you old, just your truck. my name is Jeff also and my beard is almost completely grey. Most of the young guys around here are into hondas. That's the only parts they stock at the local parts stores these days.

Yes, long box just saw your post after mine. the Getrag was in a lot of 1/2 tons from 92 till late 90's then the 3500. that tranny wasn't the best and did have a integral bell housing. the getrag had a roll pin in the shifter housing that use to always break seen people replace trannys over it.

Not really a fan of the Getrags myself. Seems no 2 of them shift the same. I didn't think they used the 3500 in Chevies, or at least not in the full size, but I might be wrong about that.

Just had to check on whay you ment by old guys,even at 46 I am getting some gray in the beard but it has not gotten in the hair yet but the hair is getting a little thinner in areas. Jeff

Your doing better that me! most of the hair is gone and the rest is grey, And I'm 10 years younger that you. Must be all that clean livin!