Scored a mystery T4 or T5 at Lake Compounce...

Hello!

Just got back from the Lake Compounce swap meet in Bristol, CT. Scored a few cool items that I needed, and also got a ****** that's got me a bit confused.

I saw what I thought was a T5 box with the S10 tailshaft and a mechanical speedo drive, so pounced on it. The seller told me that he made the same mistake, and that it was a T4 4 speed, basically a T5 without the 5th gear. The number on the bar coded tag was 1351-120, which DOES indicated a T4. However, I just rebuilt a T5, so I know what a tailshaft looks like, and where 5th gear is, and this ****** has a tailshaft that has a bulge for the 5th gear. It also has a casting # on 1352-066 on it...1352 is a code used only for T5s, NOT T4s.

I've attached pics of both sides.

Might the General have used a T5 tailshaft on a T4 in an S10 application?

This ****** does not appear to have been opened, so I'm going to open it up tomorrow to see what I have, but I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts.

At the end of the day, I paid almost nothing for the damn thing, less than $50, so I figured that it was worth the gamble.

Thanks...

Chris

 

Need a shifter in your pocket so you can plug it in the feel the gears...

My guess is it's a T-4 cause that's what the tag is. No one would put a T4 tag on a T5

 

My guess would be that they used the same tail housing on both boxes for that application. You shouldn't have to take it apart to find out - run it through the gears and see if you got a 5th gear or not.

 

Could it be a 4 speed OD ******...like they put in the early 80's mustangs? That would still be a score IMO.

BTW, I just got back from Lake Compounce too, I was pleasantly surprised...more car parts than junk and chinese tools this year

 

Maybe a 4 spd out of an early s10/blazer? I've seen a few

 

A t5 should have a gate under the shifter that reveals the pattern.

 

That is a T5 tail housing. The T4 tail housing bears a 1351 part number, and lacks the "bump out" for the 5th gear set. The top covers for both are identical. All of my T5s have a top cover with a 1351 part number. Pull the tail, and look inside. Either way, the housing is worth what you paid for it. Also, no BW T4s or T5s were painted. This one may have been gone through, and could simply have the wrong tag.

 

i had one out in my shop,so i went and looked at it.looks like a 5 speed to me.its same as mine

 

Well, if worse comes to worse, you could sell the tail shaft and get your money back.

 

The shift gate in the tail section below the shifter block does not have a slot for fifth gear selection. It is below the shifter, the ball bearing runs in the slots. It can be changed out for one out of a 5 speed and now it will fit on a T-5 and have a gate for all of the gears. Hope this makes some sense.

 

This is an S10 T4 tail housing:

This is an S10 T5 tail housing:

The S10 T5 tail housing was revised a couple of times, but still retains the same bulk shape.

I think you could put a T5 tail housing on a T4, but I am not certain. Just because it wont shift into 5th on the bench, does not mean that 5th is not there. If the teeth are not lined up, it may not go in. Try turning the input shaft while trying to engage 5th.

 

Is there any reason why a T5 housing couldn't be installed on a T4 if the T4 housing got damaged

 

I believe that it would work, just the transmission mount is in a different location, by a couple inches.

 

Any news, Chris?