Dirtbik3r

How long will my t5 last with 360+ hp / 405+ ft.lbs? I'm Taking bets. Oh yea, this is without slicks.

rjmcgee

Can you use the clutch when shifting?

TexasLT1

this question comes up about 3 times a week. and everytime the answer is the same, it depends. if you don't beat the crap out of it, the trans will last. if you go out on the strip with slicks and do 5000 rpm clutch dump launches, you'll be lucky if it lasts 1 pass and be riding on a ticking time bomb if it does.

since you said you won't be running slicks, if you don't powershift it, you'll be fine. for a while anyway.

Dirtbik3r

I'm being serious. I'm not going to "not use the clutch" when I shift rjmcgee. I'm not a car abuser.

TexasLT1, I realize this questions appears often, but I wanted to get a pole drawn on this subject. A lot of people tell me that as soon as I take off a little to hard, on even street tires, my T5 transmission will explode. I will buy a T56 in the future but due to my current budget, I can not overhaul the entire car at once. Everyone says the cost of installing a 6spd is only around a thousand... -That is a lie. A t56 USED costs around $1000. But then you must take into account that you will need a transmission crossover, an LT1 driveshaft, and an adjustable torque arm. I believe this price is more like $2000 plus.

Basically, I created this thread to find out if it was possible to maintain the t5 untill the winter. At that time, I would spend the money for a T56.

There is no reason for a 5000RPM clutch drop with these cars, even when launching. No comment from you 800hp guys... My friend has a WS6 Trans Am that runs 12's at the track. All he has are Nitto's. He launches the car around 2700.

88 350 tpi formula

iTrader: (9)

mine lasted for years behind a beefy sbc 400. showing off is what kills them. don't be afraid to get on it just don't row gears like you have something to prove. BTW I ate more 10 bolts than I can count on one hand with the same t-5 once I went to a 9 bolt it was all over for the t-5

84ZMIKE

my t5 non world class took a dump on me today....hung up in 4th gear........320hp/390ftlbs. trq.(estimated)....I'm sure I can fix it,but I have a world class that I got with the car so it is going in 4th of july weekend..........not to sure how long it was in the car with this motor....it is the original tranny.........

rjmcgee

My point was that it comes down to how YOU drive your car. I beat on mine but don't try and power shift it with out the clutch. I have had pretty good luck with the 100,000 + mile take out T5 that I have in the car now. I believe that it has a better chance of survival if you can get the torque arm off of the back of the tranny. I think that they are better trannys than people give them credit for if used mostly on the street and not in a car that hits the track every weekend. You should have no problem running it for a while until you upgrade.

TKOPerformance

Two things:

One, anyone who says the first time you launch it on steet tires will kills the trans is a moron. You can't make a statement like that. I've heard this so many times when people are reffering to a T5, and it just isn't true. A beefy race trans it isn't, but a weak kneed POS it isn't either. With street tires and a decent driver it should last quite a while. I know a guy who drag races his car nearly every weekend and has gone 10s on slicks using a stock WC T5. He has broken the trans 3 times in 5 years. Those odds aren't that bad when you think about it. Sure, plenty of numbskulls have grenaded a T5 in a stock car because they drive like a teenager, don't know how to drive stick properly, and are still running the stock shifter (big, big mistake).

Two, a T56 swap is going to run you about $2,000, maybe more depending on how you do it, and/or what aftermarket parts you buy. If I were you I'd just get a complete LT1 T56 with all the related parts and boltit in. Don't use the aftermarket T56 that is "meant for the conversion". It's so meant for it that you have to shorten the torque arm and driveshaft where a stock LT1 setup allows you to reuse both items. What's the big deal about it, that is allows you to use a mechanical speedo? Woo Hoo!

BTW, for less than a T56 swap you could also upgrade your WC T5 to G-Force gears, or do a super alloy conversion. If you're only reason for the T56 swap ia added strength this may be a better way to go. Some people want the 6th gear, or the way cool factor, others don't care. Something to think about.

RocBoy

iTrader: (1)

I say intill you line up next to any kind of real challange at a lite . Happy Mustang Hunting NY.

KiLLJ0Y

iTrader: (1)

i used the T56 that is "meant for the swap"... and i can tell you i like the gearing a hell of a lot better than the LT1 T56..

yeah i shortened the driveshaft and Torque arm.. whoop dee doo.. not that big of a problem.

LT1 T56 use the crappy pull type clutch while the "Meant for the swap" one uses the push type.. which GM went back to with the LS1..

1st gear is 2.97 and final of .66

dont have to cut the trans tunnel to make it fit either..

so weigh the pros and cons and see what fits your budget and time.

TKOPerformance

I didn't have to do any modification to the trans tunnel except cutting a hole in it for the shifter.

Stock TA and driveshaft worked fine. Having the shaft shortened would have cost me $100 with rebalancing. I wasn't a fan of modifying the TA, even though I am a more than competant welder. If I were going to do that I'd probably just go with an aftermarket TA that was engineered properly. The TA is all that holds the rear end in alignment. If it broke it could be catastrophic, and my life is worth the money I'd spend on a Spohn TA setup.

I love the gearing in the LT1 T56. With 3.73s at 80 MPH I'm not even turning 2,000 RPM. The 0.50 6th is a big part of the reason I went with the LT1 T56. Premium gas around here is $2.40 a gallon, so every bit helps. I find the gear spacing to be great, nice and tight, and 1st gear isn't unmanagably tall.

I can't complain about the clutch setup either. It works just fine. The flywheel and clutch assembly are LT1 specific, and consequently a little more costly, but that's about my only complaint. BTW, the LS1 uses a hydraulic TO bearing system. The clutch actuation direction may be back to the old style, but the setup is unlike any other GM has ever used in a Camaro or Firebird.

If you had a blow-proof bellhousing, SFI flywheel, and a bunch of cash tied up in the clutch I could see going with the retrofit T56. The truth is that this trans was designed for early musclecar swaps, more than 3rd gen swaps. IMO it just made a lot more sense to use the LT1 T56, especially with my auto to manual swap.