Hi guys i ahave an 81 currently with a 305 (have a 400 on the bench) its getting there but anyway i thrash and beat on my car from drag strip to roadcourses and i need to upgrade to something with overdrive what od trannys are close to fitting i see the 4-7,000 kits for upgrading but havent found out what i can buy thats close i can build all the brackets and what not myself. just need to find what ones have the corect shifter locatuion and bell housing (i will prolly get a scatter shield for nhra specs) but will one from a 95 s10 work or will it be too weak to handle? is there a list of applications i can get that will work?

 

If your engine is a 305, then a V8 T5 from a Camaro will work. If you plan any performance upgrades, then your best bet is to step up to a T56 5 or 6 speed. You can buy a Lakewood approved scattershield for a T56, but they are nearly $600 alone, and unless you do a fair amount of drag racing, I sure wouldn't add that cost.
If you can find a good T56 from a Camaro or GM with LT1 SBC engine, it will bolt right up. But once it's bolted up the fun really begins. If you don't already have a stick trans, you'll need to convert your hanging brake only to a clutch/brake pedal setup. You should also consider getting the master and slave with whatever T56 trans you buy, as they make adapter brackets for the firewall to mount the hydraulic master cylinder right on the firewall, and use the stock pedal to operate it.
Normally you can find a good T56 with the slave, master, and line for around $1500-$1700. You'll also need a flywheel adapter to fit your engine, and work with the T56 trans, clutch, and pressure plate. If you get all that, and then end up swapping in the 400 SBC, you'll be buying another $500 flywheel when you change to the 400, as they use a externally balanced different flywheel.
The T56 shifter can be reworked with an adapter plate to locate it in the stock Camaro, but it might be very close already. Not sure, as I've done this swap, but on an older Nova, and it fit good. There will also be a little hammer and sawzall work to get clearance on the inside of the trans tunnel. Nothing radical, and it wont show inside the car, but there's a heavy floor brace the trans will hit. And of course the crossmember will need to be reworked, or a new adapter crossmember installed. I built a new one, as it was simpler and easier than trying to make the old crossmember work. And your driveline will need to be shortened to fit the new trans.
I'd expect to be into this swap about $3,000-$4,000. The low end of $3k if you can do most of the work of fabrication, and high end $4k if you buy all the parts, and make nothing yourself. But wait until you're sure what engine will be in your Camaro first.

 

Just so you understand the T5 can not handle any real torque. GM sold the T5 behind the 305 but they did not offer it behind a 350. The 350 had too much torque. Any small block 400 would shred a T5 as soon as it got traction. Some of the very early T56's where only rated for 350 lb feet of torque.

 

i have pretty much everything for the 400 including the flywheel and an older lakewood bell housing i will probably go with a tko-500 just to make sure i never have to worry about blowing out the tranny

 

The flywheel you have most likely wont work for the 400 and a T56, or a TKO. Either will require a different flywheel, pressure plate, and clutch. I wouldn't have any worries about a T56 unless your plans include huge torque and HP figures on the 400. I know guys who have them behind BBC cars, and are holding up.

 

the 400 has an externally ballanced fly wheel and i have the corect one for it. clutch and plate are cheap i was just wondering if a t5 will last at all?

 

IMO, the T56 is the choice for me.
First thru fourth remind me of a close ratio Muncie and the trans has a 0.5:1 OD.

 

You may have the correct flywheel for a 400 SBC, but that's not the correct flywheel for a T56. It may well work with a T5, as they can use the stock flywheel. But a T56 takes a special flywheel to work with a SBC, and of course a special flywheel to work with a T56 and a externally balanced 400. So if you buy a T56 flywheel, best to make sure it's the one for the engine you'll end up with. If you choose the weaker T5, then your present flywheel will most likely work.

 

Sure as long as you never push hard on the gas, A stock 400 from 1970 has more then enough torque to break a T5 in a single 1/4 mile run. If you have a set of 215s and a open dif you should be good.

 

ive got a set of l60 14 drag tires and a posi so i will start the search for a t56 or tko depends what i can save up