5 Speed Swap
And How About A 6 Speed?
J_: I have a 1968 Chevelle with three on the tree. I'm thinking about swapping in a later model 5 speed (T-5 or T-50) from an 80's Camaro/Firebird. These are plentiful in the local junkyards. Will they bolt up to the standard Chevy bellhousing? Are the input and output splines the same? How about the transmission mount?DS: A 5-speed in a 1968 Chevelle will fit, and there is an article from the August, 1993, issue of Super Chevy Magazine. There are other areas that should be researched in which the OEM bellhousing has been discontinued from GM, and the logical choice is to use one from Lakewood Industries. My other recommendation about swapping a five speed would include the Tremec TR-3550, a replacement for the T-5. This might be the answer to the ultimate 5-speed swap, in which the transmission can be installed "straight up." The T-5 is canted 18 degrees to the left, and a special bellhousing must be used. Why not try a 6-speed swap, like the Richmond Overdrive (the Richmond Five speed with an overdrive gear), or a Borg Warner T56? The latter six speeds are found in 1993+ Camaros/Firebirds, and there are installation kits that enable anyone to install a T56. A T56 swap is the least expensive due to the low cost (if you can find one of the ads in a magazine).
Archivist: Tom Wilson
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