I have a question that I'm hoping someone here might be able to help. I'm wondering if a mid '80s S10 5 speed from a 4 cylinder or 2.8 V6 will bolt directly to a standard small block or 90 degree V6 Chev bellhousing. I've done a bit of research, and there seems to be a difference of opinion. Some say that the S10 T5 will bolt directly to the standard SBC bellhousing, and fit to the engine with no problem, while others say that the input shaft on the S10 T5 is approximately 9/16" longer than the input shaft on a V8 T5, which would require either machining the existing input shaft to shorten it, installing a V8 input shaft in the S10 T5, or installing a spacer between the bellhousing and the S10 transmission, in order to space the input shaft on the S10 T5 correctly to the back of the SBC. I even found a company that sells the adapter/spacer that goes between the transmission and the bellhousing. Has anyone here had any firsthand experience with this, who could shed some light on this subject? Thanks in advance for any help.
S10 5 speed to SBC/4.3 V6 fitment
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GM used 2 different splines but the shafts with the same length...the shifter location is different in the s10, it's further forward than the T5 you'd find in an F body. You can also find T5's in Astrovans. The s10 T5 will fit the bellhousing on a SBC
GP, thanks for your response. I understand that it will fit the bellhousing. What I'm not sure about is if there is a difference in the length of the input shaft between a 4 cyl/60 degree V6 T5, and a V8 T5. Some places say that there is a difference of approximately 9/16" (S10 input shaft is longer). I've been on several forums, and there are differing opinions on how to work with the difference in the input shaft length. Some say to swap out the 4 cyl/V6 input shaft for a V8 input shaft. Some say to have the 4 cyl/V6 input shaft cut down and re-machined to fit correctly. Yet others say that you need to space the transmission back from the bellhousing to get it to fit properly. I found a website for a company called Hamilton Intakes, that sells a custom made spacer plate to space the transmission back from the bellhousing the proper amount. On their site, it shows a photo of an S10 T5 bolted to a standard small block bellhousing and small block engine, using one of their spacer plates. Until now, I thought that there was no difference in the length of the input shafts between the 4 cylinder/60 degree V6 T5, and the V8 T5. Now I'm not sure. That's why I'm trying to find out. I'm thinking about swapping an S10 T5 for the Saginaw 3 speed in my '81 Iraqi Malibu, in order to keep the shifter in the original location, and I'm trying to figure out if this will work, or if its not worth it. Like I said before, any firsthand experience with this would be appreciated. Sorry for the long post-just trying to be as clear as I can here. Thanks again.
I have not heard the input shaft being a different length but if it is and that's a problem it's easy to switch out the input shaft...or you can get a T5 from a v6 camaro and change the rear casing and shifter rod to the S10 rear casing and rod
there is a guy here in kitchener on kiji who's selling a T5 which is probably the WC version
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehic ... Z329403566
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehic ... Z329403566
GP, thanks for the link to the ad. I'm not sure that the transmission listed in that ad would be the best for what I'm looking at doing. GM didn't start using the WC T5 until the 1988 model year, and the car in that ad looks to be about 1985 or 1986. As you pointed out before, I'd have to switch the tailshaft housing and shifter to get the S10 shifter location. Also, the F body V8 T5 trannys were mounted on an 18 degree angle toward the left side of the car, instead of straight up & down, as the 4 cylinder and V6 T5s were. The bellhousing for a GM V8 T5 has the transmission mounting holes angled at the 18 degree angle, to mount the transmission so that the shifter handle points straight up. I've seen them mounted on a standard straight up bellhousing, but usually, the shifter needs to be heated and bent over to point straight up in a normal position. I figured that since I'll be installing the S10 transmission behind a V6, I shouldn't really need the strength of a V8 transmission. What I'd be looking to find is something more along the lines of the transmission in the Kijiji ad with the ID number 330694625, in London, Ont. Thanks for keeping me in mind though.
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