Cascade Crew

[83Z28BlackBetty]

So I'm trying to give my "Black Betty" savings acct more direction than blowing it on every imaginable RamJam remix and Black Betty cover. Granted I feel these are very wise investments because what better modification could you possibly do than RamJam tunes.

I'm trying to decide whether to spend money on building a new motor or swapping to manual transmission. The new motor wouldn't be anything too extravagant, most likely a medium build 350 ~300hp and keep my 700r4. OR keep the 305 and swap a t56 plus a few suspension goodies.

I know the motor swap would make the car faster overall, but what would be more fun? I'm just getting really tired of slow automatic car. It needs a change for the better.

let me know your thoughts



~JAKE

[Schultzy89GTA]

I vote manual transmission Jake. Regardless of power level, rowing through the gears adds a lot to the fun factor. I like power too but if she is running well, no real concern about her giving up anytime soon and your criteria is fun factor, unca Schultzy votes manual transmission. Completely changed my car.

.02



-Schultzy

[SlackerTA]

I second the manual tranny for sure. After driving my bird to work the last few days I jumped in my POS 5 spd Nissan Stanza today and now I can't stop thinking about a T5 or T56 swap. A slow car w/ a stick is just as much fun as a fast car w/ an auto IMHO.

[Xophertony]

Stick.

when my GTA had an auto, I found the GTA to be less fun than the V6 car to drive. once the GTA got a stick the V6 car was parked until the GTA broke.

[Twilightoptics]

300-350 rwhp or flywheel?

That 300RW mark tends to take some definite cash flow. Especially if you are building a 350 from scratch.

I'd go trans.

[blue89]

Go big block. Quick screwing around. You know you want one.

[IROCDave]

Another vote for manual transmission. If you do go with the 300rwhp route you will be replacing the transmission soon after.

[Twilightoptics]

That in mind TKO or T56.

Don't waste your time with a T5

[iansane]

I think we all know that manual trans will win the argument in this group of gearheads. Consider how many of us have done the swap. That was probably the single most awesome thing (as far as driving experience) I've ever done to my car. So worth it.

[Al Hasse]

T-56 is the route I was going for until the car had other ideas. Now I'll have to be careful until I can actually do the T-56 swap

[alloy]

Another T56 vote. That and a 3.73 rear gear is the perfect combo I think.

[Dewey316]

Row, row, row your gears....

[83Z28BlackBetty]

Wow, not a single vote for motor swap. That's funny. Although you all have said what I've been thinking all along. I think a slower car with a manual trans, would be more fun than a faster auto.

I agree paul, I don't want a t5. That being said, what would be easier/cheaper/better, tko or t56?


-jake

[QwkTrip]

[83Z28BlackBetty]

Satisfied? Who are you kidding. What self respecting crewbie would I be if I was satisfied with a 305. Lol

[alloy]

I'll let Paul answer the cost question, I just wanted to send you this link on the T56 swap. It's a long read, but you will be very well informed after you read through it.

Having an 82 you will need to find a way to drive your speedometer cable. There is an electric gizmo you can buy, or I do the mod to the tail housing that lets you use stock GM gears. I've done about 50 of these mods so far and everyone seems very happy at the results. Anyway, when you get to that point of building your T56 drop me a pm and we can talk about the mod if you decide to go that way.


http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/transmissions-drivetrain/452246-my-t56-swap-thread.html

[Xophertony]

or swap in a much nicer looking 92 dash with an electronic speedo? (or an even nicer looking 86+ firebird dash with an electronic speedo)

[91RSVert]

I will toss a wrench into the plan.


It depends on how you USE your car. If its a daily driver stop-light to stop-light. I will say IMO it blows ass to be shifting gears all the time, and having to sit on the clutch and brake at a stoplight. I have a 4l60e sitting on the floor ready for a rebuild to take the t5 out of mine and put it in.

How many miles are on the motor you have?

[Alphius]

I've never gotten tired of rowing gears in my DD even in stop-and-go traffic or stoplight to stoplight. It just improves the boring traffic experience to have something to do...

IMHO 300rwhp is a little much for a T5. I've had a NWC T5 behind my nearly 300rwhp 355 as long as I've had the car (though it used to be only about 250rwhp) and last time I took the tranny out the input splines were twisted a little bit (visibly) and the input bearings are mighty loose. It still works fine, and I wouldn't hesitate to run one for a few years on a budget and on cheap street tires, but the T56 will be my go-to choice when I blow the guts out of this one. I've been trying hard to blow it up for a few years now, but it stubbornly refuses to die.

I kind of ignore the TKO because it's only a 5-speed and rowing more gears is always better... Never get tired of it. Plus the 6-speed I am gonna put in will be firmly attached to an LSx, and it just seems to be better that way.

[iansane]