Cascade Crew

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

The old NWC T5 in my firebird is getting to the point that I don't feel comfortable putting miles on it every day. It whines very loudly, especially in 5th to the point where its impossible to hold a conversation in the car. I don't have the money to get the T56 (glory) that I'd like, but I need this car to drive 50+ miles every day. Basically I need a solution to keep the car on the road until I get all of the parts I need for a T56 swap. The car was originally 4-speed auto.

I still have all of the parts from the swap minus a good 700r4. My dad is willing to help me out by buying a junkyard 1988 700r4. I have a friend that is willing to rebuild it for me since I don't have the special tools for it.

In the end it looks like it would set me back a few hundred for the rebuild, and about half a day to do this.

Scandalous for sure.

This all seems a bit crazy,but to me but it seems like a reasonable way to keep the car on the road.

Also, my wife can't drive stick and her car is a turd destined for hell (Ford Taurus).

Should I do this? Should I wait until I can afford a T56?

aaron_sK · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:34 pm Post subject:

You can afford to rebuild the 700R4 but not the T5? Confused

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

I can't even find new gears for the NWC T5.

aaron_sK · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject:

Just buy another one!

I would bet you I could buy ten used T5's for what you would pay a tranny shop to rebuild one 700R4.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Well if I could find one locally for cheap enough I might be into it.

DBL_TKE · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:18 am Post subject:

Pick N' Pull sells them for something like $135.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:21 am Post subject:

Check craigslist. Usually all Mustang and Jeep stuff but sometimes they come up.

Alphius · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:52 am Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:46 pm Post subject:

Doubt your whine is gears in the T5 unless you've run it low on oil for a long time.

Change the fluid and drive it.

Or put a brass/bearing kit in it for $150.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

The gear box was rebuilt 5 months ago by tranny shop to correct whine and made no improvement, been getting worse since.

All of those kits are just bearings and misc parts or WC gears.

I spent this afternoon combing around local yards and making phone calls with no luck finding a T5. I'll try looking a bit more next week.

I've had to stop driving it. I drove it to Bremerton today and it made this horrible noise when shifting from 4th to 5th twice and again when I took it out of 5th.

chevymad · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 9:37 pm Post subject:

Have you talked to the shop about this? Give them a chance to correct their mistake.

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

I just saw one on Cl I think yesterday for cuople hundred.

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/pts/2786988026.html

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Thanks! I don't know how I missed it.

91camaro_rs · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:57 pm Post subject:

is it for a V6 or V8?

i have a rebuilt 700r4 with stage 1 shift kit and vette servo in it, has 17k miles on it, but its for a V6

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

I just got a working one for free from a wrecked 1987 T/A. I'm just waiting on a flexplate and I'm good to go.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Seeing as how I have my T5 up for grabs I figured I should put another transmission in the car.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

I love how whenever I do any electrical work it looks like I've totally ruined the car. I had to pull all the wires apart to find the ones I need to reroute. For the TCC and VSS I ran them through a grommet I insalled where the speedo cable previously was run. I did also make a neat harness for it and used insulated hose clamps to hold everything neatly in place. It's taking a lot of time to do all of this but I'm much happier than in the past when I was lazy.