I'm planing on running a GM T5 behind my Yblock. Question is, does anyone know the casting number for a 1988-89 chevy astro van t5 transmission from a V6 van? I've been told thesis one of the better ones to look for. Any info would be great. Plan on doing some junk yard shopping!!
There are a couple of threads on here that have fairly comprehensive lists of T-5 trans and applications. Going down the list of what I have Ford T-5 applications http://www.allfordmustangs.com/Detailed/349.shtml The rest http://www.****osgarage.com/tech/t5/T5Numbers.PDF
First, good luck finding one - they are fairly rare. Second, check the link in my signature - the main T5 write-up has the Astrovan tag numbers (do NOT use casting numbers). Third, I don't know that an Astrovan T5 is the best choice behind a Y-block. I'd be looking for a world-cl*** T5 out of a Camaro/Firebird.
Flat ernie, I understand the WC T-5 from a mustang is probably a better choice. I just dont want to go through the h***le of swapping tail shafts to get the proper shifter location that I need. The S-10 and Astro Van have the shifter just where I need it. I plan on using an aftermarket adapter I found on line. But I need to use a bell housing from a 3spd car transmission, not a truck. The shifter location is real important cause this is going in my 64 F100 with a bench seat. Also, my engine will remain stock with the exception of headers.
Well, the Astrovan shifter is a little farther back than the S10. The S10 has the furthest forward position and it sounds like that's what you need. The Astrovan shifter is about 2.5" further back.
Now Ive read a ton of stuff on the T-5's, both Ford and Chevy, but none state whats the best or ideal transmission to use. Any ideas? Everything I read is a little vague regarding tag numbers etc. I know the S-10 V6 is better, but which one. There were so many offered. What would someone use on a Flat head Ford?
I've got an S-10 behind my '56 f-100, stock y-block. My opinion is that you don't have enough horse or weight to even begin to hurt a fairly decent stock t-10 out of an S-10. IF i'm not mistaken, the shifter will fit in the stock hole in the floor.
i have a astro van 5 speed in my car . i had to get truck shifter because the van shifter was offset to driver side.
Fast, tell me about the set up? From what I understand I need to use a car 3 speed bell housing? What year? and I was planning on buying the adapter from Wilcap. What clutch, pressure plate did you use.
I'm also doing a T5 swap but behind a '54 Flathead Merc, I'm using a mid 80's S10 T5 (technically a Chevette T5 #005) but also know of an '88 Mustang (4cyl) T5 which I believe is WC. Thought of using the stronger World Cl*** mustang ****** with the S10 tail shaft until I was told there are speedometer issues when doing this change?? Aparently Ford and Chevy speedometer locations are slightly different and are not compatible without shimming and modifying something inside the case?... I'm still looking into this but think the s10 tailstock conversion only works on Chevrolet T5's.
Leyland, the swap can be done just fine. Read Flat Ernie's link above. It has tons of info that will help you with the swap on a flat head. Also, google "flathead T5" and you will find TONS of info. Now S-10 T5 on a Yblock, haven't found anything yet
I found these websites which may be of some help. http://www.wilcap.com/webdoc8.html http://www.ford-y-block.com/t5in-cars-bird.htm I will ask an old timer I know and see what he says about adapter's & clutch compatibilities. I believe there are a number of different length's for T5 input shafts, some may be more difficult to adapt to your application. I think most imput shaft's are interchangable though between cases. BTW, Sorry if you took my previous post the wrong way, I was trying to clear up some foggy water about swapping tailstocks's around between T5's as posted earlier. I edited my post to be more clear Good luck.
All good on the post man. I never take this stuff personal! Thanks for the site info and looking in to it for me.
The 4-cyl Mustang trans have a long, skinny input shaft. No - it works on all T5 Input shafts are interchangeable ONLY if it is the same cl*** (world cl*** or non-world cl***) AND ge****t (2.95 1st gear, 3.76 1st gear, 4.03 1st gear, etc). Typically, the only common input shaft interchange is between the '94-95 Mustang and '89-93 Mustang. The '94-95 input shaft is about 3/4-inch longer due to packaging in the (then) new SN-95 body style over the old FOX body. Otherwise, swapping input shafts means swapping the entire ge****t.
