When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I rebuilt my Muncie’s shifter + linkage and... I like it. I like it a lot. It feels, as another once described it, like locking a bolt action. It has a very positive feel.
I do like the idea of swapping a T5 to get the overdrive. However I am a little concerned that the shifter feel will be vague again; particularly as one needs to fabricate an offset to get the shifter in a stock location.
To those who have done the T5 conversion... can you describe the feel of the shifter ?
MTIADC3
I'm also going to miss that T-handle for reverse. Has anyone come up with a solution to preserve it ?
Last edited by DorianC3; Oct 17, 2019 at 09:12 AM.
The T5 is a rail shifter and it feels totally different. Bolt action is a good description of the Muncie. Go find a used car lot with a V8 Mustang and go for a test drive.
My car had a T5 before the TKO. Main thing I remember was how little effort it took to shift the T5. Really easy to do quick shifts. Definitely not bolt action feel, though. Kinda has the same kind of play as you would find in a typical manual found in a sedan.
I'm running a TKO-600 with a stock-appearing shifter. The #1 rattle in my car is the fake spring for the reverse lockout. I need to take some time to "engineer" a solution for it.
I'm running a TKO-600 with a stock-appearing shifter. The #1 rattle in my car is the fake spring for the reverse lockout. I need to take some time to "engineer" a solution for it.
I just swapped a T5 in my '80 earlier this year. Tried to save some money using the stock camaro shifter that came with the tranny, but it was terrible. Felt like mush. Paid the money for Pro 5.0 and it a world a difference. Much more of a crisp feeling and the throw is much shorter which is nice. I have absolutely no regrets.I think it feel great.
IMO, overdrive alone is worth swap for me. So if you're on the about swapping, I don't think the feel of a shifter should dictate whether you swap for overdrive.
I just swapped a T5 in my '80 earlier this year. Tried to save some money using the stock camaro shifter that came with the tranny, but it was terrible. Felt like mush. Paid the money for Pro 5.0 and it a world a difference. Much more of a crisp feeling and the throw is much shorter which is nice. I have absolutely no regrets.I think it feel great.
IMO, overdrive alone is worth swap for me. So if you're on the about swapping, I don't think the feel of a shifter should dictate whether you swap for overdrive.
Well, you’ve alleviated my concern either way... the wisdom is: get a quality shifter. (And I really want an OD.)
Do you have pics of your install? Were you able to get your shifter in the stock location?
If you want a great feel when shifting, Hurst makes shifters for the T5. If you decide to go this route, the one to use is the Hurst T5 version of the shifter that was used in S10 trucks years ago I believe.
Its a tight crisp short throw that practically shifts itself. Going from 2nd to 3rd is super quick because it self aligns. It's practically automatic.
No comparison to the feel of a stock shifter in my opinion.
Depending on what bellhousing you go with, the shifter has to be matched to it. If you use the original rotated bell then the shifter will be angled to be vertical.
I used the straight bell and a straight shifter when I did mine.
Nope, it don't come up through the gate in the stock location unfortunately. It's to far to the right, but with some work a dummy vette stick or hurst
stick can be modified to look correct, like others have done. Plenty of pics here on the forum.
On my 2nd and current T5 conversion in my 77, I made my own. Old pic, it now has the stock vette stick bolted to it.
Not nearly as nice as the hurst but that's ok, no complaints. Good luck, you will love the OD in your vette.
Well, you’ve alleviated my concern either way... the wisdom is: get a quality shifter. (And I really want an OD.)
Do you have pics of your install? Were you able to get your shifter in the stock location?
Sorry been working on a vortec swap! I used the original rotated bell which actually helped put the shifter closer to the stock position. The really nice thing about the pro 5.0 shifter is it has a stub that the shift handle bolts to. So I was easily about to make a simple bracket to compensate for the rotated bell and bring the shifter up the correct location. Then I used the upper part of shifter of the handle of a cheap must shifter which worked out great. Also gave me a lot more options for shift *****.
Here are some pics. Unfortunately , I lost most of them when my phones sd card corrupted last week so I don't really have any good ones. I'll snap a picture of the shifter now with it all put back together. If have any questions, just let me know!
Sorry been working on a vortec swap! I used the original rotated bell which actually helped put the shifter closer to the stock position. The really nice thing about the pro 5.0 shifter is it has a stub that the shift handle bolts to. So I was easily about to make a simple bracket to compensate for the rotated bell and bring the shifter up the correct location. Then I used the upper part of shifter of the handle of a cheap must shifter which worked out great. Also gave me a lot more options for shift *****.
Here are some pics. Unfortunately , I lost most of them when my phones sd card corrupted last week so I don't really have any good ones. I'll snap a picture of the shifter now with it all put back together. If have any questions, just let me know!
WOW !!!! That looks bad@ss !!!!!
That boot is... well, where did you get that from? How is it mounted ?
THANKS
Last edited by DorianC3; Oct 21, 2019 at 10:37 AM.
adding my .02 in here. I had an S-10 with a T5 and i put a B&M shifter on it (dont think they are even made anymore) and it was hands down the best shifter I ever drove. shifted like butter, super short throws. everyone that ever drove the truck complimented it.
That boot is... well, where did you get that from? How is it mounted ?
THANKS
Boot is just a generic Mr. Gasket. It either came from Summit or AutoZone. Not sure which! After I cut the dip in the tunnel from the auto shifter, I fabricated and aluminum plate to cover the whole. I used seam sealer and riveted it in place. Then I cut a rectangle in the aluminum plate just big enough for the shifter to fit through. Then cut the gasket to fit the base of Pro 5.0 shifter. The gasket flange is thin enough to bend and shape around the side of the tunnel. Then used sheet metal screws to fasten down the gasket flange. Took some pictures of the final product.
The real problem with T5 trannies is the very low TQ handling capacity. If you have some mods in your c3 motor it's not wise use one.
Originally Posted by DorianC3
My motor is a turd. 200 ponies on a good day going downhill
You can have a 200HP engine that exceeds the torque capacity of a T5, or one that doesn't even use up 50% of it.
The reality, though, is if you deviate not too far from stock on any 350ci small block, you will hit the limits of the best T5 transmissions. 325lbft isn't much.
From the factory, they weren't putting these behind L98s and those are not remarkable motors.
Headers, a good tune and a modern roller cam would likely have you near the limits of the transmission. If you go down the path of upgrading the heads, you'll be looking at a new transmission.
I didn't mention it before - the guys who look at T5 are typically very budget minded, so I didn't see the value in raising the point. But it is worth considering - you will be buying a TKO or T56 in the future if engine upgrades are in your plans.
T5 vs Muncie - the feel
