NV 3500 vs. T5 for manual swap

[Wageslave]

I've been wanting to start gathering parts for a manual swap this spring in my '83 El Camino, and am wondering which way I should go. A T56 or TKO 500 would be nice but not really within my budget. I can find a T5 or NV3500 at the local scrap yard fairly cheaply.

My engine probably makes from 260 - 300ft/lbs. of torque so I will probably be at the top of the range for both transmissions. I will not be beating my car to death, but I do put a lot of mileage on it an 15mpg could definately improved upon.

I am leaning more towards the NV3500 even though it is a little less common as there is about 10 different versions of the T5, and the NV3500 is the same length as a TH350 so no cutting on the driveshaft.

I am also wondering which parts I need to add a clutch pedal and master cylinder to the firewall.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[ssn696]

The S10 had a 4:1 granny first and about a 0.86 overdrive, plus the shifter is too far forward to be of use in a Gbody. These break really easily when fed too much torque. The NV3500 is not worth your time because the bellhousing is integral with the trans and it will require beating your floorboards a lot to make it fit.
Your best option is a T5 from an 83-93 F-body. The 'World Class' versions introduced around 1987 withstand more torque. The easy way to identify one is the lower bearing cub partly hidden by the input shaft collar will have a ring with lettering on it. The desirable ones are the 2.95 1st gear with either a 0.63 or 0.68 5th gear, and come with a the same 26-spline 1-1/8" input shaft used in Muncie gearboxes of the 70s.
The much more common 89-96 V6 F-body came with a 3.35 1st gear and a 1" 14-spline input shaft. There are conversion clutch discs to make this work with a 10.5" size flywheel and pressure plate. The shifter will come out on the center of your console (if you have one) but you will need to wrangle a tilted pad on your crossmember since GM rotated the trans to put the shifter in a better place for the low seating position of the F-body.
The early F-bodies had a mechanical speedo sender, and the later ones had an electric sender, so you will need to re-engineer your instruments. Pedals can be found on the Forum or on the Internet. It's as easy as swapping in a longer bolt through your brake pedal. You can use the F-body bellhousing, but you'll have to retrofit a hydraulic clutch actuator to your firewall.
This is one of many posts on the Forum about the T5 swap. The reason you find S10 T5/NV3500 in the yards is that no one really wants them for anything.

 

[Wageslave]

The bad thing about finding F-body anything around here is it is rare to find one in a junkyard that has not been stripped to the frame. The ones that I have found are usually automatics. I've got a digital dash in mine, so I can adapt to either speedo setup with no issues.

It may be easier for right now to just source the pedal and master cylinder side of things, and see what pops up on craigslist in the mean time.

 

[UNGN]

I had an NV3500 in my Dodge Dakota and T-5's in multiple 5.0s'. A WC T-5 is better. Lots of guys around here build T5's that will easily take 300 lb ft for about $750-850.

 

[Wageslave]

I always liked the NV3500 in my old dakota (other than the non-synchro reverse), and I haven't heard too many horror stories of them failing. I am definitely not ruling out a T5 though. I will be going to the junkyards tomorrow, and see what the options are.

 

[marcar1993]

A friend of mine did the s10 nv3500 in his Malibu, it fit just fine, still need to mod the crossmember and driveshaft, but it worked fine. 1st gear is really short, overdrive isn't that great, and it doesn't handle a ton of power. I'd go world class t5 over a 3500 I think just because the power capacity is similar and the gearing is better. Try to hold out for the t56 though, its nice to have something with good gearing and strong.

 

[Texas82GP]

I have a WC T5 from a 91 Iroc to put in my car. I have an 83 Camaro bellhousing so the transmission will sit normally on the crossmember and that bellhousing works with the G-Body mechanical clutch linkage. I'm using the G-Force crossmember for the T5/700R4. Here is a good read on the G-Body T5 swap......
http://www.garage-scene.com/t5-into-ag-body/

 

[Wageslave]

The bad thing is that I have 2.73 rear gears, which puts me in a wierd place for my 1st gear ratios.

V8 F-Body T-5 - 2.95x2.73 = 8.0535
S-10 T-5 - 4.03x2.73 = 11.00 or 3.76x2.73 = 10.26
C/K 1500 NV3500 - 4.02x2.73 = 10.97
S-10 NV3500 - 3.49x2.73 = 9.5277

Feel free to correct me if i got my numbers wrong...

 

[Texas82GP]

Yeah, the 3.08 works better with the T5. 2.73 is kinda high for overdrive.

 

[ssn696]

Where are you located? This is what your need:
http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/pts/5957939064.html