The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline T5 vs Ring & Pinion

I'm seeking some insight..
I brought my 1950 1/2 ton home a couple months ago, included in the purchase was a T5 & mounting plate, Aluminum drive shaft and a rear end from a 66 1/2 ton. I'm trying to decide if I should go ahead, or change direction and buy a ring & pinion kit.
Thanks
Pete
MyBlog

I haven't heard any negatives on doing this T5 swap. I'm in the planning stage of doing one myself. I think what you need to do first is determine what T5 you have by the serial number and what rear ratio you have in the '66 rear. If you're a decent home mechanic it will not be anything you can't accomplish. There is info in the Tech Tips to help and info at
www.inliners.org. There are also T5 pages on the internet.

And I like your ramps for that tight fit garage.

The T-5 is the way to go. It makes it fun to drive with 5 syncro gears that are closer in ratio then the old trans. Like Drew says get your ratios to make sure you will have a good setup. Some of the T-5,s have .86 gear ratio. that would not be much help unless it has a high gear rear end. I take it you have the original 216 engine.

DrewP, Thank you for the compliment,
The 66 has a 3.73, I'm an avid do it myself kind of person. I haven't done much in the way of auto mechanics but it seems simple enough. I'll have to look more into the T5, all I know is it's a 5 speed, and a "newer" model as it doesn't have the speedo gear, but a plug.

Wrenchbender, I have a 235 engine.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with this opinion. For the last 5 years I've been alternating between an '88 S10 Blazer with a .73 OD T5 in the winter months and my bolt with stock column shift 3 speed and 3.55 gearset. IMO the T5 is too busy and I would miss the column shift and am glad I didn't go that route.

I myself was considering a new rear end gear setand and after doing the math, i weighted the options and i thought it would cost me about 1000 usd to do the gear change. That would include the R & P plus the bearings and seals for the rear axle and labor to install. I think i would gain 10% more crusing speed.

Now with the t-5 i would not need an adapter only a spacer and everything shoukd bolt up to the 235 motor. If i bought one from a late model S10 with a 5 speed and a mechanical speedometer it should fit real nice where my 4spd was. I would have the overdrive. This would be a nice upgrade for my 56 3100.
Those are my .02 . I guess to each is their own.

I love the T-5 in my 46, fun to drive and she shifts great. I've had other trans in this truck, this one is the best so far. Just read ALL the T-5 info you can, lots on the bolt and Inliners.org. I took my 'mystery' T-5 to a local shop before install and it needed a couple bearings.

I have a t-5 in my 46 also but I went a step further and installed a rear from an s-10 also, and my truck runs great and shifts great and cruises at 65 on the interstate WITH the original 216 engine, t-5 is the way to go