[C1] T5 conversion thread?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,677
Likes: 646
From: Indiana
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C1 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
What type of info are you looking for?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 315
From: Scottsdale AZ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 2,355
From: Allison Park, PA
John,
I have installed a T5 in my 66 and wrote an extended thread about my installation - did you see it by chance? Lots of info in there including how to modify a c2 transmission mount to make it work - that may work for you as well. Hope this helps!
Tom
I have installed a T5 in my 66 and wrote an extended thread about my installation - did you see it by chance? Lots of info in there including how to modify a c2 transmission mount to make it work - that may work for you as well. Hope this helps!
Tom
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 669
From: Seminole, FL
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I have a 59 with a T5 installed. Poor job but it will bolt to the cast bellhousing and you need to mod the mount if you use the 17 degree T5 out of 83 vintage Camaro firebird ( non World Class ). If you are pushing power get the World Class trans. The floor needs to be cut and the ashtray pocket will be compromised.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Oregon
Not a C1 but I just removed a T5 swap from my C2 because I'm upgrading the engine to a LS3. Looks to be a pretty simple swap. Previous owner used stock rear mount and welded it to the cross member at an angle. They also kept the stock mechanical linkage for the clutch. I think if I was doing the swap, I would have mounted the rear mount to a piece of angle iron and made it bolt in. I think you'll be happy with the swap unless you are running a high horsepower engine. Shifts much better than a TKO or T56 IMHO. Trans is also much lighter and smaller. Plenty of room in the tunnel. Let me know if you need any part numbers of the bell housing etc. As soon as I get home to take some pictures, I'll be posting the complete swap (bell housing, transmission, Hurst shifter, transmission yoke) in the for sale section. shameless plug :-)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 315
From: Scottsdale AZ
I have a 59 with a T5 installed. Poor job but it will bolt to the cast bellhousing and you need to mod the mount if you use the 17 degree T5 out of 83 vintage Camaro firebird ( non World Class ). If you are pushing power get the World Class trans. The floor needs to be cut and the ashtray pocket will be compromised.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 315
From: Scottsdale AZ
Not a C1 but I just removed a T5 swap from my C2 because I'm upgrading the engine to a LS3. Looks to be a pretty simple swap. Previous owner used stock rear mount and welded it to the cross member at an angle. They also kept the stock mechanical linkage for the clutch. I think if I was doing the swap, I would have mounted the rear mount to a piece of angle iron and made it bolt in. I think you'll be happy with the swap unless you are running a high horsepower engine. Shifts much better than a TKO or T56 IMHO. Trans is also much lighter and smaller. Plenty of room in the tunnel. Let me know if you need any part numbers of the bell housing etc. As soon as I get home to take some pictures, I'll be posting the complete swap (bell housing, transmission, Hurst shifter, transmission yoke) in the for sale section. shameless plug :-)
