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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - All GM T-5's not the same????

I'm in the parts gathering stage of my conversion and I've reached the point where I need to find a tranny. A friend of mine owns a transmission shop so I figured I had a good chance of finding a T-5 at a reasonable price. Lucky me just such a tranny fell into my lap the other day. Turns out a customer didn't want to rebuild their old tranny out of their Pontiac Firebird but wanted to buy a "high-performance" one instead. My friend said it just needs new syncronizers and berrings and it's good to go if I want it, all I need to pay for is the parts. I decided long ago that I would be using a GM T-5 and ordered a bell housing form D&D to mate it with my Buick 215. Here's the problem, I took my bellhousing to my friend's shop just to see how she fits and the holes ain't even close! I asked if he was positive that it was a Firebird T-5 that it came out of and he said he pulled it himself. The donor car was a '94 Pontiac Firebird with a V8 but it most certainly is NOT the same bolt pattern as my bellhousing. My friend says it's no big deal to have my bell housing drilled to fit it but I'd still like to know what the deal is. If anybody can tell me why there is a difference in bolt patterns I would greatly appreciate it.

Chris
Chris Mowris

are we not talking a sixty's vintage desine compared to a newer engine? who said that they would match up? its new news to me! I heard that the buick V6 engine would bolt up to the Trimph TR8 trannie.but that was because the buick V6 was based on a sixty's V8 engine? or something like that.some guys were dropping the V6 into their TR8s because it was a cheeper way to go than to rebuild a Rover V8.I don't know about a standard trannie that will work? I guess there must be one out there.if not contact the hot rod shops for a listing of engine adaptor plates.I have heard that they can make any engine to trannie system work! but the trannie you are wanting to use is kind of big is it not? what kind of hacking are you going to have to do to make it fit? I would keep looking before spending any money on the free one! good luck,Cheers...James...
JAMES ROZEE

James,
With due respect I think you missed the point?
D&D's bellhousing is made to adapt a (GM)T5 to the 215 block wether it be Rover, Buick etc. There is some question about the Borg Warner T5 having different bolt patterns for Ford and GM.
The T5 transmission is actually smaller and a fair bit lighter than the the Leyland SD1/TR7/TR8 transmission and fits the MGB with very little or no modification.
I'm also surprised someone would go to the effort of replacing a Rover V8 with a V6. The 215 unit in my opinion is relatively inexpensive to rebuild and by upgrading items such as pistons and camshaft (part of a rebuild anyway)provide much improved power.
May I suggest you pick up a copy of Converting your MGB to V8 power. The latest edition has a lot more information regarding US conversions and particularly focuses on T5 / T50 transmissions.
Andrew
Andrew

Andrew Worman

Sounds like you didn't get the adapter plate from Dan. Dan asked me if I had a GM or Ford T-5. There should be a 1" thick aluminum plate that bolts to the 215 bellhousing that will give you the right bolt pattern. You may also want to get the pilot bushing from Dan as well.

Mike
Michael Hartwig

93 to present Firebird (formula and Trans AM)with V8 (LT1 and LS1) have a 6 speeed man (or 4 spd automatic). Only the V6 cars have the 5 speed. Unless it was a aftermarket trans. That might be your problem. SO now your problem is you have a 6spd not a 5 speed. Good luck.
Big J

T-5 trannys
GM t-5's all had the same bolt patern though '92
V6/V8 had differant input slines, ratios, and most inportant different touque ratings.
early and late T-5's even had different syncros, ie. some used gear oil some used tranny fluid.

Jags That Run explain it well, look them up.
vincebo

You may not have a T-5!!!! You may have a 6 speed (I think that I could be wrong on this part but I believe the 6 speed was made by a german company (not bog warner). Articles when the new GM pony cars came out. That was 7-8 years ago so I could be wrong about the location it was made.)


I realy think your problem is you have a 6 speed trans not a T-5. If it truly came from a 94 V-8 Firebird only man transmision offered was a 6 speed. GM transformed over to the 6 speed in the Z28 and formula & Trans Am in 1993. I beileve (not sure) that is the same trans as in the vette of that year.
The man

<<are we not talking a sixty's vintage desine compared to a newer engine? who said that they would match up? its new news to me! >>

GM has used the same bolt pattern since the late 50s? thru '92 for the 4sp. and 5sp. trans. Doesn't matter if it's Saginaw 4sp., Muncie 4sp, Super T-10 4sp, or a T-5 the bellhousing to trans bolt pattern is the same.

Measure the bolt pattern on the bellhousing and the trans then call Dan LaGrou.
Carl

Maybe the facts are not being looked at everyone is talking 50's to 92. Chris the person with the tranmision is talking 1994.



Carl, Tennessee
<<are we not talking a sixty's vintage desine compared to a newer engine? who said that they would match up? its new news to me! >>

vincebo, Kennewick,
GM has used the same bolt pattern since the late 50s? thru '92 for the 4sp. and 5sp. trans. Doesn't matter if it's Saginaw 4sp., Muncie 4sp, Super T-10 4sp, or a T-5 the bellhousing to trans bolt pattern is the same.

GM t-5's all had the same bolt patern though '92



Chris Mowris, Tampa, FL
The donor car was a '94 Pontiac Firebird with a V8

Mr. Know it all

Chris, to check that the box is a V8 T5:
1. It should have 26 splines on the input shaft and 27 on the output shaft.
2. GM Part no. 1019-2297 is a T5 box with .73 5th gear
GM Part no. 1019-2298 is a T5 box with .63 5th gear
3. 215 bellhousings came in 3 speed or 3/4 speed on the same housing. If you have a 3 speed you'll be able to get the adapter plate from D&D. Way to tell is if there are eight holes where the box bolts on its 3/4 speed, or if only four holes it may be the earlier 3 speed.
4. All first 4 gears in T5's are the same.
HTH

Stainzy
Stainzy

This thread was discussed between 10/11/2000 and 11/11/2000

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