trans swap question.

[mrsmothers]

So I want to put a t5 in my 1950 ad and I have a million questions. There is so much info out there its over whelming . I have a sbc backed by the good old sm420 in it.

question number

1. do I have to switch bell housings? I know a sagnaw 3 speed and a sm465 use the same but will the 420 and t5 swap over?

2. how much longer is the t5 then the 420

3.will the clutch and pilot bearing be the same from sm420 and t5 .

4. what are the weight differences.

5. dose any one have a link to a step by step with pictures of how to do the swap.

O I dont know if it matters but the t5 will be out of a s-10

[magicoolbus]

Here's a 'few' web sites, including some links here, that I have accumulated pending my swap. I can not comment on the SBC to T-5 swap as all of my research is centered around the SM420 to 235 swap. I am keeping my foot stomp starter and bell housing from the 235 as they are integral.


http://hamiltonintakes.com/products/...-5-information

http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/...feature25.html

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313954

http://www.inliners.org/ Look under Tech Tips!

http://hamiltonintakes.com/products/...57-chevy-truck

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/Bo...T5-ID-Tags.htm From all I read, the 1352-145 is the trans of choice!

http://hamiltonintakes.com/products/...5-swap-adapter

http://vintagemetalworks.blogspot.co...ter-plate.html This is a very good idea, I bought one! This will prevent you from having to extend the spline grooves.

[mark '87 930]

I did the swap over the winter and it went very well. My sm420 was great except that i need overdrive.. so the T5 was the right choice for me.

1. do I have to switch bell housings? I know a sagnaw 3 speed and a sm465 use the same but will the 420 and t5 swap over?

NO, they are the same bolt pattern, as long as you stick to a T5 from a GM vehicle and not Ford.

2. how much longer is the t5 then the 420

It is pretty much exactly 12". So your driveshaft needs to be shortened.

3.will the clutch and pilot bearing be the same from sm420 and t5 .

NO, you'll need to go with a clutch from an ASTRO mini van (14 spline, 11"). (http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...344P&ppt=C0015) or you can go with a new clutch kit (new pressure plate, bearing and clutch disc) which is what i did (http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1351&ppt=C0015).

4. what are the weight differences.

I can't be sure, but the T5 is significantly lighter than the SM420.. also not as strong. I'd guess at about 60 lbs lighter.

5. dose any one have a link to a step by step with pictures of how to do the swap.

I think that got answered very well in the previous post.

O I dont know if it matters but the t5 will be out of a s-10

I took the tail housing from the S10 and put it into the T5 from a Camaro i bought. The input shaft was the same length as my SM420.. so no adapters needed. You will likely need one if the S10 version you have is not from a v8.

[AZ59apacheguy]

Originally Posted by mark '87 930

3.will the clutch and pilot bearing be the same from sm420 and t5 .

NO, you'll need to go with a clutch from an ASTRO mini van (14 spline, 11"). (http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...344P&ppt=C0015) or you can go with a new clutch kit (new pressure plate, bearing and clutch disc) which is what i did (http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1351&ppt=C0015).

First off I want to thank mark '87 930, he gave me A LOT of usefull information when going through my T5 swap.
I agree with everything mark '87 930 said except for the throwout bearing. When it came to my application the trowout bearing that came with the Astro Van kit did not work, it was too short. It did not give me enough throw to disengage the clutch. I ended up using the throwout bearing that I used for my 235/SM420 setup, it was longer and gave me plenty of throw to disengage the clutch.

[mrsmothers]

that was exactly what I was looking for now comes the fun part, parts collecting.

[55dude]

If you want to use 10 spline clutch disc you can swap out the input shaft from the AMC version of a T5, they swap right in.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by 55dude

If you want to use 10 spline clutch disc you can swap out the input shaft from the AMC version of a T5, they swap right in.

Good info but that might be beyond some of the guys personal mechanical capabilities.

One thing, most of the older S-10 transmissions are non world class meaning that they have bushings where the "world class" transmissions had bearings and may not hold up to hard use behind a V8 too well. With a fairly stock 283 doing cruising and road driving I don't see any big issues though.

I have one to go behind my flathead V8 in my Model A and am thinking seriously about putting one behind the 292 in my 48 in place of the faithful Saginaw full syncro three speed that I have now.

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

and am thinking seriously about putting one behind the 292 in my 48 in place of the faithful Saginaw full syncro three speed that I have now.

Well hopefully after I put one behind my 292 and tell you how great it is, it will put you in high gear. Haha.