Chevette T-5

[spencerforhire]

I posted on the tail end of the other Chevette trans thread but that one seems dead so I'll start another.
I nabbed a T-5 out of a Chevette for free the other day, and what an oddball trans it is. Looks to be as short as a Saginaw, torque arm mount looks the same as H-body, shifter location a bit further foreward than F-body. Case to bellhousing bolt pattern is definitely unique; no mounting "ears" - bolts are tucked in tight.
Obviously the torque handling would be inadequate for use behind a V-8, but if the output shaft and tail housing could be swapped onto a Camaro T-5, it would solve various problems such as the twisted rear mount and bent shifter, and also avoid having to shorten a driveshaft.
I seem to remember something from another thread about using the tailshaft from an S-10 T-5 to address some of the same issues.
Anyone got any ideas?

[marco_1978_spyder]

good findings, if the tailshaft swap works out that would be ideal.

[Len]

Looking at the exploded views of warner t-5 & t-50 enternal components are verry different so I would say no.
How ever the information I have suggests that the t-5 was used in rwd gm 1982-86. So seeing how the trans was free I would go back & get bell housing , flywheel,pressure plate,disk,fork,th bearing & the drive shaft. To check the bolt pattern on the bell housing to what you have now if the same with the other t-5 components you should be able to make it work.As to how strong it would be I have no clue......


Len

[marco_1978_spyder]

so its possible that.....this tranny could be used to add a 5th gear to a 4cyl, 4 speed saginaw equipped h bod without having to source out the hard to find 5 speed bracketry?


Not much interest to the performance crowd but in these days of high gas prices....might be of value to a daily driver H?

sounds promising.

[cozwurth]

I found a great site a while back that deals with swapping a T-5 tranny into a number of different chassis types. There is quite a bit of info on the 'vette T-5 as well.

http://www.garage-scene.com/t5-into-ag-body/

Check it out and see what you think.

Dave

[greg72]

I found this on the site Dave just posted , and he's right it is a cool site.

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24.2. 1976 383 Vega
My friend John built this car and decided that the Borg Warner T50 transmission was on its last legs (gee, I wonder why). John discovered that the Chevette T5 is about the same length as a Saginaw, the shifter is in the same relative position as the T50, and the extension housing has torque arm mounting holes. Since all non-World Class T5s share the same mainshaft journal dimensions and the backs of all of the non-World Class T5 main cases are the same, it looked like we could utilize the modularity of the T5 and assemble a custom transmission.

Two transmissions were needed to perform this swap: a T5 from a Chevette and a non-World Class T5 from a V8 F body. I loaded the Chevette T5 mainshaft with the gears from the F body T5 and installed the mainshaft assembly into the F body T5 main case. The Chevette lid, F body front bearing retainer, and Chevette extension housing were then bolted to the F body main case. This was too easy.
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[marco_1978_spyder]

so isnt that basicly saying that using the 2 trannies you could assemble a t-5 5speed that bolts right into the saginaws spot????

if so, that would be too easy.

[res0o7eb]

Spencer,

Very interesting swap. Can you post some pictures of the Chevette transmission and the hybrid?

Thanks,
Tom

[spencerforhire]

Sorry, guys for the 5 day delay in responding- it was Thanksgiving long weekend up here in Canada and I was at the cottage.
No pics 'til tomorrow, but I looked at a Mustang T-5 last week, and I think the Chevette trans actually uses the Ford main case- I thought you couldn't crossbreed GM and Ford T-5's?
Thanks to greg72 for finding out that I'm not the first one to think of this idea- it should make my T-5 swap a whole bunch easier.
Unfortunately, I'm stuck with a V-6 F-body version of this tranny, and so far I can't find the proper V-8 one for a decent price, but I'm still looking; if necessary I'll order up the "hybrid" disc and take my chances- maybe it'll live if stay off the drag strip.

[greg72]

Thanks to greg72 for finding out that I'm not the first one to think of this idea- it should make my T-5 swap a whole bunch easier.

You are wlecome , but the real credit belongs to Dave (cozwurth). I just read through the website he had suggested.

I am also very interested in this topic. I like the 3.42s in my Mirage but i want to drive it (a lot) and am thinking a 5 spd trans would be just the ticket.

[spencerforhire]

Here's some photos of the Saginaw-length T5 I scored alongside the F-body one I'm going to try to crossbreed it with; also in background is the 76 Vega T50 for comparison. The T50 shifter had been bent to fit with a V8(of course it blew up!) and it looks like the Chevette shifter location is dead on. It looks like I might have to modify the torque arm mount- the bolt holes are oriented differently.

[spencerforhire]

Here's some photos of the Saginaw-length T5 I scored alongside the F-body one I'm going to try to crossbreed it with; also in background is the 76 Vega T50 for comparison. The T50 shifter had been bent to fit with a V8(of course it blew up!) and it looks like the Chevette shifter location is dead on. It looks like I might have to modify the torque arm mount- the bolt holes are oriented differently.

[spencerforhire]

hmm; double post and only one photo- lets trt another.

[monzaaddict]

so what ever happened to this?

[spencerforhire]

My wagon project is on the back, back, back burner. lol. There's a whole string of T-5's on a shelf in my garage. Right where they've been for the 10 years since my last post.
I did manage to score a "hybrid" clutch disc(and Centerforce pressure plate) so I can use the V6 Firebird trans if I feel brave.