i have a 305 in my car and i am thinking of a 5 speed swap and the t5 is in the budget at the moment what kind of power will they hold all the second gen guys say they are junk but they are in tons of 3rd gens with 350 swaps i currently have the 4 speed saginaw

 

The original t5 are rated at 265 Ft/lbs of torque. GM did not put them behind the TPI 350 because they could not handle the torque. GM knew they could sell a ton more TPI 350 with a stick but they did not have one at the time.

If you going to get one anyway get it from a 1990 or newer. They are WC t5. There are Ford version of the t5 that can handle 330 Ft/lbs of torque. T5-Z put in the 93 Cobra. GM just went to the T56.