Have a T5 gearbox question

[Andydodge]

Well, my S10 T5 gearbox arrived from Turners Wrecking yard in Fresno Ca, am quite a happy chappy, its an 85/86 box, seems nice & clean, however when it arrived it had been partially disassembled to fit in the box, the bellhousing & shifter had been upbolted, no problem but included with these parts were 2 pair of steel bracing rods, 2 that obviously go from each side of the bellhousing to a boss underneath the gearbox tailpiece, and another 2 that I have no idea who/what they are for....in all the pics in magazines and in the various forum pics I have never seen either the bellhousing to tailpiece bracing rods or any others or even heard of them......does anyone who has played /is playing with a T5 seen or used them in their Mopar installation?..........thanks....btw I am in Australia and I don't have a stock S10 to check under to see what the other rods are for....lol......andyd

[Don Coatney]

Follow the photobucket link below and go to the T-5 album. I am not sure what the rods/brackets are but maybe you can spot them in my photos. Are you going to use the S-10 bell housing?

[Andydodge]

Don...........that was quick!......what link tho'?..........yeh these rods are some sort of bracing from the bellhousing to under the gearbox, weird....have never seen them.......I intended to get an adapter from Paul Curtis.......any info would be helpful......thanks, andyd

[Don Coatney]

There are 3 links below my signature. The first one is my photobucket.

[james curl]

When I removed my S 10 T-5 from the V6 bellhousing it had the four rods that you speak of. The S-10 T-5 tailshaft housing has a fin like casting on the bottom. It has two holes in it. The braces are round stock with the ends flattened. They bolt to the bottom hole then bend outward and foward. The engine end of the rods bend back towards the center line and bolt to two ears on the botton of the S 10 bellhousing about 6" either side of the centerline. There two other rods from the top of the bell housing about 6" either side of the centerline come downward to the two horziontal ears, one on each side at the rear of the main gear box casting. I didnot keep the rods or the bellhousing as I have no need of then in my P-15. I will be doing much the same as Don Coatney did except I made my upper ears out of 1/2" flat stock welded to 5/16" flat stock which was formed to fit the contour of the bellhousing and secured with 3 5/16" grade 8 bolts and nuts on each side. That is as far as I have gotten, still need to have plug machined and the hole opened up to the size of the T-5 input shaft bearing support before I can go any futher.

[Andydodge]

Don, still can't see the links, maybe its a downunder thing........lol.......James, thanks for that info, I thought thats what they were, but without a pic or being able to see them in an S10 i was guessing, the way that don did his adaption using plates, and welding ears on the bellhousing would also reduce the distance the input shaft needs to fit up to the spigot bush......all good info...........thanks, andyd

[Dennis Hemingway]

AndyD.

See if you can see this. It is Don's site.

Dennis

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v65/DonCoatney/

[Andydodge]

Dennis and Don.......it worked, thanks........Don, any chance I could phone you?.......have a couple of questions re the gearbox installation & I talk better than I type......lol.......andyd

[Don Coatney]

Andy;

Very much enjoyed the phone call and hope I was of some help on your project. You are the second caller from Australia. Ray Bell called a few months back but I was not home and missed his call.

[Andydodge]

Don.......o/k, heres what we'll do, feel like another trip to Oz?.........we'll all chip in and lease you out amongst us aussies ........lol.......only thing we might be a little short o funds......you prefer deck cargo or a wing(strapped to it) seat.........lol.........and if any kiwis chip in we might be able to throw in a cut lunch..........lol.......such a deal......but seriously tho, was good to speak to you yesterday, answered a few questions that I had.........will keep in touch.......many thanks & regards, Andyd