Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train T-5 and 10" clutch

Hello all!

Just wanted to share some of my experience with the T-5 tranny I installed in my 56 Chevy PU. Still working on it, but I think after I work out the rest of the bugs, it will be great.

The T-5 replaced a granny box 4 speed I had for 20+ years. The 4 speed has been working great the whole time. It's now time for a make over again and I want to make it more road friendly. It is my daily ride and I am spoiled with all the new accessories out there.

It has A/C and a Dodge Magnum front end, not a clip, I like my frame, and mild engine mods (full flow oil filtering, Holley 390, headers, HEI/coil in cap, huge radiator, 272 cam and others).

I used the write-ups I saw here and on StoveBolt’s site and acquired an S15 T-5. The rear end is a Chevelle 3.08 ratio and the trans, I believe, is the 4.03 1st. Very different ride for me. Nice take off as compared to the 4 speed and the shift points are much closer not to mention the 5 gear cruise.

All right, now the clutch. I have a stock flywheel, 10" clutch. I went to the local auto supply and searched for a disc to use with the 14 spline and 10" clutch package. All I can find are 11" and 9.5" packages with 14 spline. So I bought a 9.5 to get this beast on the road for a road test but it does not fit the flywheel proprely. It is to small and some of the surface of the disc are overhanging the surface of the flywheel and pressure plate. I e-mailed another inliner and he said he does not recommend the use of an 11" clutch on inline sixes due to their torsional vibrations. What do you folks think of the 11” clutch?
Anybody have any ideas?

Also you out there that have done this swap, what do you use for a shifter? The S 15 shifter is about 8" long. I temporarily welded a shaft to it but throw is insanely long.

Thanks for the ear and any help

235 daily and every day!

Sounds like a nice swap. As to your clutch, I see no reason not to use an 11" clutch plate as long as your clutch and pressure plate are compatable with the flywheel and each other. 11" clutches were standard equipment on 3/4 ton trucks with inlines because an 11" clutch is able to handle more torque, horsepower and weight than a 9.5" or 10".
Hope this helps,
Mike

Hello daily driver I have been running 11in on my 250 for the past yr now Raceing it .It had a 10.5 but would not hold up to the raceing side of things and it is not any different in the torsional vibration side of things then my 10.5 was But it sure does live ALOT longer now then the 10.5 did. Hope this helps any other Q just ask away Or Email me. }[oooooo]



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NovaMan/Twisted6/Larry

hello..i think the 11" disc is ok-i will add after finally buying a fisher damper no harmonics problems -No lose bolts any where like i use to have with stock heavy 292 damper-if you have ANY vibrations(associated with these inlines) GET a FSHER DAMPER-WELL WORTH THE $$$$...

Larry, i just learned trick on keeping flywheel on at 9500 rpm ---learned from an retired 292 inline 6 racer/engine builder-the flywheel is bolted on to crank but is also lose(and only using a hub for upper rpm, as opposed to what i said above about fisher damper- that concerns street use)-this was key to ALL manual trans racers 20 years ago-they took locomotive harmonic problem solution and adapted to these flywheels -i will be getting 1 of these setups soon from the origial setups-i will share old "secret"...maybe(LOL)...and post pictures....
If you go to ebay motors and look at this item#1816950940, you can see the lighter 250 crank-notice "v" point and smaller counter weights on #3 & 4.....

I did a T-5 from a Camaro with the same ratio on a 54 235 installed in a 1952 Chevy Sports Coupe. I swapped out the flywheel, 9 1/2 inch to one from a truck with 11 inch surface and 168 tooth ring gear. Used a 1985 Astro Van clutch and pressure plate combo, but had to use a different throw out bearing. I have a hydraulic clutch and the combo is very smooth with no weird virbations. Works much better than my original clutch. It will really spin those skinny tires if you don't pay attention.

As far as the shifter goes,check with Hurst. I think they make a shifter for Camaro that has a shorter throw. They also have different length sticks available. The long throw is the only thing I don't like about mine, but you get used to it. Joe

I will try the 11" clutch. The 10" flywheel/clutch that I have been using, wears out too quickly. I am hoping the 11" will be a little more durable.

I do need to change the damper. I have been running power steering and A/C for years now, but the single groove pully on the stock damper just isn't durable enough. I have broken a couple. I have read that the 292 damper can be modified to fit the 235. Does anyone know what this entails?

As for the shifter, I have a solution. The Camaro shifter is shorter into the transmission so just getting a short throw Hurst shifter will still require mods. I have a machine shop making an adapter to accomplish this. If it works I will post it on B board and maybe send an article to THE 12 PORT NEWS. If it works.

One more thing. I love what the T-5 has done to my ratio but I think I will keep an eye out for the 2.95 Camaro/Firebird trans as I think the first gear 4.03 is a little low for my truck, even with 3.08 rear end. If I can find one I will up the rear end gear.

Luis

I have the same ratio and couldn't agree more about the 4.03 first. That is my main gripe. I was sold a V8 trannie that turned out to be a V6. I have a 3.73 rear end so we shift out of first at 10 mph or less. We also spin those skinny wide whites more than we intend. You ought to try and drive up car ramps on a wet driveway.

The shifter problem is a simple one. I used a '84 T-5 from a camero because I wanted bucket seats (Shifter is at the end of the tailshaft)and it is shorter. It just nicks the passenger seat in my '40 Coupe in reverse
so I heated it up ever so slightly and bent it up. Works great! Jeg's and Summit have a Hurst Billet/Plus shifter that bolts right in. Shorter throws cost $165. They also have an B&M Ripper Shifter (Racing) for the same price.

The T-5 is great at stop lights as long as you don't bury the tach. I was told it won't hold up to thrashing it. I cruise on down the highway at 70mpg @2200 rpm with a 3:55 10 bolt rear.

I have a 56 pickup that the T-5 is in and the seats are high and 60/40 similar to a bench. I use a S-10 type tail shaft with the shifter forward. Long shift rod. This is why the throw on the shifter is long.

I did install my version of a short throw shifter. I went from almost 10" front to back, to 6" front to back. Feels right to.

I went to a local machine shop and had a block 1" aluminum block made that fits to the top of the tailshaft, hence raising the shifter assembly by 1". This could be made at home. I then disassembled the shifter and drilled the pivot point up by 1". I then welded a piece of flat stock to the top of the shifter assembly so that I could attach a chrome Hurst Shift rod. Works good and looks good.

Luis

Hey, great idea on the shifter,235. I'm going to build one.
RealMcCoy, try starting out in 2nd. Joe

Here's a crazy idea that might work, if not mistaken the clutch disc plate from a Toyota Landcruiser is 10 1/2 or 10 3/4 inches and has the same spline number - but - the splines are just a slight bit angled, you'd have to see if it would run on your transmission shaft. Don't know if it will work for you, I run a chevy pressure plate and a toyota disc into my toyota transmission. Only problem i've had is the hyd. clutch just barely moves enough fluid to disengage the clutch.

i am putting the t-5 in my car and we have a shop in our town that makes clutches for different applications. they make a 10 1/2 inch disk for my application, they started making it when guys started putting v-8's in their s-10's. I'm going to use one on my 261 and t-5 tranny. i have a 4-11 posi nova rear in my 48 chevy convt., don't know how the ratios will work out, might have to do some switching around after i drive it and see. will let u know!

oh, by the way, the name of the shop is "Fort Wayne clutch" in ft. wayne, in.