T5 tailshaft swap for dummies, with pictures.

*bump* Anyone know about converting an electronic speedo to work with a mechanical speedo tail housing?

 

Awesome tech, I hope to be doing this soon to the coupe.
Thanks man.

 

While were on revisiting an old T-5 thread, I need a question answered. I have an S-10 NWC in my coupe. I also have an extra Mustang WC T-5. I'm comming up short on an adapter to put a Ford T-5 behind a Chev SB. Have I overlooked the answer to this?
Thanks

 

A '94-up bellhousings should work.
The AMC Eagle bellhousing should work.
McCleod makes a scattershield that puts a Toploader behind a SBC that might be adapted, but that's an expensive way through it.

 

i am looking for a s-10 t5 tail housing for a mechanicall speedo for chevy

 

can someone help me out drilling the hole to relocate the speedo gear as described on the inliners.org website? I tried a cobalt bit with rapid tap and the slowest speed on my drill press. It did make a mark but it's not what i would call drilling, i'll be there until next year.

Thanks
Red

 

Excellent tech post bro, thanx for taking time and effort to share this great info with the family! ~sololobo~

 

I tried a masonry bit and it cut like drilling mild steel with a normal bit. Awesome.

Red

 

Red, masonry bit, good to know, thanks.

 

My Camaro bell housing is rotated 18 deg toward the driver, any thoughts on getting my s10 shifter to point straight up now that my tail shaft and speedo gear are all installed? One problem with the masonry bits is they don't come in a lot of sizes at the hardware store so I bought a 1/8th inch and had to grind down the little tab of the speedo gear spring clip so it fits in the hole. Not much but it is a bit wider than 1/8th.

Red

 

You could bend the shift handle, just don't try it with the handle bolted to the trans as the stock shift mechanism is relatively weak and there are no shift stops, so if you slipped you might bend the shift forks as well.

 

thanks nexx, could work, it'd be cheap enough. Is there other gm vehicles that used a t5 and didn't rotate the tranny? suburbans, astros, s10s? the s10 donor tranny that I used came off the back of a 2.6 liter v6 so the bellhousing is not the same pattern. but on another forum someone said that a 4.3 liter v6 has the same bolt pattern as a 350? anyone know?

Red

 

4.3 V6 is 3/4 of a 350 (missinng cylinders 4 and 5 IIRC), but AFAIK, they never put the T5 behind it.

IIRC they used the 700R4 family exclusively in cars, and the pickups that had them had upgraded to the 1/2 Ton pickup trans (3350?).

There might be an aftermarket belhousing that would do the job, but that's awfull expensive route for ann "economy" trans.

 

What's a good aftermarket shifter? I've talked to B&M reps at shows and they say a shifter for the WC T5 is in the works. Haven't looked into a Hurst yet . I thought these shifters would be on the market a long time ago - any suggestions? Thanks!

 

The exception is the Astro Van, but that T-5 had a Ford pattern mounting flange.

Bob

 

ANYONE?

 

B&M makes a nice one, the newest one is supposed to be the shortest throw yet, which will help with the longer stick most people are likely to run in the kinds of cars here (most of the other short shifted for these cheated some with an extra short sick too, so the shift mechanism isn't as short as it could be).

 

Just use another bellhousing ....

 

Use the Camaro shifter, or bend the S10 one. Or use a normal bellhousing and then the S10 tailmount will be level and the shifter won't need to be modified.

 

Hurst, for no reason that I can see, has decided to discontinue the T5 short throw shifter. However, there is this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Core-Short-...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item3f16645d4c

 

The '83-92 T5's have the standard Chevy bolt pattern and 4 11/16" bearing retainer that most '55-92 Chevies used (but not all). The only exception on the bolt pattern is the 4.3 Astro van version.

The only tipped trans application is the Camaro.

Only T5 application behind the 4.3 was in the Astro van, and those are "Ford" patterned.

Tell us exactly what you are trying to build. What size flywheel?

 

Here is a great option.


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=436232

 

I'm looking for some help on identifying this transmission, and have a couple of questions. I've been looking for a NWC T5 S10 tailshaft to mate to my 86 Camaro T5. I saw an ad on Craiglist for this T5. The owner says it is from an S10 but does not know what year. The only number he has is GAR_U WG 13-51-102, but this was not from the metal id tag (which is missing). From what I have read, the only way to tell is the metal tag - all other numbers are meaningless.



Questions:
- Is it possible to tell whether this is a WC or NWC? Possibly from speedo connector?

- Would my 86 Camaro shift lever work in this tailshaft (since this one is missing)?

- Is $100 OBO worth taking a chance on this since this is 2-3 hour drive to pickup?

Thanks for any information.

 

Being that the trans has a lot of unknowns I probably wouldnt go out of my way 2-3 hrs for it. But I also don't know how the parts scene is out there. Figure what it will cost to go pick it up and you might be able to buy another one cheaper closer.

 

Thanks low620 - I've been looking locally for a few weeks now without any luck - that's why I hate to pass this one up. But I also don't want to buy something just to re-sell because it's not what I need. Unless I get some positive responses here I'm thinking I'll keep looking, though.

 

Looks like a core to me....most likely needs a rebuild...no shifter..

 

the tailshaft is just a big hollow section of nothing, simply put...if you are trying to relocate the shifter on your camaro trans..it'll work...money wise, that's for you to decide if it's worth the drive and cash.....i did this swap for my wc t-5 (camaro trans) i stuffed into the topolino.....and yeah your shifter will work....the issue will be relocating the speedo ...it is different location on the s-10 tailshaft....at the very begining of this thread are different suggestions for relocating the speedo gear on the tailshaft...be aware if you are using the rotated bellhousing as i am you'll need to bend the snot out of the shifter to get it off your knee....but is do=able...what i'm running in the fiat...and it don't get much tighter then that

 

Thanks Toplino. Yep, sounds like I have what you have - my camaro t5 is on a slant, but I'm hoping to use the bellhousing from my 235 that's currently in my 51 pickup. Haven't test fit it yet, but from what I read it should work. Then with the s10 tail that should remove the slant and move the shifter forward also.

I could tell by the pic that it had been taken apart - maybe I'll just lowball and see how badly he wants to get rid of it.

 

14 spline input S10 T5's are all NWC. So yes, this one is NWC.

This one is an electric sender, if that matters to you.

It looks kinda iffy to me. I would definitely want to see it before buying. If the tailshaft is good, you could swap it out with the one in your Camaro box and avoid the speedo gear shimming.
You will need to do some modifications to it to bolt up to your '51 truck bellhousing, or spend $150 on a special spacer plate available from several sources.