49-54 Chevy T5 adapter, Buffalo Ent. or The Hot Rod Works?

So, I am going to put a T5 behind a 1960 235 engine, I have a 53 car bellhousing mounted up. It is going into my 50 with stock pedals, linkages, etc... has anyone used one of the adapters? What is your preferences, Hot rod works is $175, not sure on Buffalo's price. Just want to go with the best choice for the money, curious if any good or bad experiences either way. Thanks

 

i used truck bellhousing astro van t5 van clutch and truck pressure plate, truck throwout bearing with stock 3 speed linkage. worked great no adapter and shortning input shaft. drove it a little no problems.

 

I can't offer any help but I am going to do the same thing on my 54. I can't wait to hear what others think.

 

anywhere but Buffalo

 

Care to elaborate?

 

I've done business with Buffalo. I thought he was great to deal with. Keep in mind he is a 1 man show and usually does stuff to order. I have no complaints. Todd

 

I'm curious too........

 

This swap is in my near future for my 54 chevy and I was going to use the adapter so I could keep stock linkage. I am very very interested to hear this also

 

I used Buffalo for my swap. Worked great and he is a nice guy to deal with but like was said, he is a one man show and doesn't use the Internet so you have to call him.

 

Kind of makes me nervous not using the internet. I like to go to a website, see the product and how it looks, works before I buy it. Other than Buffalo or HRW I dont believe there are any other alternatives. I don't want to go with the truck bellhousing,why go through all of that work when all you need is a plate and it goes right in and everything fits just like it did. I am a little confused, some say machining may be required on the trans in some cases, not sure why some and not others, but guess I will be first to find out when the time comes.

 

I used a spacer/adapter Hamilton Intakes made. Maybe $125 ish. It's been a couple of years since my purchase. Perfect product, no complaints, and no input shaft mods required. Well, I did cut 1/4" of the bearing retainer as my clutch disc hub was thicker than the stocker. Something to check before ***embly for sure.

 

Looking at the adapter Hamilton Intakes offers it is only a spacer. That meaning you need to have a later-model bell housing ( one with the "modern" bolt spacing). Buffalo has the adapter that will hook the late model trans to the early (close bolt pattern) bell housing.

Edit: just looked at the HRW kit (2) of them. That looks like a good setup!

 

Here are the modifications required to install our p/n2100 on a p***enger car bell housing:

1. Shorten the bearing retainer (throwout bearing sleeve) to 3 5/8” OAL.
2. Drill or ream transmission mounting holes to 1/2”. They are metric and slightly undersize.

The sleeve modification is shown on a drawing on the product page on our website www.hotrodworks.com

The crossmember will have to be modified, or use our p/n 2200 crossmember kit.

There is an Alliance Discount also!!!

 

A couple years ago I order a 3x1 intake that needs to be modified a bit. He tells me it will be a few weeks. I say no problem. I send a check in September and say to ship it when its done. In Feb I call to ask about the status and he tells me I have at***ude and sends my check back with a nasty note to go **** myself.

Nice guy, huh? And I was a repeat customer from inliners for years

 

I think I will definetely go with Hot Rod Works. I like that I can see pics of the product, see it installed on a housing, comes with all hardware, etc.... The aggrivation of dealing with no website, phone calls, is not worth $50 to me.

 

Ordered my stuff from The Hot Rod Works today. Super guys to deal with, emailed a question, had a response in 5 minutes! You can't beat their service, highly recomend these guys!

 

There's pics of the Buffalo Adapter here:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2787988

I like the idea of the Buffalo Adapter being steel, at least that's what the thread says. The Hotrod Works one looks to be aluminum. I'd just be cautious about the aluminum threads on it.

Buffalo also includes the machining of the front bearing housing as part of the cost.

 

I used the HRW xmember and a GM aluminum bell for an 11" clutch, the GM fork that came with the bell and the stock 54 pedal and linkage and it all works like it was meant to be there. The HRW xmember kit is very nice and well built. Mine fit exactly the way it should. Of course I bought mine before HRW was an alliance vendor, go figure.

 

Wow Tom, you must have caught him on a bad day. I've known Steve for years.

 

We make ours from high strength 7075 T6 Alum. It is actually as strong or stronger than mild steel. It is also stronger and more expensive than 6061-T6 aluminum.

7075-T6 Aluminum:
ultimate tensile strength 74 - 78,000 psi
yield strength of 63 - 69,000 psi.
elongation of 5-8%.

1018 cold rolled Mild steel:
Ultimate Tensile Strength, psi 63,800
Yield Strength, psi 53,700
Elongation 15.0%

We are confident that the threads will be strong enough.

As we have refined the product, we have machined reliefs into the plate so that the only modification to the bearing retainer is to shorten the sleeve. This can be easily done by most hobbyist in their garage.

I hope this clears that up.

Thanks,
Ken

 

Thank you. We value the input of our customers.

Ken

 

You bet Ken, I'm very happy with my setup, keep up the great work and putting out a superior product!

 

I used the HRW setup in my car, along with their trans mount. Very happy with the quality and fit. Works perfectly!

 

I used Buffalo - Steve is a great guy to deal with. He also made the saddles to install the S-10 rearend and the trans support. I stopped by his place while visiting the area a few years ago, and really enjoyed looking around and talking to him.

 

Thanks Erik. I've been following your build. The chop turned out great.

 

Thanks Ken!

 

Another OMG Im putting a T5 in what the hell do I do. I wish I could get someone to publish a book on this subject. Its the most over ****ized topic ever.

 

Ill be doing this swap on my 53 soon as well. Ill need to get all my homework done before I tear into it.

 

Maybe so Larry, but he made it clear in his phone call that we were now lifelong mortal enemies and he has never contacted me to say things are different. Done use my name if you ever speak with him.

your valve cover went out last Tues or wed.....

 

I don't know. Why do guys that are in business act that way? I just don't understand.