I've driven a lot of different sticks, although a lot of the cars I have had were older "muscle" cars with 4 speeds; so maybe everything I drive now feels buttery smooth by comparison. This t-56 shifts like a dream compared to a Muncie m214 speed, or a even a Chrysler a833 18 Spline, which is considered one of the smoothest shifting transmissions of the era.
I hate tosay it but I just took my brothers 94 GT out for a spin, and the t-5 reallyis a ripping transmission. LikeSpecter says, the shifts just feel a little more natural and in line somehow.The shifter on thoseearly 90's5.0 GT'sis awesome too.
But I wouldn't say the t-56 is hard to shift, just requires alittle more feel that the t-5, which you can bang through the gears more wrecklessly.

 

So then t-5 doesnt refer to the 5 speed in f-bodies?

 

ya, thats all i was saying. its a little harder by comparisson to some other sticks out there. in the mustang world the manual wins hands down vs the automatic, but in chevys the auto does much better because of its gearing, and a couple issues with the manual.