Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train S-10 T5

I pulled a T5 out of an '82 S-10 pickup this afternoon at the wrecking yard. I got home and ran the numbers and found I have a 1989 unit for a 4 banger. So the original one died and somebody swapped in a newer one. Now does somebody make a stock looking speedo for a '64 Nova that is set up for an electronic signal?

I've seen adapters to convert the electric speedo drives to fit cable-type drives, but you can also swap the tail shalft to the older T-5s, I've heard. I'll bet an older tail shaft would be cheaper than a conversion.

the tailshafts are not identical between the electric and mechanical S10 trannys. The way the gear is held onto the shaft is different.

The adapters to go from electric to mechanical are very expensive, around $300 I'm told. It would be cheaper to get another tranny...

I would sugest that since you are having a shop do the work, offer to trade the shop even up, your tranny for a mech. version...

Like I had said before, look at the speedo sender before getting the tranny. If it has an electrical type connection, its the wrong one. All the mechcanical senders are screw together, just like your stock one.

No, the housings are not the same.
On the electric version, the sender points directly at the shaft, and on the mechcanical version, the sender is below the shaft so the gears can mesh.

Update. The shop I took the trannys to had the correct tailshaft and housing I needed. Yes they cost me $250. So I'm getting the conversion done with new berings and syncros (somebody ran it with 90w gear oil instead of Dextron ATF) for a total of $790. Yes I paid a little more but I don't think I got ripped.

strummin - just went through the same thing. bought a bone yard tranny which was run with gear oil and had water in it. now it needs an overhaul. if they wont refund it I may be near $700 before I'm done. Junk yards sell just what their name implys. going rebuilt from now on.

You take your chances. Sometimes you find what you need at a good price.

I have a T-5 from a S-10 truck or V6 camaro. I got it w/ a Mercruiser 250 my uncle had. He didn't mess w/ junk and the motor and tranny look good. The tranny was hooked to motor which means I have the bellhousing,clutch, fork arm. Basically the whole set up. I would like to sell both the motor and tranny. I have some pics of the motor in the classified section. Email me for more pics. Lbousman@sbcglobal.net. I'll entertain any reasonable offer.
Thanks Marc
913-980-5267

Hey just wanted to let you know I got the 5 speed in the car now and it's a different animal now. After I've driven it enough to get used to it I'll see if my mileage has improved any. Thanks for all of your help.

Martin

strummin,
since your t5 is a 4 cyl. tranny it'll have a 4.03:1 1st gear ratio. some say this is too low for our sixes & that it makes you want to skip 1st gear slip the clutch & take off in 2cnd. is it like that for you? what wheel & tire size are you running? what rearend ratio?
thanks, robert

I installed an 89 S-10 T5 in my 51 F1 226 Flathead, the parts I have put together are; adaptor Plate, I purchased mine from Dwight Bond at Second Chance Auto [second_chance@charter.net] for $125.00 including shipping. A great deal I feel, because the material locally in my area runs $90.00 then it's off to the machine shop. I used the Hogshead or small bell off the truck 4-speed trans. I installed new brass bushings and a new cross shaft that operates the throwout bearing. The pilot bushing was from Flat-O-Products, I just perfer a bushing over the bearing (personal perference) it was around $19.00. For the clutch I used the S-10 disc with a 10" Truck pressure plate with the orginal throwout bearing. The return spring for the throwout bearing housing will need to be used in the T5 just as its hooked up in the orginal trans. I purchased a brass sleeve from Motion Industries EP2228-32 Sintered Bronze Bearing to fit the ID of the throwout bearing housing and the OD of the trans bearing retainer. The Flathead 6 Flywheel needs to be opened up about 1/8" at the center because the pressure plate spring area may rub the flywheel face. I purchased new flywheel bolts with the thin heads from Schucks, and used the red Loctite to secure them. Because the stock driveshaft has a splined shaft on the front I purchased an S10 shaft from the wrecking yard and had it shortened 3 inches to 50 inches. I also installed a 1969 F100 9" 3.23 rearend at the same time to avoid having to modify the shaft twice. The speedometer the 89 T5 has the electronic sending unit, I plan to purchase an electronic speedometer (TPI Quad unit) to replace my orginal gauges. they are the same size as the orginal 51 gauge clusters and shouldn't require the expensive adaptor rings. Pictures of the install can be seen at the link below.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&userid=183124&albumid=19501

Robert.
I used the 4 cyl Camaro gearbox with the S-10 tailshaft and housing. First gear is 3.76. Still low but better than the s-10's 4.03. My rear gears are 3:36.

Martin

51 Ford Fan.
Your installation pics look good. I wish we had these pieces available in the '70s when my dad was into his Flatheads. I had the same S-10 shifter in my Nova. I now have a Hurst shifter with shorter throws. I can't wait for Hot August Nights!

Martin