scottland

I was blessed with a Saginaw 4 spd from the factory in my 82 Z , and since i've put in a 350H0, the sainaw's days are numbered.

getting to the point.

i want to go with a tremec 3550, but i don't currently have a T-5.

the tranny they sell fo rthe 82-9 f-body is the GM "LATE" transmission. and was designed for a direct replacement for a T-5
so thats clearly not for me. because i really don't want to go find a T-5 bellhousing, and switch all my clutch linkage to hydralic.

the one that would bolt up the bellhousing i have would be the GM "Early"

so what i am wondering is, if i order the "Early" 3550 will the crossmember location be the same? and will everything else bolt up alright?

i as far as i gathered, the only difference between the GM "early" and "late" trannies is that the late 3550 has an adapter plate to attach to the t-5 bellhousing, and a longer input shaft to accomodate the plate.

could someone help me out on this one?

TKOPerformance

Personally I feel that using the T5 bellhousing and adapter plate is a mickey mouse solution to the T56 install. This requires the driveshaft and torque arm to both be shortened. For this swap I'd just run the T56 LT1 bellhousing and the LT1 style hyradulic clutch setup.

I can see why you don't want to lose the mechanical clutch linkage. I'm not a fan of the hyraulic units because it is hard to "feel" where the engagement point it. I think you have other options though. I would check with D&D Performance for anything related to a T56. They are awesome, and have nearly everything you'll ever need in stock.

I think you'll have less issues with the T56 than with the 3550 in terms of installation, and you'll get another gear that will really improve your mileage.

drain89

iTrader: (10)

The 3550 will hold up to more than the T56 will. If you stepped up to the TKO version of the Tremec 3550 5 speed, you won't tear it up. I believe that D&D sells these also, along with upgraded T56's and parts. Forte's does too. Call D&D and they will tell you which would best suit your needs.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

I'm not totally up to speed with the 3550 but am pretty familiar with the T56, aftermarket and otherwise.

If it requires the 18 degrees tilted bellhousing but you want mechanical linkage, you need an 83 bellhousing. It uses the same fork, clutch, etc. as your 82. Done. If you want to trade the 82 bell for an 83 bell, email me.

Matthew

scottland

im opting for the tr-3550 out of cost, you can pick up a brand new "early" gm kit on ebay for $1400(a distributer of fortes). and im also looking for a new tranny. the newest f-body that a t-56 i can use came out of is a 1997, thats 6+ years old, and low mileage trannies are getting hard to find. that or the 68,000 mile tranny on ebay really has 168,000 miles on it. and i just can't justify the cost of a new t-56 just for the added gear.

the tr-3550 or the TKO have a .68 5th anyway, plenty low enough for me.

also the 3550 supports as much power as a t-56, and the tko supports more.

your right about the mechanical clutch.

plus i don't feel like retro-fitting a hydraulic setup anyway.

mjpell

Forte's "F-Late" 3550 has the correct input shaft for the 3rd gens; either as a T5 replacement or an automatic replacement.

check this out http://www.5speedtransmissions.com/3rd_gen_camaro.html

and http://www.5speedtransmissions.com/3...y_package.html for the parts you'd need to swap from an automatic.

This info is the same for either the "F-Late" 3550 or the "F-Late" TKO, except the price drops for the 3550.

Hope that helps a bit.

Mike

scottland

i know, but i don't have a T-5 or an automatic.

i have a factory 4-spd that only came in '82's. the T-5 wasn't available until 83.

i have a 4 spd saginaw transmission, other '82s came with a super t-10.

either way, im just gonna call only fortes distributers, and ask them which tranny i need.