Tranny Swap Question???

[badbowtie78]

Hey guys,
I have a question please help if you can. I have a 88 camaro rs it has a 350 sbc and a 5-speed manual transmission. My K5 is a stick. I'm am wanting to swap out the transmissions to put the 5-speed in my blazer. Is this possible? Has anyone tried this or heard of anyone doing this? Will it marry up to the transfer case? Does it require a computer or extra wiring, anything like that? I have a 400 sbc I'm wanting to build a 383 stroker out of. I hoping that the transmission will hold up to some crawling and maybe some mud bogging. It will mostly be a daily driver.

I know some guys have put some serious horses behind the 5-speed in a camaro and it's held up, just don't know about a 4x4??

Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

[dyeager535]

Forget it.

How are you going to mate the transfercase up? Whats the spline count on the transmission? ALL the car manual transmissions are a crapshoot up until the 6 speed as to how much they will handle, and with the NV3500 even being iffy as to strength (which is a truck trans) stuffing a 1980's ~3500lb car transmission into a 5000lb+ truck is a BAD idea IMO.

Not saying it can't be done, anything can be done with enough ingenuity, money, time, and effort, some things are just pointless. I would consider this pointless. I can understand why you would want to (you can actually shift the car transmissions lol) but you've got the wrong trans in mind.

 

[badbowtie78]

Thats a bummer... The main reason for the swap is I was hoping to gain the 5th gear for an overdrive gear as this will be mainly a daily driver. I have the original 4-speed with the low-low gear in it now. Is there anything I can do to gain a OD gear and keep a manual transmission in it? I really prefer a manual over a automatic.

 

[Z71paramedic]

NV4500 will give you an overdrive and be manual. Just need to get one from a 4x4 and get the appropriate TC adapter and adjust driveshaft lengths accordingly.

 

[dyeager535]

Od is expensive no matter how you cut it.

What is your tire diameter, and gear ratio? Depending on those, you might be able to change one, the other, or both for not too much money, which could give you a bit better economy.

What are you getting now? I'm going to say that with a gas motor, 20MPG is the limit of these trucks, no matter what you do, assuming reasonable freeway MPH.

Slowing down is normally the best/easiest/cheapest thing you can do.

You'd have to do the math, see what .70 OD ratio, 3.73 gears and 31" tire diameter equals at 60-65 MPH, which was one combination GM offered. If you can get into that RPM range, you will probably be about as well off as can be.

Running 2.73 gears, 33" tires, and .70 overdrive isn't going to equal great economy unfortunately...slowing the motor down (decreasing cruise RPM) only works to a point.

 

[badbowtie78]

I'm not sure what my running gears are I haven't tore into any of that. I know my tires are 33's. I just bought the truck a few months ago. It's been sitting out in a field for the last 5 years deteriorating. So i bought it for next to nothing and I have drove it on the trailer, across town and back, then into my shop where it's been since. It's pretty rough it runs and drives but all needs gone through. I got an extra engine I'm gonna build for it and a few extras and get all installed and go through everything else before I take it out too much. I was contemplating the tranny swap while I had everything tore out. Do it all at once.

Thanks guys I appreciate the help!