Manual gearbox for sbc
Discussion
I've had a 3rd gen camaro as a project now for about 4 months, the final aim is a clean fairly standard looking sort of pro touring inspired build, a key part to the build is losing the auto box and going with a manual.
I've got a few options as standard which are the t5 and then the t56 family. The t5s are apparently weak and the t56 onwards are expensive. As its a budget build within reason is there a way to keep the cost down without fitting a box that will be a constant weak point? The car will be mainly road use, if I can get it handling well enough I may do the odd track day in it and I'm sure at some point it will end up on a rwyb drag day but it will in no way be a drag car.
I know one guy fitted an ex jaguar getrag box, does anyone have any experience of other make boxes? Fab work is mainly free for me but I don't have the facilities to build custom bell housings, one attraction to the t5 of it can be made strong enough is it fits right in my car with the original prop even so it's a
Fundamentally cheap option.
Advice please!
I've got a few options as standard which are the t5 and then the t56 family. The t5s are apparently weak and the t56 onwards are expensive. As its a budget build within reason is there a way to keep the cost down without fitting a box that will be a constant weak point? The car will be mainly road use, if I can get it handling well enough I may do the odd track day in it and I'm sure at some point it will end up on a rwyb drag day but it will in no way be a drag car.
I know one guy fitted an ex jaguar getrag box, does anyone have any experience of other make boxes? Fab work is mainly free for me but I don't have the facilities to build custom bell housings, one attraction to the t5 of it can be made strong enough is it fits right in my car with the original prop even so it's a
Fundamentally cheap option.
Advice please!
A T5 probably can be made strong enough as there are definitely different internals available...but then it'd maybe cheaper to get a T56 in the first place.
Really a lot depends on how much power you hope to have and the application.
Clearly a light kitcar will put a lot less strain than a 2 ton car with lots of traction.
From a simplicity point of view, the T56 just makes a lot of sense if you need something strong.
If you're buying from scratch, will there really be a huge difference in price for a complete package ?
Really a lot depends on how much power you hope to have and the application.
Clearly a light kitcar will put a lot less strain than a 2 ton car with lots of traction.
From a simplicity point of view, the T56 just makes a lot of sense if you need something strong.
If you're buying from scratch, will there really be a huge difference in price for a complete package ?
The cars quite light already and with a bit of work should be a lot lighter than the average muscle car, I've already shed the heavy steel bonnet in favour of fibreglass.
I can pick a good t5 up for around a grand, including the gear-lever and if I'm canny the clutch pedal assembly, a t56 is looking to be costing around double that for a used lucky find plus probably having to get a custom prop made, of course there is the torque arm problem also as unless I radically alter the rear suspension design the gearbox needs mounts for it, which limits me to the t5 and 56 really. Basically stock gen 3 and 4 camaro boxes.
What tends to die on t5 boxes first? I'm wondering if going the t5 route and buying a cheap one with issues and strengthening it as I rebuild might be a sensible idea?
I can pick a good t5 up for around a grand, including the gear-lever and if I'm canny the clutch pedal assembly, a t56 is looking to be costing around double that for a used lucky find plus probably having to get a custom prop made, of course there is the torque arm problem also as unless I radically alter the rear suspension design the gearbox needs mounts for it, which limits me to the t5 and 56 really. Basically stock gen 3 and 4 camaro boxes.
What tends to die on t5 boxes first? I'm wondering if going the t5 route and buying a cheap one with issues and strengthening it as I rebuild might be a sensible idea?
wildoliver said:
The cars quite light already and with a bit of work should be a lot lighter than the average muscle car, I've already shed the heavy steel bonnet in favour of fibreglass.
I can pick a good t5 up for around a grand, including the gear-lever and if I'm canny the clutch pedal assembly, a t56 is looking to be costing around double that for a used lucky find plus probably having to get a custom prop made, of course there is the torque arm problem also as unless I radically alter the rear suspension design the gearbox needs mounts for it, which limits me to the t5 and 56 really. Basically stock gen 3 and 4 camaro boxes.
What tends to die on t5 boxes first? I'm wondering if going the t5 route and buying a cheap one with issues and strengthening it as I rebuild might be a sensible idea?
There are definitely gearsets etc available for the T5, or buy a TK0500 or 600I can pick a good t5 up for around a grand, including the gear-lever and if I'm canny the clutch pedal assembly, a t56 is looking to be costing around double that for a used lucky find plus probably having to get a custom prop made, of course there is the torque arm problem also as unless I radically alter the rear suspension design the gearbox needs mounts for it, which limits me to the t5 and 56 really. Basically stock gen 3 and 4 camaro boxes.
What tends to die on t5 boxes first? I'm wondering if going the t5 route and buying a cheap one with issues and strengthening it as I rebuild might be a sensible idea?
I just cant see a lot of sense to buy a T5, then have to take it apart and change everything inside to make stronger ?
What sort of gear ratios do you need ? In it's favour, of course the T5 will be lighter and smaller.
Or this isnt expensive really for a brand new box and the 6060's are supposed to shift much nicer than the older T56's and I'm sure the T5
http://www.partsworldperformance.com/tr-6060-six-s...
wildoliver said:
It is damned cheap isn't it!
Looks like I'll have big issues fitting it behind my early SBC though, it's designed to fit an LS engine only.
Ask over on some of the US forumsLooks like I'll have big issues fitting it behind my early SBC though, it's designed to fit an LS engine only.
LS bellhousing bolt pattern is same as SBC apart from 1 bolt, so that isnt a problem.
Not sure on input shaft length, but cant imagine it being too much of an issue, perhaps needing maybe a custom spigot bearing.
But there is no doubt, anything you need for the install will be readily available off the shelf in the US.
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