Engine and Transmission Tech

I found a WC T5 from a 1988? V6 Camaro locally for $350.00
The metal tag which would tell me details like actual gear ratios is missing.
It comes with an aluminum Chevy bell that I should be able to use with a Muncie for my El Camino 4 speed swap.

My engine will be a hopped up 225 Buick V6.

According to my web searches GM used the T-5 in F-body cars behind all engines.
In general, the I4/V6 got the following ratios:
1st – 3.50 2nd – 2.14 3rd – 1.36 4th – 1.00 5th – 0.78

Compared to the old Muncie's I am more familiar with.
Year 1963-1965 Type: M20 Rings: None Ratio: 2.56 / 1.91 / 1.48 / 1.00 / 3.16
Year 1966-1974 Type: M20 Rings: Two Ratio: 2.52 / 1.88 / 1.46 / 1.00 / 3.11
Year 1963-1974 Type: M21 Rings: One Ratio: 2.20 / 1.64 / 1.28 / 1.00 / 2.27
Year 1967-1974 Type: M22 Rings: None Ratio: 2.20 / 1.64 / 1.28 / 1.00 / 2.27

My concern is that a 3.50 first is going to be like the granny gear in my truck, almost never used.
I have not found my rear axle yet so probably have a choice of ratios to offset the 3.50 first to some degree.
But I do not want such a tall rear that fifth lugs the engine.
The Alfa axle I was hoping to use is probably a 4.56 ratio, 4.10 optional.
Looks like I will want more like 3.54 - 3.70 gears.

The real question become, will I be unhappy with the low 3.50 V6 first gear ratio?
Or is it really a better gear for my V6?

Richard, The 3.5 first ratio is kind of rare for the V6 Camaro/Firebird T5. 3.75 and 4.05 are more common. The 4.05 is a real granny gear and needs around a 3.07 rear gear. The V8 T5 has a 2.95 first. Mustang T5 first gears were mostly 3.35. Most like around 12 as the overall first X rear ratio. You really can't compare the old 4 speed to 5 speed gear splits. Plus a big V8 can get away with a much lower numeric first gear. For example if the T5 had a 3.5 first X 3.45 rear = 12.075 overall ratio.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2014 02:21PM by mgb260.