Great to know. Who makes a cheap adapter plate to use a T5 on a GM motor? And what driveshaft mods have to be made?

 

Get a piece of 1/2 inch aluminum plate approx 12 inches square and make it or have it made at a local machine shop. If you are really interested we can dig up the drawing with the locations the holes need to be milled! Mine cost me nothing to make. And I love the T5!
Bernie

 

I'm not THAT interested. I drive an auto not and don't want the hassle of changing it over to manual. But, if I ever get myself into a manual Vette down the line, I will install a T5 for sure. The hole location drawing would be helpful to others ont he forum doint the swap...I know of one who is for sure. It would be a great help if you could dig that up and post it. Thanks.

 

i would love the picture...i am doing an auto to 5 speed swap sometime this year.

 

Also, did anyone who did this have to modify their shifter plate at all?

 

Norval, do you have any idea what the torque rating is for the Tremec 3550? They're getting to be fairly available in the boneyards and were the replacement transmission for the T5, so I figure they're probably upgraded. Not a TKO, but I also don't have TKO cash burning a hole in my wallet.

 

Rating is not the only thing to consider. Rating is based on 24 hours at that torque. It will certainly stand alot more for short periods. I forget the ratings. I did alot of the swaps back in the 90's , did the T5 two winters ago for a guy but the tremec I believe is in the 350 ft lbs range.
Remember even 700 foot pounds wouldn't break that tranny. Power shifting with a much lesser motor would.
If you check out just a plain TKO say from Hannlon you might be supprised.
Drive shaft mods?? Slight shortening but any drive line shop can do it cheap. The mustang and the vet take the same universal. That is no problem.
This sure went away from the Jeep box post it started out as

 

sure did get away from jeep box.. but i am interestedin all. i have been working on my car non stop. it is getting side pipes and jeep box next week. and as soon as i get the money together 5 speed. i am a little nervous about the 5 speed install, i have never installed a manual trans before. i found the write up you guys did with the pics... but they had been removed. One thing that is making me nervous is your speaking of run out... i am not sure what that is... or how to check it.. or if i get that far how to fix it. i do not have the tools to make the spacer, so i will have to take it to a machine shop. and will any of the gm bell housings work? i see you guys used them from a truck, but there is a vette salvage yard up the street from me and i could prob get one from them.

 

Me too. I personally don't want to switch the car I have to manual but I don't imagine this will be the last Vette I own, and the next one will be a manual. 5 speed at that.

 

I like this topic as right now i am in the process of pwr to man conversion. I now have found that using the pwr center link can let u try man steering. After already purchaing a used man set-up i found out that just removing the pump with brackets, hoses, control vlv, slave cyl will leave with everything a man set-up has except the dampner.

All the parts for a manual steer change are availible except the center/drag link. I read that many owners have just converted using the PS center link without a dampner - yes run manual steer without dampner. Most will want to move the tie-rod to steering knuckle connection to the rear for the slow steer ratio - same as the manual steer used (except L88 vettes). And if you wanted to install a dampner to a PS center link u could measure it out and have a small bracket welded onto the center link for the dampner connection - all other parts are still sold new. This would alow u to use PS centerlink and pitman arm.

To convert to man steer:
1 - remove PS pmp & pulleys, belts
2 - remove slave cyl
3 - remove control vlv & hoses
4 - set tie-rod to rear hole on knuckle
5 - set steering toe

To add dampner:
1 - buy dampner and frame end bracket ($150)
2 - size up dampner to center link location - ensure u have enough travel for dampner in both directions
3 - fab and weld dampner bracket onto center link - dampner bolts on with 2 bolts to bracket

Your there, now manual steer. Hey if u can't live with it convert it back with old PS parts without spending another dime.

Just my 2 pennys folks. cardo0

 

What are some benefits of manual steering over power?

 

Sluggish steering response and difficult to park are two good reasons.

 

I wouldn't say I really siffer from either of those. Are they a common problem or something EVERY Vette owner experiences but doesn't notice?

 

After replacing all my PS parts 1 at a time the seals dried up from lack of use (i think) while car was down and leaked so bad i had to refill pmp nearly daily.

Weight. Pulled 'bout 10lbs off the front end.

1 fewer belt.

Several less parts to break - greater reliablity.

Save a few hp too - less parisitic loss.

Ok NASCAR even uses PS just to make left turns but they have a full pit crew and much larger buget than me.
cardo0

 

Doesn't the lack of power assist make the turning more difficult? I've driven one of my first '77 Vettes with no power steering belt installed and it was a witch to steer. Is there something about it I'm missing?

 

Well there's a ton of drag in the slave cyl with hyd hoses connected and the PS sys uses the "quik ratio" for tie-rod connection which has much less mech advantage than the "slow steer" ratio.
No, just removing the belt is no way to compare PS sys to Man steering.

cardo0

 

Say I want to keep the power steering system intact, and install the Jeep kit...how can the remaining system be altered to enhance the steering...if there is a way.

 

Get a manual steering drag link. While it still has a ball and spring connection, I don't see how the spring can compress much in either direction. Other than that, install really good tie rod ends.

 

Great to know, thanks. How long did it take you to find yours?

 

A forum member responded to an ad I posted in the "parts wanted" section within a few days.

As far as just going with manual steering, I used to have a '65 Mustang coupe with manual steering. Even on those skinny little '60s tires, parking that thing was a good arm workout.