Transmissions and Drivetrain Need help with your trans? Problems with your axle?

T5 Transmission upgrade kit

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Old 09-06-2011 | 12:01 PM
  #1  
peterc005's Avatar
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From: Melbourne, Australia
Car: 1988 IROC Camaro (RHD)
Engine: 350 ci L98 SBC
Transmission: T700
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt BW, Disk, Posi-traction
T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Does anyone have experience with Pro Motion, G-Force or other modified T5 kits?

Any idea of the cost or a good place to source this type of transmission kit?
Old 09-07-2011 | 10:39 PM
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From: Lafayette, IN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: pending install 383 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

for the cost of the kit and rebuild or a rebuilt unit you can swap a t56
Old 09-07-2011 | 10:48 PM
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From: NWOhioToledoArea
Car: 86-FireBird
Engine: -MPFI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

I don't agree with that, the T56 is stupid. Unless your doing high speed runs on the salt flats where your wide open for miles, 2 OD gears were dumb. should of been a closer range 5 speed with 1 OD.

Id get their new case if you want gobs of power through it, though the regular upgrades are also good for normal power needs with a stock case.
Old 09-07-2011 | 10:58 PM
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From: Lafayette, IN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: pending install 383 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

i agree the t5 gearing is way better. im pushing 425fwh and have no issues with my t5 that has 80 miles on it. but if i was going to spend the $ to go with gfarce it would be a waste, id just do the t56 at that point
Old 09-07-2011 | 11:16 PM
  #5  
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From: Melbourne, Australia
Car: 1988 IROC Camaro (RHD)
Engine: 350 ci L98 SBC
Transmission: T700
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt BW, Disk, Posi-traction
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

I guess that's the point and the dilemma.

The T5 seems like a good fit for a Third Gen. It's probably easier to put a T5 in that a T56 because the transmission tunnel was designed for it.

The upgrade kit seems to have a lot of benefits, but the $1,300 cost of the kits probably makes the T56 cheaper.

Seems the best option would be to upgrade a T5 with a transmission kit that doesn't cost $1,300.

Any suggestions?
Old 09-07-2011 | 11:21 PM
  #6  
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From: Lafayette, IN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: pending install 383 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Hawks said their guy can do it for around 850 the last time I talked to them if I remember correctly
Old 09-07-2011 | 11:23 PM
  #7  
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From: Lafayette, IN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: pending install 383 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Why are you asking about the kits?
Old 09-07-2011 | 11:34 PM
  #8  
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From: NWOhioToledoArea
Car: 86-FireBird
Engine: -MPFI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Last time I helped someone do a T56 we had to drive 3hrs away to get one for $900 and they wanted another $300 for the bell housing n clutch parts.

That was the best deal he could find.

you then got other parts to buy and mod.

Though in his case he didn't need the bell as it was being mated to a FWD chrysler to turn it into a RWD car as the cars body was stamped for RWD already. And he was a gluten for punishment when it came to mods.

[His work truck had two 5 speeds trans mated end to end with some clutch parts and a end shaft, for a mega range of gears, was neat shifting gears going backwards.]
Old 09-08-2011 | 01:01 AM
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Car: `86 SS / `87 SS
Engine: L69 w/ TPI on top / 305 4bbl
Transmission: `95 T56 \ `88 200-4R
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Originally Posted by Gumby
I don't agree with that, the T56 is stupid. Unless your doing high speed runs on the salt flats where your wide open for miles, 2 OD gears were dumb. should of been a closer range 5 speed with 1 OD.

Id get their new case if you want gobs of power through it, though the regular upgrades are also good for normal power needs with a stock case.
The T56 has varied from 3.35 first gear down to 2.29 in various applications and .50 sixth down to .8something. Where there are mountains, 5th in a T56 is quite handy to have. And if your car has torque and / or some gear, 6th is too.

Originally Posted by mackjar66
i agree the t5 gearing is way better. im pushing 425fwh and have no issues with my t5 that has 80 miles on it. but if i was going to spend the $ to go with gfarce it would be a waste, id just do the t56 at that point
There are a number of gear ratio setups for both.

Originally Posted by peterc005
I guess that's the point and the dilemma.

The T5 seems like a good fit for a Third Gen. It's probably easier to put a T5 in that a T56 because the transmission tunnel was designed for it.
The T56 fits perfectly fine in the third gen tunnel. Unless someone gets overly fascinated with running their antique bellhousing and an adapter plate which shoves it back (see: old Camaro and Chevelle forums where old men mistakenly think they need to cut out and replace the entire tunnel due to their stubbornness in running antique parts.)
Old 04-11-2013 | 08:52 PM
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Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Hey guys, I've been trying to search everywhere for more info about beefing up my nwc T-5 and was wondering if anything has changed in the market yet. I still haven't found much for under $1,300 which is insane, I don't want a t-56 unless I buy a 4th gen. Please tell me there's more now
Old 04-11-2013 | 09:06 PM
  #11  
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From: Beautiful Coastal New Jersey
Car: 1990 Firebird
Engine: 350 TBI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: Auburn posi 3.73
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Originally Posted by camaroxguy
Please tell me there's more now
There's not. Have to pay to play. Beefing up a T5 will cost about the same as getting a T56 and neither option is cheap. It comes down to the amount of work you want to do putting in a new trans vs how much stronger you think a T56 is than a built T5. The T56 does have 2 OD gears which would be nice for the highway if you have higher (numerically) rear gears, but not everyone cares about that.
Old 04-12-2013 | 12:57 AM
  #12  
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Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

It was worth a shot to ask, since a lot of you guys come across some gems. Thanks for the reply. I like the feel of the T-5 more to be honest, I'm probably going to go that route. I could always try to get a WC T-5 and do a standard rebuild. I'm not sure what a "standard" WC T-5 can withstand but it will be a while until the engine swap. I'll be talking to you guys soon
Old 04-12-2013 | 02:48 PM
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From: Rugby, England
Car: 1988 IROC Vert
Engine: 355 ZZ4
Transmission: T5 Manual
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Well I wanted to stick with the t5 also. It's lighter and original fit kit.

I've used the tougher G Force case and cluster support and so far so good!

The responses to people asking to upgrade their t5 is always 'get a t56' in the same way anyone that asks how to make a 305 faster you get told 'get a 350'. Really not helpful and I see it over and over again on these boards.

I say a t5 can be made to be tough quite easily but it does cost a little
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Old 04-12-2013 | 03:00 PM
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From: Charlestown, IN
Car: 1971 Camaro
Engine: 427
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

The biggest issue with the T-5 is the Case, and that can't be replaced. The case strecthes which then causes problems with the gears.


It is good, but has its limits.
Old 04-13-2013 | 06:34 AM
  #15  
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From: Rugby, England
Car: 1988 IROC Vert
Engine: 355 ZZ4
Transmission: T5 Manual
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

It can be replaced! with a G Force case.
Old 04-13-2013 | 07:56 AM
  #16  
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From: Charlestown, IN
Car: 1971 Camaro
Engine: 427
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Originally Posted by ZZ42Fast
It can be replaced! with a G Force case.


I know they offer one for mustangs, but dis not know they offered an upgraded case for f-bodies.

Good to know.
Old 04-13-2013 | 03:43 PM
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From: Rugby, England
Car: 1988 IROC Vert
Engine: 355 ZZ4
Transmission: T5 Manual
Re: T5 Transmission upgrade kit

Yeah, they are Ford by default but they machine them for Chevy. Its all good.
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