I have seached the fourms and the net but I have a question concerning T5s. I picked up a 86 s10 t5 for my 235 in my 58 pickup. Now I realize the 1st gear gearing is not the best for my stock rear 4:1 as compared to 3:1 for stock. I found a 93 t5 from 4cyl s10. Can I use any or all the parts to upgrade my nwc trans. I do not have any numbers off this trans. I realize that this is the wrong bolt pattern for a chevy. I figure that this trans is not much good to me. What I am trying to accomplish is to have the 86 trans with mech speedo and fwd shifter and a better 1st gear ratio. What are my options for changing the gearing in this trans Thanks
The '83 T5 has a 4.03:1 1st gear. The '86 T5 has a 3.76 1st gear. That is the highest ('86) 1st gear ratio. You will need a six cylinder bell housing that has the bottom bolt centers wider than the top bolts. You will have to drill out the bolt holes in the T5 to 1/2". Then you will need a 1/4" thick spacer between the T5 and the Chevy bell housing. A 10" friction disc from an Astro van will work on the T5 input shaft. Two options for your rear axle ratio are change the ratio OR put taller tires on it. Hope this helps. Buffalotrux
buffalotrux.... I agree with everything you said. I didn't think of the spacer , I cut a 1/4 inch off the input and bearing retainer. but your way will work as good if not better. If the hole in the center of your bellhousing is the same as the bearing retainer on the T-5 , you can transfer punch the mounting bolt and drill and tap the bellhousing. ok I'm done
Sounds like what you have there is the Ford pattern S10 T5. They are World Class, and I don't think the internal parts will work in the Non World Class case because of the bearing differences . Bob
Not necessarily true. You cannot tell gear ratio by year alone necessarily. Read the T5 Tech. 3.76 is the highest S10 ratio. There are other NWC ratios that are higher and other years with 3.76. If you're using a "normal" Chevy bellhousing, the difference in length is actually 3/8" (S10 input is 7", standard Chevy is 6-5/8") - there are other ways to achive parts compatibility besides a spacer....a Camaro T5 will have the correct input length. This is a true statement. Tony on here did a great write-up on adapting the T5 to the Chevy Inline 6 - check out the T5 Tech link
Thanks everybody for the replies. I'll stick with the 86 t5. 1st will be a little low sped but the od will work nicely.
What rear ratio do you have? You can go higher with the 4.03 gearset because the OD isn't all that over-driven and still end up with about the same setup as a 3.76 gearset and stock rear gears....