t-5 question

[spdkilz02]

I was wondering if the t-5 that is put into the firebirds and camaros is the same as the one they use in the mustang? I was thinking about getting a world class t-5 to put into my gt.

[deaner]

The guts are the same, but won't work with an Opel. Not without serious modifications. You need one form a Chevette or Pontiac t2000. I also think the input shaft is different. And I think the gear ratio's are different too.

[spdkilz02]

well i know that people have put a t-5 in there gt before...a company used to make an adaptor plate to mount the t-5 to the opel bellhousing...of course then u would have to modify the mount and crossmember along with the driveshaft...

[deaner]

I put a t-5 in my Manta, it's the one from a chevette. All I had to do was weld a plate on the upper part of the Chevette bellhousing. And relocate the upper two holes. And fabricate the trans crossmember. A driveshaft from an auto Opel bolted in. I used the Opel speedo gear drive. Stock clutch, stock clutch arm. The shifter was in a different place, so I modified the Manta tunnel. Overall an easy job. Well worth it if you can still find a Chevette or Pontiac t2000 trans. All of the California cars were only 4-sp.

[spdkilz02]

ok ill have to check it out...tomorrow i have a free day so maybe i can find something

how did the tranny hold up? and can they hold much power?

[namba209]

Must have been a different T-5 than I have out of an S-10 for Willit? I called Tremec, the folks that bought out Borg-Warner and they told me they never did have a T-5 with a mechanical speedo, they are all electrical inputs to an electrical speedo. That revelation cost me over $300 to get a box that converts the electrical output of the tranny to mechanical input to the Opel speedo.

[rowdygt]

That person at Tremec needs to be drug tested....1983 to 1987 Chevy S10 t-5's used mechanical speedo drives....I just finished adapting one of these on a flathead '51 Ford V8.....The original speedo cable screwed right on to the T-5 and works perfect....Rowdy

[namba209]

Ya know Rowdy, that really upsets me because I called them explicitly to find out if there was a way to convert the electrical output back to a mechanical. I would've even changed out the tailshaft housing and output shaft to do it. Oh well, live and learn.

[deaner]

Originally Posted by namba209 Ya know Rowdy, that really upsets me because I called them explicitly to find out if there was a way to convert the electrical output back to a mechanical. I would've even changed out the tailshaft housing and output shaft to do it. Oh well, live and learn.

When I was doing my install, I dealt with a company up in Los Angeles call Sticks only. They were really helpful.

[namba209]

After I spent the $300+ for the "XBox", I'll go ahead and use it. One good thing about it, is, it is almost infinitly adjustable. They guarantee they can get the speedo accurate to within +/- .1 MPH. I can live with that tolerance. Besides, the engine computer needs the input to keep the vehicle speed down to 115 MPH, as the government safety folks require, or so I've heard. Then again, I can always disconnect it too.

[rowdygt]

Actually, because of the adjustability, this electro-mechanical converter thingey of yours would be better (and alot easier) than a straight mechanical...for adjusting speedo for different tire size or gear ratio.......Rowdy

[deaner]

Originally Posted by rowdygt Actually, because of the adjustability, this electro-mechanical converter thingey of yours would be better (and alot easier) than a straight mechanical...for adjusting speedo for different tire size or gear ratio.......Rowdy

In theory, Yes. I understand what you are saying. But it would intail new speedo, wiring, and other modification. It would be the way to go on a "one off" type of car. (like Ron's) On a stock Opel it would be easier to calculate the ratio. And choose the proper Mecanical drive unit. (given that your trans was mecanical to begin with). I'm not sure if the t-5 Ron has is convertible. When I did mine, because the t-5 I used had the same drive system. All I had to do was match the speedo ratio with the proper drive gear. The "w" number you see at the bottom of your speedometer is in relation to your speedometer ratio. I just swapped the drive gear from my 4-sp to the t-5. It was a strait up swap. And connected the speedo cable. Can't get much easier than that.

I am curious if the t-5 with the electronic speedo has the same drive system as the mecanical version. Ron?

[spdkilz02]

this is good news to know, really glad that i asked...one of my worries was the speedo...

[namba209]

Originally Posted by deaner I am curious if the t-5 with the electronic speedo has the same drive system as the mecanical version. Ron?

From what I understand, it's got some type of "Hall Effect" sensor in it instead of a mechanical drive gear. I've gotta pull the sensor out and do a bit of mod on it, when the body shrunk, and I installed the package for the last? time, the plug got dinged, so I've gotta fix that. Then I can see just how the system works.

As far as the "XBox" adapter, I had to have the end of the box's speedo cable changed to mate up with the Opel speedo, no big deal there. The unit woks by taking the electrical signal from the tranny and causing a small electrical motor inside to drive the speedo cable. With the documentation that came with the unit, there are 17 pages of dip-switch setting for the 11 dip-switches inside. They have a formula in the booklet to figure out tire size, differential ratio, and some other stuff, just to get you started, then you fine tune the unit by driving exactly one mile and check the odometer. You then set the 11 dip-switches up or down to get the odometer to indicate one mile, after driving one mile exactly. Whew, and I gotta do the same thing with the tach too, but it will be easier with my scanner reading actual RPM, along with my analog electrical tach, so between the two, I can get close without getting out of the driveway.

[ddoyle]

Anyway to verify which chevette t-5 one might have? I have one that I was told came from a diesel chevette, if so I am sure the ratios are different, unusable? Was planning this swap for the Manta.

Dan

[deaner]

Originally Posted by ddoyle Anyway to verify which chevette t-5 one might have? I have one that I was told came from a diesel chevette, if so I am sure the ratios are different, unusable? Was planning this swap for the Manta. Dan

I know any of the gas Engine. Chevette's and Pontiac's 5sp will work. I do not know about the diesel's. A quick look at the bellhousing should tell you what you need to know. Should look the same as The Opel.

[ddoyle]

Yes the bellhousing looks the same(mismatched top 2 holes of course). Just curious about the ratios. Anyone know the ratios for the gas or diesel chevette t-5?

Dan

[namba209]

Originally Posted by ddoyle Yes the bellhousing looks the same(mismatched top 2 holes of course). Just curious about the ratios. Anyone know the ratios for the gas or diesel chevette t-5? Dan

Dan, I ran a "GOOGLE" search and here's what came up:

BW Model 1352-005
Original application 198-846 Chevette
Engine 1.6 L4
1st gear 3.76
2nd gear 2.37
3rd Gear 1.49
4th gear 01.0
5th gear 0.86

HTH.

[opelnut10]

You cannot use the diesel Chevette transmission, it is an Isusu transmission and will not work on the gas Chevette bellhousing and the stick is in a different location. The Driveshaft and clutch is also a bag of worms to make up. Best Conversions are Chevette-T1000 with bellhousing in a Manta or Ascona and S-10 transmission and Chevette-T1000 Bellhousing to get the stick location right.

[ddoyle]

Thank You Ron. So it sounds like if I have the B-W trans, not the Isuzu, it came out of the gas chevette. And that would be good for me. The s-10 clutch mod on the opel flywheel will work ok with this trans, right?

Thanks,
Dan

[deaner]

Originally Posted by ddoyle Thank You Ron. So it sounds like if I have the B-W trans, not the Isuzu, it came out of the gas chevette. And that would be good for me. The s-10 clutch mod on the opel flywheel will work ok with this trans, right? Thanks, Dan

I would think that since all the Opel parts can be used. That the s-10 mod would also apply.