I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in here... I have what's been refered to as a T5 Hybrid for my coupe. It's a Camaro/Firebird V8 gearbox with an S10 tailshaft and a mechanical speedo drive. The S10 tailshaft seems to get the shifter far enough forward to be acceptable with the bench seat. The Camaro /Firebird gearbox has the close ratio ge****t so it ain't like drivin' a damn truck. The gear ratio's are first;2.95:1, second;1.99:1, third;1.34:1, fourth;1.00:1 and fifth;0.68:1. I plan to run a set of 4.11 gears in the diff. so it should come off the line like an M21 with a 5.50 rear gear and do 70 on the interstate at about 2000 rpm. The trans is exactly 3.5" longer than a Muncie or Saginaw and uses the same yoke on the driveshaft. It bolts up to any GM bellhousing '55 and up and uses the stock chutch fork and throwout brg. just change to a 26-spline clutch disc. I believe I'd stay with the close ratio ge****t no matter what T5 you use. Somehow, a hot rod with a truck ****** don't seem very hot to an ol' timer like me...
Just curious what hp and ft-lbs are you running in front of this setup. It sounds a lot like what I want to do but I am wondering if the T5 can handle the 400ft-lbs from my '56 Caddy 365 mill in a fenderless A tudor.
I have found any T-5 for a V-6 works well unless you beat the **** out of it, the 2.8 engine is very common. I just bought a complete 1991 S-10 for parts at a cost of $150.00, they are there for s**** prices ($350-$500), pull what you need and s**** the rest, many times you end up with free parts.
Seems to me the only reason the Astro van version is being recommended over an S10 is that the 4.3 V6 Astro van had the 3.50 first gear and it also has the Ford bolt pattern and forward shifter location and probably cable driven speedo. These are still NWC. Finding a '84-86ish 2.8V6 S10 T5 with the 3.76 first gear will do just as well, but will have the standard Chevy bolt pattern. If you plan on driving it hard, or having more than 300hp, then using a WC '88-92 V8 Camaro with an S10 tailhousing would be the way to go. Apparrently at least some of the time, some modification to the S10 tailhousing is required when trying to use it behind a Mustang T5. If it won't go on all the way, you may need to machine down the area that holds the oil funnel and thrust bearing. You could just use the rear mounted trans as is and move the shifter forward with something like this: http://www.mustangsplus.com/xcart/Restomod-Speed-Shift-Black-Remote-Shifter-Handle.html?page=1
For what it's worth, you can find a less desirable T4 from an S10 and use it for parts to move the shifter the same way, and save a few bucks over buying two transmissions to make one out of. At least one on eBay right now.
But, in 1988, wherever they made T-4s they ran out of 4-speed tail shafts and began using 5-speed ones. Ask me how I know! The 5-speed version has the big bubble on the lower right/p***enger side of the tailshaft for 5th gear so before blowing off a 4-speed, check the tail shaft, especially if it came out of an '88 S10.
Ernie or anybody else know if there are replacement gears, etc. avilable today for those GM Astro van T5 ******s with the 3.50 first gear? I found an '88 GMC Safari (same thing), but the transmission has a chipped tooth on the cluster and the input gears.
Just doing a quick google, I found this website that has some T5 1st gears: http://www.tbtrans.com/t5_transmission.htm
If you use the tail shaft housing on the T-4 that came with with the T-5 tail shaft housing you will have to remove the gear selector plate below the shifter and put the one from the five speed into the one from the four speed in order to have fifth gear. The four speed does not have a slot for the shifter for the fifth speed selector. It is held in with screws.
I have one from an Astrovan. We're in the middle of a snowstorm here in Maine but when it clears up , if no one has responded with the info by then, I'll dig it out of my shed and check the casting number.
Thanks for this info, James - I did not know this. It is especially helpful since I just removed the 4-speed ****** from my 40 Ford coupe (w/said 5-speed tailshaft) as I'm setting up a "spare" 5-speed w/mech speedo for both/either my avatar or 40 coupe which both now have T5s ....
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