83 T5 (v8) vs 89 T5 (v6)
12-29-2003 | 04:22 PM
#1
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 718
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From: Hliðskjálf / Pensacola, FL
Car: Camaro
Engine: 3800
Transmission: T5
83 T5 (v8) vs 89 T5 (v6)
They shift completly different... and I was wondering which one I should be worried about, if either.
The 89 T5 is from a v6 firebird. No idea how many miles, but it barely grinds going into 3rd... but only when its like 30 degrees out and the car is dead cold. It shifts very easily into every gear otherwise. Easy enough to put in with two fingers with no effort at all. New clutch when we did the swap, ~10k miles? ago. Transmission is dead quite WOT or normal driving. In "neutral" the stick always falls back to the center with little effort.
The 83 T5 is from an 83, that's all we know. Stock or not, no idea. No idea which motor or how many miles. It's behind an 88 L98 now. New clutch and less than 100 miles on it since we got it in. It goes in and out of every gear very roughly, but does not grind at all in any gear...cold or warm. There is a very high pitched whine when the car is accelerating (gets louder as the motor wraps up). One of my friends has a fox body with a T5 and he told me his has the "death whine", but the T5 in the GTA seems to be a higher pitch... so I am not sure if it is the same deal or not. In "neutral" the shifter has to be consciously put back into the center with a little effort.
Nither of the shifters have any slop in them side to side.
I know there are WC T5s and stuff... but should they shift different? Harder vs Softer, etc? Do v6 T5s act differently? Just wondering which T5 I should be worried about, if either of them.
-Bud
The 89 T5 is from a v6 firebird. No idea how many miles, but it barely grinds going into 3rd... but only when its like 30 degrees out and the car is dead cold. It shifts very easily into every gear otherwise. Easy enough to put in with two fingers with no effort at all. New clutch when we did the swap, ~10k miles? ago. Transmission is dead quite WOT or normal driving. In "neutral" the stick always falls back to the center with little effort.
The 83 T5 is from an 83, that's all we know. Stock or not, no idea. No idea which motor or how many miles. It's behind an 88 L98 now. New clutch and less than 100 miles on it since we got it in. It goes in and out of every gear very roughly, but does not grind at all in any gear...cold or warm. There is a very high pitched whine when the car is accelerating (gets louder as the motor wraps up). One of my friends has a fox body with a T5 and he told me his has the "death whine", but the T5 in the GTA seems to be a higher pitch... so I am not sure if it is the same deal or not. In "neutral" the shifter has to be consciously put back into the center with a little effort.
Nither of the shifters have any slop in them side to side.
I know there are WC T5s and stuff... but should they shift different? Harder vs Softer, etc? Do v6 T5s act differently? Just wondering which T5 I should be worried about, if either of them.
-Bud
12-31-2003 | 11:44 PM
#3
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 311
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From: Ithaca, NY - 10 sq mi surrounded by reality - I'm SOL!
Car: '89 IROC-Z
Engine: 305 TPI in stock trim
Transmission: T-5 w/ Hurst B/P shifter
Yeah, fluids could be a factor although I believe they would both use the same basic type - Dextron II or III fluid.
My info I have at home states that the T-5 used from '83-'87 regardless of engine, was a lesser-quality piece and it's short comings were the reason GM went to the "heavier duty" T-5 used from '88-'98 - I believe that is the World Class tranny. Not based on experience but purley from what I've read, I'd look more closely at the '89 T-5 you have available to you - if there is a problem with 3rd, maybe you'd want to wait for another but if there is some other cause for the problem you described I go for it.
See ya,
K
My info I have at home states that the T-5 used from '83-'87 regardless of engine, was a lesser-quality piece and it's short comings were the reason GM went to the "heavier duty" T-5 used from '88-'98 - I believe that is the World Class tranny. Not based on experience but purley from what I've read, I'd look more closely at the '89 T-5 you have available to you - if there is a problem with 3rd, maybe you'd want to wait for another but if there is some other cause for the problem you described I go for it.
See ya,
K
01-01-2004 | 12:36 AM
#4
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 718
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From: Hliðskjálf / Pensacola, FL
Car: Camaro
Engine: 3800
Transmission: T5
The only problem with 3rd is that it grinds when its noteven close to warmed up and its freezing cold outside. It's only grinded 3 times ever I think. I'm not really worried about that part though...
Just wondering if the easier shifting or the more difficult shifting is better/worse. The 83 T5 feels "sticky" almost, while the 89 T5 feels "soft".
I am not sure what it feels like when the synchros start going out either I guess... but both transmissions feel the same in all the gears. Does it get harder to shift in/out of gears or does it get easier then just not go...? Also wasn't sure if it's just the year difference in the way they shift.
Same ATF in both transmissions.
-Bud
Just wondering if the easier shifting or the more difficult shifting is better/worse. The 83 T5 feels "sticky" almost, while the 89 T5 feels "soft".
I am not sure what it feels like when the synchros start going out either I guess... but both transmissions feel the same in all the gears. Does it get harder to shift in/out of gears or does it get easier then just not go...? Also wasn't sure if it's just the year difference in the way they shift.
Same ATF in both transmissions.
-Bud
