after doing some research on the net, I haven't been able to find a definite answer. Inliners says the mid 80's S10 T5 is the best to use for my application. I've got a 55 Chevy 3600 truck with the O.G. 235. The question I have is what's wrong with the later WC t5's if its got the correct tail housing to accommodate the bench seat in my truck? What work differs from the work involved in putting the 85 S10 T5? i've read the mechanical speedo is a costly issue. are they really that hard to find and really that expensive to get? anything else to consider? reason for the question is I found a freshly rebuilt T5 from a 98 blazer that was installed in a 88 S10 but was pulled back out due to customer not being able to afford it. Guy wants 200 bucks for it to cover what he didn't get from the other customer. Thanks for reading and I look forward to your input.
I think the newer WC's had ford bolt pattern. I am sure someone else that knows for sure will chime in.
The later transmissions use an electronic speedometer output, which is undesirable for those using vintage mechanical speedometers.
You would probably be better off with a tranny from an earlier S10, those use mechanical speedos, here is a link for more info: http://www.flatheadv8.org/ernie/ernie-t5.htm
Yes, the WC S10 T5 has the Ford pattern. That was from '93 and newer. Some hold the opinion that a few "Chevy" pattern WC T5s made their way into the S10 but I don't know. I'd look carefully at the Blazer transmission. It may not be a T5 but rather a NV2500/3500 if it was behind a V6. Those trans don't have a removable bellhousing. Not sure what year the NV was first installed, but it shouldn't be to hard to research. Bob
not an opinion. I've seen an early '93 S10 T5 that was WC and had the regular Chevy pattern. To answer the original question, bolt pattern, shifter location and mech. speedo are the reasons for using an '83-89ish S10 T5. That's all there is to it. If you don't care about the cable driven speedo, then '83-92 S10 will work. There are a couple of converters available to change the VSS signal into a cable driven output. One is cable Cable X and is over $300 http://www.transmissioncenter.net/speedometer_calibration_______va.htm and the other is about $160 http://www.terf.com/SpeedChangerMechanicalPage.htm A Camaro version could be used if you were using bucket seats...
I have a Camaro V8 T5 with a Chevette output shaft, 5th gear, and tail housing. It put the shifter ahead of the seat in the floor on my '32. The mechanical Chevette speedo stuff required a reverser because the bullet goes in above the out put shaft. This combination will fit in place of a Muncie.
thanks for the input. trying to outweigh all my options. seems like a real good deal on the tranny and the WC version did have some decent improvements over the NWC as i've read. yes i can go to the Junkyard and get an 85 or so, but its probably going to need its own rebuild and then we're in the same dollar figure as getting this one and getting an adapter for the mechanical speedo. especially if the $160 version from the link above works well. seems like a WC T5 with the correct tail housing for a benchseat for 200 is a good deal. Am i wrong for thinking this is the right thing to do in my situation?
You don't need WC behind a 235. A '98 Blazer? 4x4? I doubt it's a T5, and if its a 4x4 it won't work anyway... Not all '83-89 S10's were mechanical, they did some of each, so you need to look at it before buying to make sure its what you need. If you are compelled to get a WC version and need the forward shifter location like the S10, then you will want to get a T5 from an '87-92 Camaro (Camaros started using WC in '87) and get another one from a '93-95 S10 and use the tailshaft, top plate and tailhousing. You will also then need to get the converter box, as these years of S10 are all electric. If you wanted to cobble the speedo gear location like they did in that article over at Inliners, then you wouldn't need to swap the tailshaft. In this case, to get the cable drive, you would want to find a '83-89 S10 with cable drive and swap just the top plate and tailhousing. And no, you can't just swap a VSS for a cable drive on the S10 tailhousing...
I just found a 5-speed in a last-gen Firebird, but it's behind a 3800-series V6. Worth the hassle, or no? -Brad
It's a Ford pattern. If that'll work for you is up to you, but for swapping purposes it makes more sense to stay with the Chevy pattern. Bob
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