Simple S10 T5 to '36 bellhousing swap with all off-the shelf parts and minimal machining.

[MoparMontana]

Good news! I picked up a set of early-90's Camaro gears with 2.95 first and .63 Overdrive off Ebay for $136!

[MoparMontana]

On 2/18/2021 at 5:10 PM, DJ194950 said:

 

To some cheaply is quite relative to their location, long relation with a machine shop , and their own finances.

 

I knew a local machine shop owner from where I worked but even with that as a favor he would do anything at all past a look for less than $40 minimum. Small $$ but that was

for drilling 4 small, and threading holes accurately. That was his favor. Most do nothing for less than $100.

 

I understand a experienced machinist employee does not come cheap, not the machines, maintenance of a place, rents, etc. But what is cheap?

 

No offense but while I certainly do appreciate your info's and what you do for the Mopar brand. Not being a downer I hope ,but?

 

DJ

Not being a downer at all. Trust me, I get it. I am very fortunate to have an amazing group of friends and mentors from our Bonneville racing efforts. I am by no means a competent machinist. ADD and precision machining are diametrically opposed, but it is teaching me to slow down and be patient. And, yes, it's taken me several decades to acquire the tools necessary. Once the swap for the roadster is complete, I am going to do another on on my '31 DeSoto and try to further simplify the process to hopefully avoid machining. Through this process I have learned a lot and found that the T5 used many different front bearing retainers over different adaptations and years. Maybe I can find one that requires simplified indexing into the Mopar bell housing.

 

When I say "cheap" I am comparing it to the alternatives. R10 overdrives have gotten scarce and very expensive, and won't work on an early floor shift transmission without an adapter and modifications to the cluster gearset. New R10 solenoids are going for over $400. The 833 OD transmissions are also getting difficult to find and very spendy, and require an adapter. I think this swap will end up being "cheaper" that either of those alternatives, and I'll end up with a more modern, lighter, and better shifting transmission. I'll do a cost breakdown when I'm done, but I think the overall cost will be less expensive than either an R10 or 833 swap.

Edited February 20, 2021 by MoparMontana

[Sniper]

Love the outside the box thinking.  I already have a couple A833OD's on the shelf, though the gear ratios aren't what I would call optimal.

[MackTheFinger]

That Desoto roadster is a thing of beauty.. 

[Bobb Horn]

Here is my setup from several years ago.     a TKO 5 speed Ranger trans 36 7 or 8 Plymouth or Dodge bell housing,

 

attached to my flathead.      3.73 ranger rear, that is a little too low geared, but does good, 3.55 should do better.

 

I used the Plymouth pressure plate, ranger clutch disc.      the only machine work, I had done was to machine the

 

front trans retaining cover to match the Plymouth bell housing hole of near 5 inch.    this process was more simple

 

than the T5, with no adapter, or welding required.

[greg g]

Did you make a trans carrier cross member or did it just hang from the bell housing like the stock one??  Did you need to do any accommodation for the floor shifter location?

[Bobb Horn]

On 2/24/2021 at 1:08 AM, greg g said:

Did you make a trans carrier cross member or did it just hang from the bell housing like the stock one??  Did you need to do any accommodation for the floor shifter location?       I did not change the floor shift location, but change the curve of the shifter.