Need transmission help for v-8

Hello everyone! I need some help with a transaxle for fiero. I'm doing an lt1 383 to the tune of 450-500 hp realistically. And need help finding a transmission. I've spoke with someone at one time that was pretty knowledgable about the v-8 fiero's. Installed many, many of them and he was installing high horse motors. He told me the gretak just do not hold up with good horse power, That they blew just about every one they ever installed (and I deffinetly want to beat on mine all the time) so I was wondering if someone knew of a trans. I could use? I lost his phone no. so I can't call him. I am looking for a stick shift trans. And possibly considering supercharging later (but probably not) but do want a trans to handle the additional power if I do. I am stretching the car so there are more possibilities . I am familiar with the porsche 930 trans and know that will handle the power with no problem, but I am not sure if I will have the room to make that one work. Can anyone give me some help?

The best manual transmissions I know of that are made for a transverse mounted engine are the ones that came in Fieros stock. I don't see why a properly built getrag 5 speed wouldn't take a 500 horse kick in the nuts and not be able to handle it.

A Porsche tranny would be a great idea, but don't they mount the engines with the crank perpendicular to the wheels? There really isn't room to mount an engine that way in a Fiero unless you cut the trunk out and fabricate a TON of stuff.

If you beat on most things withs 500+ hp, things generally start to break. You can't really expect to have a bullet proof driveline in a car this small. The transmission that I think you are looking for is the Getrag 282 which came in the Fiero GT's and several other cars. SLIGHTLY (if at all) stronger is a Getrag 284 which is harder to find and takes more modifications to make fit. (I believe including different length axles as well as different stubshafts) If you end up supercharging it, getting around 550-600HP, expect things to break, especially if you plan to beat on it all the time. Agreeing with Ragtop, go with the porsche tranny. Its going to take a lot more engineering/money to get it to fit, but will be better suited for the constant abuse. Let us know how it goes and good luck.

Thanks for the replies. I'll half to look into how much the getrag can be built to hold. (horsepower) If I remember correctly the gentleman I use to talk to about these trannies, I think he said the gears are just to small to handle some real power and abuse. And he pretty well convinced me I would tear it up pretty quick. Maybe with a high performance rebuild they'll have stronger gears? To bad I just can't settle for an automatic. Is there any companies that your familiar with that hop up those getrag?
I'm doing a 10.5'' stretch to the engine compartment. And that's why there's the possibility of being able to use the porche trans. The engine then gets mounted longitunally. The Porsche trans is mounted upside down as to not have 4 reverse gears. The measurement I then have on the transmission, from mounting area of engine to the center of axles is about 11'' So I'm not sure if that's going to fit. I'm going to try to keep the axles as straight in line as i can. It will be nice if those getrag could be built to handle the power. Those Porsche are expensive.

Note I did say properly built. Give the people a mid engine 2 passenger car with a lightweight, well structured steel unibody and an easy to customize outer plastic shell, and they WILL, in the face of bankruptcy, death, and more bankruptcy, find a way to get 800hp, 750ft/lb torque, and 300mph out of it.

Once the engine fits, the next step is the transmission itself. There have been numerous upgrades made to shaft bearings, gears and synchronizers to handle the enormous power driving them. Check the aftermarket world for Getrag 282 parts and you'll be surprised what's out there.