The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Trailering Capability

Hello, I'm dropping a 350 into a 59 panel. Not sure which 5-speed tranny to use. I'd like to be able to pull a trailer, maybe with a car on it if possible. Will the T-5 handle this or should I be looking at a NV3500 or 4500. Any other possibilities?

thanks

The T-5 is a little flimsy for trailer towing. Any overdrive-equipped transmission is a poor choice if you try to use the OD gear while pulling a trailer, but since the T-5's were intended to run behind V-6's and small-displacement V-8's in sporty vehicles, I don't thing they've got the torque capacity to handle a loaded trailer.
Jerry

I am sure Jerry's advice is good but don't forget stopping power also.

I spent many years towing a 16-foot 2-axle trailer with my 59 Burb. I had a 1970 307 V-8 engine in it, with a SM-420 4 speed and a 3/4 ton GMC Dana type 60 rear axle with a 3.73 ratio rear end gear. The trailer was either loaded with a Case 530 Diesel farm tractor and all its implements, or it was WAAAAYYY overloaded with firewood. The gross weight for the van and trailer was well over 10,000 pounds on occasion.

I had electric brakes on both trailer axles, and the original 59 1/2 ton front drum brakes paired up with the bigger 3/4 ton drums on the rear axle, all of this applied by an original-equipment 1/2 ton single line master cylinder with no power boost. The van brakes were marginal at best, but the trailer brakes helped a lot. I also had a very good Valley Tow-Rite weight transfer trailer hitch installed. That same vehicle also towed a Datsun 510 station wagon from California to Tennessee in 1980, loaded to the roof with household goods and clothes when we moved back to Nashville. My wife drove it, while I drove a 1970 Cadillac Fleetwood towing an 18-foot 3-axle trailer. The Caddy and trailer combo weighed 16,700 pounds, and got 5 MPG all the way from central California to middle Tennessee! The van got 10 MPG!
Jerry

sounds like one heckuva trip...

NV4500 and a big block. I have an nv4500 in my 59 1/2 ton longbed gmc. You won't be dissapointed. As Ron pointed out, the brakes will need improvement over stock.

What size is your panel?

I believe it is the basic 1/2 ton.

As for the brakes, I plan on adding discs up front.

Tire size and Gear ratio will also come into play. I have ran different size tires and different gear ratios o my truck.

Started with 3.90 gears and 28 inch tires (275/60r15) with the original gmc 336 v8 and nv4500

Changed to 3.38 gears

Swapped 59 gmc motor for 59 pontiac 389 bored and stroked to 447 inches with tripower... The perches were ripped off the freshly rebuilt HO33 rear with 3.38 gears

Put a full floating 9 inch in with 3.70 gears and true trac posi. Worked great!

Changed the 275/60r15 tires for 31X10.5 tires... lost gearing and didn't pick up economy.

Changed gears to 4.30 with 31 inch tires. 4.11 gears would have been equivalent to 3.70 gears with 28 inch tires. Lost economy and seems geared a little low. 70 mph around 2500 rpm. The current combination should be able to tow a car or pull a boat out of the water. The difference between the 4.11 gears and 4.30 gears is about 120 rpm at 70 mph. On my motor with the long 4.25 inch stroke, slightly lower rpm is preferable. Small blocks tend to like rpm more than big blocks.

Back in 96 my buddy had a brand new half ton 4x4 with a stock vortec 350 and the light duty 5 speed. Pulled a two horse bumper pull with two 16 hand horses in it with no problems at all. held up very well. of course given the choice I like the nv4500. its darn near indestructible!