Compatable 5 or (hopefully) 6 speed manual transmission with a C3 350?

M

melssen

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
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19
Location
Miami, FL, but really from NW Ohio
I love my vette but really hate the gas mileage. It is mostly my fault, I drive too fast and accelerate way too fast. Still, I would like to put a few more gears into my 4 speed. I am still going to hold on to my original trans, just change it for now for economic purposes, try to get a little better than 10 mpg. So, I am looking for a 5 or 6 speed trans that I can pick up off a wreck or the junkyard that will not be a difficult or expensive swap. Any ideas or experience?
Thanks and I promise, I will start posting help, not just questions.
 
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Probably the only budget solution is a Mustang T5. Could probably do that for less than $1000. TKO and T56 possible with more $$$$$$$.
 
Agreed. T56's are expensive. A good solid LS1 T56 will run you between $1200 to $1800 for one in good shape.

I'm not sure about the price of an LT1 T56, but they are cheaper (less power capability, different slave cylinder design). I believe I read the LT1 T56 bellhousing will bolt up to a Gen I block, but never looked into it since it wasn't my direction.

It can't hurt to call around to a few junk yards and price them out, but expect a high dollar amount.
 
I have read on other forums that Ford t-5 has a different bellhousing to trans. bolt pattern so you cant bolt a chevy bellhousing to a ford trans. as well as the tailshaft is different. Their is nowhere for the torque arm and the shifter is to far forward.
 
melssen said:
I have read on other forums that Ford t-5 has a different bellhousing to trans. bolt pattern so you cant bolt a chevy bellhousing to a ford trans. as well as the tailshaft is different. Their is nowhere for the torque arm and the shifter is to far forward.
Click to expand...

The Ford T5 does have a different trans to bellhousing bolt pattern. However, the Ford T5 has a 1/2 inch longer input shaft than a Muncie. So it's perfect for a 1/2 inch thick trans to bellhousing adapter plate.

Torque arm? The shifter is going to need some relocation regardless of what transmission you use.
 
F body T5, bolts right up, same length as 700R4, direct replacement if you have an 82.

2 on the left are T5s

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First off what's your rear end ratio? If it's 3.08 or less and your trans has a 0.64 range OD you'll need a stump puller cam to run under 2000rpm at 70mph with a sbc.
The T56s from f body cars have a 0.5 OD, so forget about using that gear unless you have a 4.11 rear end.
The T5s have a 0.6 something OD. There are a lot of Ford world class ones out there that will survive behind a sbc, but you'll need an adapter bell housing and pilot bearing.
Be careful of the GM T5s, they came in variations that were rated as little as 200ft/lbs of torque. The best GM T5s were behind 305s in f bodies. But even these were only rated for about 300ft/lbs.
 
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