possible to build a t5?

[88camaroproject]

hey i found a free t5 by me and was wondering if itrs possible to build it to handle 500 hp and tq? will it be expensive? any one ever done it? thanks - Tom

[Savage Messiah]

is it a world class? A regular one I don't think I'd waste my time on, I'll put ti this way, V6's break them fairly commonly. First 3rd gear goes... then 2 others... and by that point you rip it out for a (in your case) 700r4... if not even a th350/th400 :P

[Earlsfat]

I don't think the newer (post 80's) manual factory transmissions are very easy to beef up. If it was a muncie I'd say yeah you could do it, but it'd be chaeper to buy a Richmond 5 or 6 speed, TKO500 or TKO600, or a D&D T56. By the time you have the original trans pulled, bought the upgrades for whatever you're working on, rebuilt that one and installed it, it'd probably be worth the extra 500-800 to buy a brand new trans... that works right and comes with a warranty.

If you have a stock ring and pinion (2.73 or thereabout) you'd probably be better off with a Richmond, they're designed to work with the numerically lower rear ends. I think the 5 speed is about 1900 and the 6 speed is about 2100. To get new gears, bearings, etc for a manual, if you're buying good quality new gears, will run you about $600 - $800. Figure you're saving about 5-20 hours depending on how many times you've done it (not hard, but first time is a bitch), and you might just be better off working a couple extra hours, maybe getting some overtime, and buying a brand new one.

My 2 ¢.

[Savage Messiah]

even the "built" t5's dont stand up to much power

[Earlsfat]

Originally Posted by Savage Messiah

even the "built" t5's dont stand up to much power

Not according to the company that makes them: http://www.ttcautomotive.com/English...ts/TKO.asp#Car

The chart at the bottom says TKO should handle 500 ft/lbs. Now I know there's a big difference between a T5 and a TKO 500, but if you're calling a TKO 500 a built T5, then you're wrong. (At least on paper... I personally don't have any experience with them, and don't know anyone who deos either.)

[88camaroproject]

well i have a th350 already in there. with a shift kit, i was just wondering about building a free t5 since all the holes and crap are there to switch to a manual cuz my car had a 5 spd in it at one time. i just wasnt sure if i could get it to handle my 400 when im done building it (which its in the hot tank right now at the machine shop my buddy works at and will probably end up being a 406 or something) and my rear has 3.83 gears i think???? maybe it is 3.86, dont remember. i will probably just end up doing a little more work on the th 350 like a trans brake and maybe a manual valvebody or the reverse pattern ones. and then drop a stall converter on it and put it back in. it sounds like i dont have the cash to go stick.

[Savage Messiah]

T5 and TKO arent the same... how about instead of clicking on TKO, clickign on T5... http://www.ttcautomotive.com/English/products/T-5.asp


can't take more than 230 lb/ft...

[Earlsfat]

Originally Posted by Earlsfat

Now I know there's a big difference between a T5 and a TKO
500

Yeah I said that. By "built t5's" I thought you were refering to a TKO. I've never heard of anyone trying to beef up a T5... from what I've heard the cases are to weak, and it's not practical to make one stronger.


Anyhoo... If you're talking about beefing up a T5, not upgrading to a TKO... save your time, blood, sweat and tears. And money.

[Dyno247365]

Get a doug nash 5 speed, those were the transmissions in the 350 Mecham Magnum Iroc-Z.
Honestly, save your money for a T56. They'll take the potentialof your vehicle to a new level. I want one...

[Earlsfat]

I thought the only difference between a T5 and T56 was the second overdrive gear? (Performance-wise, obviously the T56 can handle more torque and HP)