5-speed swap is complete!

85_SS

G-Body Guru

Nov 6, 2005

683

3

0

Ontario, Canada

www.cardomain.com

• Dec 13, 2007

• #1

My World Class T5 swap is complete! Got everything buttoned up tonight! The only parts I am waiting on are my shifter and a bullit housing for the speedo (which I traded a guy on the thirdgen board for my electronic one a month ago, and still haven't seen the other one come back 🙄 ). A couple other outstanding things like a pedal stop and nuetral safety switch (not sure I'll bother with this one) as well, but that's all details 🙂

Big thanks to all of those I annoyed with questions along the way!

Now I just have to wait for a day the roads are nice and dry (and I get the parts mentioned above of course) so I can test her out and make sure everything is working fine 🙂



Quick question - does anyone know if a clutch fork return spring is required on a hydraulic setup? There doesn't appear to be any good spot to put a spring (where it won't slide off) on the fork (like a mechanical fork does).

 

85 Cutlass Brougham

Geezer

Sep 1, 2006

6,687

34

0

Tampa Bay Area

• Dec 13, 2007

• #2

It was not used factory in the 3rd gen F body. How hard was the pedal box installation and what did you use? I am gathering components right now to do this to my Cutlass and don't quite know what to do when it comes to installing the hydraulics and the trans mount. I have 2 T-5's right now that are for spare parts and a 84 Camaro Bellhousing from a 305/T-5 car.

BTW, the factory plastic clutch slave and master are not very good. It was not one of GM's brighter ideas.

 

85_SS

G-Body Guru

Nov 6, 2005

683

3

0

Ontario, Canada

www.cardomain.com

• Dec 14, 2007

• #3

Thanks for the info 🙂

I used JohnB's clutch pedal and hydraulics from a 93-02 F-body - these are nicer since they have a braided stainless line rather than plastic. The master and slave are still plastic though. The crossmember was from a g-body with a TH350 and only require minor mods - you can also buy one from iceman (Rick Fisher) on the maliburacing board (or ebay). Here are a bunch of sites with tons of good info that helped me along the way. A couple months ago I technically didn't even know how a clutch operated 😀

http://www.shiftn6.com/6gearg.html
http://www.garage-scene.com/t5-into-ag-body/
http://musclecarsonly.com/
http://www.spnkzss.com/tremec.htm
http://www.darklair.com/manual_monte.html
http://www.bowtiepower.com/T5conversionP2.html

 

C

cooler26

Apprentice

Aug 12, 2007

58

0

0

• Dec 14, 2007

• #4

I just finished putting a 4 spd in my cutlass. I am using mech. linkage though. Still working out some of the kinks... Do you have any pics of the hydro set up?

 

85_SS

G-Body Guru

Nov 6, 2005

683

3

0

Ontario, Canada

www.cardomain.com

• Dec 14, 2007

• #5

cooler26 said:

I just finished putting a 4 spd in my cutlass. I am using mech. linkage though. Still working out some of the kinks... Do you have any pics of the hydro set up?

Click to expand...

I have some pics on my page of the pedals under the dash etc, but I didn't think to snap a pic of the master before I remounted the brake master cylinder on the firewall. I can get a pic of the slave though and I'll post that up.

 

85_SS

G-Body Guru

Nov 6, 2005

683

3

0

Ontario, Canada

www.cardomain.com

• Dec 16, 2007

• #6

Sorry for the delay, but here is that picture of the slave cylinder:

 

fodoimp

Master Mechanic

Oct 8, 2006

370

2

0

Southern New Jersey

www.thestreetrodstore.com

• Dec 16, 2007

• #7

I am getting ready to do this to my cutlass....where there any clearance problems I should know about
thanks

 

85_SS

G-Body Guru

Nov 6, 2005

683

3

0

Ontario, Canada

www.cardomain.com

• Dec 16, 2007

• #8

fodoimp said:

I am getting ready to do this to my cutlass....where there any clearance problems I should know about
thanks

Click to expand...

The shift rail looked like it may rub the top of the tunnel, but a couple taps with a hammer took care of that. No other real problems to speak of...

 

85 Cutlass Brougham

Geezer

Sep 1, 2006

6,687

34

0

Tampa Bay Area

• Dec 17, 2007

• #9

I will also add for the person with the mechanical linkage, you can use the mechanical linkage with a T-5. GM paired the two together for only one year, 1983. So, you need a hard to find 1983 305/5 speed F body bellhousing and your mechanical linkage to make it all work. The GM hydraulic system has it's share of issues and you will have a much more reliable setup if you stay with the mechanical linkage.

 

85_SS

G-Body Guru

Nov 6, 2005

683

3

0

Ontario, Canada

www.cardomain.com

• Dec 17, 2007

• #10

85 Cutlass Brougham said:

I will also add for the person with the mechanical linkage, you can use the mechanical linkage with a T-5. GM paired the two together for only one year, 1983. So, you need a hard to find 1983 305/5 speed F body bellhousing and your mechanical linkage to make it all work. The GM hydraulic system has it's share of issues and you will have a much more reliable setup if you stay with the mechanical linkage.

Click to expand...

Correct, the 83 Camaro bellhousing is the preferred match for a mechanical setup the T5, and you could also use a 606 G-body bellhousing, but this will require shifter and mount mods (see garage scene site above for details). If you go hydraulic, go with the 93-02 setup, it is a better design and doesn't have the cheap plastic line.