I'm looking at a clean 3rd Gen for sale around here. It's a 305, 5-speed, coupe, no T-tops. I can get my hands on a low mileage 350 long block, and I know what I need to swap the TPI from a 305 to a 350. My last 3rd gen was an auto, so I have no experience with the needs of a manual and I have questions before I buy.

However, I've searched this forum (and some over at 3rdgen.org) and I can't find what I'm looking for.

Here's my question: just how much use will a T5 take? I know they are considered weak but some posts state that if you drive sanely they're okay, while others indicate that they'll grenade at the first opportunity.

So... what's the deal? I'm several years past the "powershifts for the hell of it" age and I never go to the track. However, I do drive fast around town and I plan on using the car as a daily driver.

I want to know how long I can expect a T5 to survive under those conditions (350, daily driven by an "adult"), preferably with real world experience and anecdotes.

Thanks in advance.

 

No personal experience with a T5, but from my general experience with a bit of this and that , I'd say the T5 is probably safe for thousands of miles, if you drive "sanely". So is the 10-bolt behind a manual. So is a 4L60E behind a ~350+ HP engine. But it all depends on what type of driver abuse these things are subjected to.

For example, the old Borg Warner T10 4-speeds were supposed to be a pretty tough unit, but we did some pretty severe damage to one (in my Dad's '73 Camaro) launching at ~5000 RPM, with a set of 4.10's in the back and ET Streets (the tranny case split, bent the output shaft, cracked the bell-housing, and both U-joints snapped! ).

I think on average "street" tires, with moderate HP, and driven "nice" (not full-throttle launches and shifts at every opportunity) the T5 would probably hold up just fine . Is it as strong as a T56? Well, no. But even as strong as the T56's are, they can still get thrashed and damaged pretty good too . Nothing is bullet-proof, but a little driver abuse that kills a tranny doesn't mean that they're all made of glass either.

 

what kind of power is the 350 gonna make?? a "long block" can be anything from some crappy 200hp version up to 400+

assuming you shift gently and don't really pound the gears you s hould be fine for a while (granted its a complete crap shoot).

you could search around for some rebuilt t5s....i know they sell them in jegs or summit for the Fox Bodies that are rated to 500hp. someone has to make them for 3rd gens.

 

If you drive it easy it will last you a long time. But the first time you get on it....mainly leaving hard it will break, have broke 1st. and 3rd. in a T-5
I wouldn't waste money on a rebuilt one, the are rated at 300 lb. ft. of tq I think, can't remember if it goes get a 700r or swap a T56
Daily drivin you should be fine

 

like mdacton said, t5 is rated at 300lbsft capacity
this is give or take, and this is a big concern in 1st gear
you can live with a 350 and a t5 just dont abuse the tranny

 

They are not known to handle gobs of power and take a beating. If the car is driven nicely and not beaten on, I wouldn't be concerned with the T-5.

 

I won't do any power shifting, and I don't think I'll be dropping the clutch at four grand, but I will be doing a lot of 5, 10, and 20 mph rolls. I've been driving long enough to know how I drive.

The block I can get my hands on is fairly mild. I just would prefer a 350 over a 305, and since total investment would be car + $400 motor + TPI conversion + hoist rental it's pretty much a no-brainer. I don't have the desire or money to swap the trans, so that's why I'm wondering about the stock T5. If I did decide to swap I wouldn't drop money on a T5 when a T56 is not a whole lot more expensive.

How do you define "easy"?

 

Easy= drive it like grandma would.......to be 100% honest T5 is a grenade, handle it with care

 

Well, I'm not feelin' so good about the idea then. Maybe I should stick with the 305 and just wait for the 5th gen.

 

I don't know ... I'm asking ...

... would you consider the T5 any more of a "grenade" than the 7.5" 10-bolt??

Considering how "weak" they are, there are still a whole bunch of 10-bolts getting used and abused every day that DON'T break ... there are just quite a few that DO in and among .

I wonder if the same would be true of the T5?

 

one thing you have to think about is the useage.....rears break for different reasons. Its not the fact the 7.5 is junk I think it is more the case flexing

GM never put a T5 behind a 5.7 because it wasn't rated for it.......

Now lets say your doing a burnout and the tires grab/chirp at the end....that will shock the trans and probly pop first gear, trying to power shift.....BOOM It may work it may not....It might snow in july too so I don't know basiclly