Thread: 47-54 chevy car trans swap

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After weeks of searching locally and on the internet, I have found some differing info as to which swaps work and which do not.

I have nearly abondoned keeping my car 100% visually stock and am considering installing a t-5 trans to my 216 stovebolt in my 52 styleline.

Here is the most commonly accepted swap info that i have found:

1. t-5 will bolt into similar vintage trucks with 216 if trans bolt holes are enlarged to .5" (and s-10 tailshaft should be used to move shifter forward and out of the seat area for bench seat use)
2. truck three speed will bolt in place and be usable in car
3. t-5 will bolt in car with bellhousing adapter or with bellhousing from 55-62 car or 48-59 truck

The t-5 installs will need different cluth disc due to spline differences, and a crossmember will need to be made.
Also, the torque tube must be addressed.

I see a problem regarding what fits what from 1, 2, and 3 above. I am about sold on installing a t-5 to the 52 because I like to actually drive my cars. I really have no reason to remove the 216 assuming I find a harmonic balancer for it. Before I spend time pulling and moving parts around, I want to know what parts I need to have on-hand.

Also, does the t-5 in a car need the s-10 tailshaft?

Please, help clear up my concerns and the future concers of those that will be going in this direction.

Come on, guys.

This topic has been hit on on this forum. However it has never been well defined as to what fits and what MAY work. I have a couple of weeks left before my schedule gets cramped and I would like this swap done or at least well under way.


While I am on this topic, will a 50's powerglide bolt in place of the three speed less shift mechanism?

I'd say you can run whatever tailshaft the tranny comes with, you're going to have to get a driveshaft built anyway... As far as the rear end, a 9" Ford with sping saddles and new shock mounts would work good.... With the little I have left of a memory, I remember someone saying that a 10 bolt GM was close to a bolt in....maybe one out of a Camaro???? Hopefully someone who's memory is a bit more functional will remember....

Thanks for chiming in, Dave.

Yes, the rear end and driveshaft must be swapped.

However, my concern is getting a transmission that bolts to a bellhousing that bolts to a 216 while having a functional system.

It seems to me that if a truck trans will bolt to my stock 52 car bellhousing and a t-5 will bolt to a truck bellhousing, then a t-5 should bolt to my car bellhousing. However, I keep hearing about an adapter plate for the t-5 and a car bellhousing.

I guess what I should be asking is "Are a 52 car and 52 truck bellhousing the same?" And "When a t-5 is bolted in a 216 powered car, is a s-10 tailshaft required to keep the shifter out of the bench seat?"

yep a gen 2 camero 10 bolt is a bolt in for the '49-'54's. Restomod type car will hold a better value because they appeal to some restorer's/ collectors. the '50-'59 or 60 PG would bolt up, the only powerglides that would be correct for a '52 is a '50-'52 powerglide. they have an odd shift pattern, it's PNLDR and they don't shift themselves, you shift it yourself below 45 MPH for ither gear, you don't need to start off in low, you can start off in drive. they whine like a blower in park too. I would suggest finding a 235 if you are going to PG it. they were the only engine available with the PG, but you would end up being a slug, my '235/ PG powered '51 is pretty much wound out at 60-65 MPH and the PG cars have a 3.55 rear end, and the 3spd 216 cars have a 4.10 so you would end up wound out around 55 MPH, you would need a PG 3.55 rear end from a '50-'54 Car

First, a T5 will not fit the 216 bell, it's the small pattern setup. A pickup uses the bigger pattern bell, like a T5. The S10 tailshaft puts the shifter farther ahead, if you aren't installing buckets it's a must. For that matter, a whole S10 trans will work.

Thank you, THANK YOU, R Pope!

So I need a truck bell or a later car bell, correct?
This tells me that the couple of people that have told me that a truck trans will fit the car were the misleaders.

What bellhousings will be suitable to keep the stock clutch linkage and use the t-5 behind a 216?

I think you need a 48 to 54 or 55 first series truck to bolt the T-5 in. Jeff

I don't know if the stock clutch linkage will work with a 235 truck housing. I put a '55 car overdrive and 4.11 posi in my '54 Bel Aire in 1968, so my recall is a bit faded. I think I made new linkage. I still have the old hardtop, planning a 350/350 swap next winter, but all the old drivetrain is history.

More info....the crossmember can work, chisel the rivets and put it back in with bolts. Get the driveshaft with the trans, you'll need the yoke anyway, the shaft might be made to work. I made a 2-piece for mine back when, I don't recall why, had to make a x-member to support the center bearing.Now, I'd go for a Camaro rear, with overdrive a 3.5 or 3.7 or so should work. Plus, the Camaro rear and T5 will work behind a small-block when the "dipper" craters. And it will crater!

Can anyone else help with the bellhousing clutchfork info?
I found an adapter supplier but I would prefer to use only a bellhousing.

You should be able to use your original fork with the truck bellhousing but when you get a truck bell measure on both the distance from the center of the hole the trans goes through to the center for the ball that the fork snaps in,if the measurements are the same your original fork will work in the truck bellhousing and if they are different then you will have to make the truck fork work. I think after 38 that measurement should be the same on all bellhousings,when I was putting in a 235 in my 37 p/u I found that the measurement was different on the 37 on back then the 38 on up due to the different type of pressure plate and clutch system that was used but after 38 they are the familair type used untill the late 70s ?. Jeff