Speedway Tech Talk - Swapping Tail Housings and Covers on a T-5 Transmission

Lots of hot rodders like T-5 transmissions in their builds because they’re available, reasonably priced, and just plain work well. It’s also great to have that 5th gear when you hit the road for a long cruise.

Tim reminds us that when you’re looking for a T-5 transmission there are a lot of things to consider. The biggest decision being World class or non-World Class style. World Class styles are a little beefier, include better bearings, and are typically set up for higher horsepower applications. For his project, Tim was content with a non-World Class version as he was more concerned with shifter location to retain the factory look and fit with the bench seat.

Looking to update the transmission in your hot rod? Follow along as our expert tech Tim shows how he took his T-5 transmission from swap meet find to hot rod ready with a little know-how and a lot of elbow grease!

Tim explains that T-5s came in a lot of makes and models from Camaros to S-10s so there are a lot of models out there to choose from. He cautions that when you buy yours you need to be sure to check it out – pull the top cover off to make sure it’s healthy as some of these have had a rough life. Tim’s was in pretty rough shape so he chose to part it out and rebuild using the best parts from a few transmissions.

This project was a bit of an undertaking, but Tim gives you the how-to info to get the job done right. So sit back, relax and maybe take a few notes on the best tips and tricks for your own project!