ok, here goes..

i've got a really low-mile 4.8/A4 out of a 2005 silverado pickup. and when i say low-mile, i mean 10,000 miles.

the car was submerged during hurricane katrina, and the wiring harness and ECU were ruined. the motor was fine, though, and we've since pulled the motor, and stored it. i've thought before about putting the motor into my 240sx, but, without a wiring harness and ECU, i thought it would cost too much.

however, i've been looking at what painless has to offer, and came across a harness that will control the engine. the thing is, that will not control the automatic as well (unless you buy the additional trans control module) and i'd definitely prefer a manual trans.

so i know the obvious answer: T-56, but that's a little more than i'd like to spend right now. eventually, yes, i'd like to go that route and get an ls1 as well, but i wanted to know if i could get a 5 speed out of an older camaro or firebird with a 350 or something along those lines. i'd rather not have a truck transmission, because of the undesirable gear ratios, so i wanted to stick with performance car transmissions.

are there any other options that i'm overlooking? admittedly, i'm lacking a lot in domestic-specific knowledge, but i've been looking up a lot here recently. overall, I'd like to spend around 500 or so, but i could spend up to 1000 for the trans.

any ideas, input, or anything else is greatly appreciated!

here's the car that it's going into:


and i'll be using another car to mock up the motor into the chassis.

 

Your car looks pretty straight, should be a lot of fun once you're done with it.

To answer your question above, there really isn't a good 5-speed tranny (that I'm aware of) that really fits all of the requirements above. The third-generation F-bodies ('82-'92) came with the T-5 transmission, but they were (pretty much) only available with the 305 cars - figure about 320 ft/lbs of torque, or thereabouts. If you had to have the bigger 350 engine, you were basically stuck with the 700R4 auto (yes, there was the occasional exception to that rule, but at least 98% of the cars out there abide by that rule).

You could also get a T-5 in the fourth-gen cars, but (I'm pretty sure this is correct...) only behind the V-6 engine - all of the V-8s came with the T-56.

The problem is that the T-5 was just never built to take much power. Even the (tragically mis-named) "World-Class" T-5 was only good for another 15, maybe 25 ft/lbs. Sure, you can upgrade the guts of the tranny, but the real limiting factor is the tranny's outer case or "shell". It doesn't have the rigidity to stand up to an actual performance engine.

There ARE decent 5-speeds out there of course - I'm thinking right now of the TKO-600 - but that's basically in the same price range as the T-56, which probably doesn't help you much.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, hopefully someone will chime in with another option that I don't know of...

Good luck on your swap.

 

sweet. i appreciate your input!

that's pretty much the dilemma i've come across, though. i thought about the T-5, too, but people seem to be downing it a lot cause of that very weakness. so were there any non-LT1 v8 camaros from 93-97? i guess that's what i was assuming would come with some sort of 5 speed. makes sense that most would come with autos, though.

anyone else have any ideas?

 

Where are you located? I have a t-56 I can let go reasonably. PM me if you are interested.

 

PM'd.

 

what about a super t-10 transmission... I know its only 4speed but maybe this will fit your budget a little better

 

I'd spend the money to get a t56 and save a lot of money by picking up a used harness.

Also, you will need to factor in the cost of swapping out the truck accessories and oil pan since I doubt that they will fit.

Good luck, should be fun

 

if it meant getting a 5 speed, i'd sacrifice the extra gear for the cost, but i'm not too hot on using a 4 speed.

i'm actually looking into that right now. we're looking around to see if i we can find a 6.0 motor and trans and wiring harness, and possibly put the 4.8 heads on that motor. (that will bump up the CR a decent amount, IIRC).

i've already figured that i'll go with the GTO pan, since it's a front sump pan, and it needs to be to clear the rear-stationed 240sx front subframe/steering rack.

 

Im in the same boat with you, but I have an 07 super low mile 4.8 and still need a trans! But im going for a T56, nevermind anything else seems like a waste of time.

 

yeah, it seems like that's the only way to go, it's just kinda hurts to know i'm gonna have to drop that much on "just a transmission"

 

lol I know, but it could be worse. I have a buddy doing a 2JZ swap into a ford lightning and he shelled out 3200 for a trans for that thing so the T56 doesn't seem so bad after hearing that.......

 

lol a 2jz swap into a lightning? thats ridiculous man those things have no torque at all and the power band is tiny. its gonna have a fun time moving something as heavy as a lightning and the aerodynamics of a brick.

to the original poster, you have 3 choices : you may be able to find a used t56 from a wrecked car, try giving cleveland pick a part a call and see if they have any. 440-236-9003 ask for jay or dave.

or give ebay a look, ive seen them going for 1,300 used.

or call sixspeedsinc they sell a built t56 for 1950 no core charge.

 

1950 for a built? damn I might just save up a few more dollars and do that.

As for the lightning, yeah the weight and aerodynamics are a huge disadvantage on the truck but the motor is also built and it was a frame off full build on the truck. Its actually a pretty bad *** project with plenty of nice aftermarket bits and the stock lightning wheels (last production model) in the rear were widend 2" and have 345 rubber out back. Its pretty cool

 

3200 for a v160?? sounds like he got ripped, even though that is one hell of a trans. or was it something else besides the 6spd?

2jz's are a sick motor regardless. the thing's built like a tank.

all good plans, though. i'll just have to see what my options are and hope i pick the best one!

sounds like a sweet project. is this being documented online anywhere?

 

they are strong engines but have a shitty powerband when u get over 600rwhp. anyways goodluck with your project, i love my ls1 coupe.

 

Yeah its a v160 but a built one i presume....

Heres a link to the build but for 99% of the pics you have to be a member of the site:
http://www.nloc.net/vbforum/almost-a...z-project.html

 

agreed. they do lack in low end torque, but they are highway monsters, and they've put down some pretty decent 1/4 mile times, with respect to the relatively small displacement engines that they are.

nice. i might have to join up and check that out!

 

Lol good news for me, just found out the motor I scored is a 5.3 not the 4.8!

 

hey,

i'm doing nearly the exact same build as you. a 2005 5.3 into a 90 240 hatch. progress is slow as i only have 1 paycheck a month to put towards this after all my bills and such. I'm, hopefully, about 3 months away from this thing on the road.

as far as a tranny goes, what i am doing is running a world class t5 out of an f-body (the world class came in the 88-92 models w/ a 305 only). Tremec rates these at 300 ft/lbs of torque. people on here will tell you to stay away, but as long as you are gentle with it, there will be no problem. 3rd gear is the big weak point of the t5 (as well as the case itself) as long as you drive it like a DD (which is what mine will be) and don't mash the gas and slam the gears, the t5 will hold up fine for you. and since they run around $200-$400, that's hard to beat.

that will get the car on the road and will last you while you save your money, buy a t56, have it rebuilt to spec, and once you swap that in you'll likely never spend money on the trans again (which is my long term plan).

another option is while your saving and shopping for the cheapest t56 you can (believe me, you'll still get raped on the stupid expensive price) also look around for a used Tremec TKO-500. every once in a while you'll get lucky and see someone sell one for a decent amount less than a used t56.

 

Thanks for the info but after doing research (pretty much same thing you just said) im still going with a T56. I already have a loaner for moch-up and Im going to be driving the **** out of this car and might go single turbo down the road.