5spd swap, from an S10?!

[Moloko]

I've been planning this for a while, since my daily driver wagon has not had a working transmission for over a year now. Any reason I couldn't make a T5 from a first gen S/10 with a 4cyl fit into my 79 wagon? I would get the trans, bell, lines, pedals, and hydraulic lines. Anyone ever tried this?

 

[Crossbreed]

Not sure which question you're asking. Are you planning on installing the 4-cyl with it? If so.... why???
If you're installing just the transmission and trying to mate it to a v8, I would say don't bother. If it was made from the factory with a 4-cyl in mind, I don't think it'll last on anything that's not a 4-cyl.

 

[Longroof79]

I don't know about the T5 from a 4cyl S10. Depending on what engine it's going behind. I would think it wouldn't last behind a V-8. Maybe an extremely mild engine and you babied it.
Also, I don't think you could use the 4 cyl. bellhousing on a V-8, or V-6 for that matter.

 

[Moloko]

The 2.5 Iron duke shares the bolt pattern with a SBC, so the bellhousing from a 4cyl will fit, but not a 2.8 v6 one. It should hold up, seeing how this is the same trans that was in the 5spd 3rd gen Camaros. My engine is a 260hp GM 350 crate motor with an upgraded cam, so it's not a screamer by any means. I don't really know what I'm asking exactly, just looking for feedback.

 

[Moloko]

Found the clutch I would need. 1988 Astro van has a 14 spline input and a 11'' diameter.

 

[Crossbreed]

I'm still solid on the "If it wasn't meant for a V8, don't do it" stance.

 

[clean8485]

Keep in mind that GM did make a slightly stronger version of thr T5 that was known as the "World Class" T5 for use in some V8 F body applications. The biggest engine that GM put the WC T5 behind was a TPI 305. GM did put 350 engines in the 3rd gen F body, but the only trans available was an automatic. That should give you some idea of the long-term reliability that GM thought that the T5 had, even in world class form.

 

[joe_padavano]

The 2.5 Iron duke shares the bolt pattern with a SBC, so the bellhousing from a 4cyl will fit, but not a 2.8 v6 one. It should hold up, seeing how this is the same trans that was in the 5spd 3rd gen Camaros. My engine is a 260hp GM 350 crate motor with an upgraded cam, so it's not a screamer by any means. I don't really know what I'm asking exactly, just looking for feedback.

It's not exactly the same trans used in the F-body. The S-10 version has the puny 1"-14 spline input shaft, although the rest of the internals are comparable to the V-8 version (which isn't saying much). Also the S-10 shifter is about eight or nine inches further forward as compared to the Camaro/Mustang version of the T-5. That will likely be a problem with shifter stick position. If it's a World-Class version (not until 1994 in the S-10) it's stronger but only comes with the Ford pattern case, which might be a problem with the bellhousing for a V-8.

 

[custom442]

well you're looking at the wrong 5spd. T-5 from an s10 wont hold forever with all that torque. Plus all the headache you'd need to go through just to get it to bolt up. The T-5 can be made to handle some real power, but the s10 one is a bad place to start, even if it is the later world class or not. Look at the nv3500 5spd from a v6 s10 instead, it'll be an easier swap and it's made to handle the torque of a small v8. Only downside is they're a b*tch to rebuild. You're two steps ahead if you start the swap with the correct transmission