Manual trans for early SBC swap? (Page 1/2)
Taijiguy JUL 08, 11:06 AM
So I'm commencing a 350 swap and have been picking up parts to do the build. The plan is for a moderately to moderately heavy built 350 that will get more or less daily use (mostly city) driving in the summer, with the occasional road trip. The set up I'm buying has an Isuzu 5 speed on it now attached to a 350. I have the option of purchasing a Getrag from a Fiero. I also looked at the F40, but it seems all that's talked about with them is using them with an LS4, which I'm not using. I've been doing some research but my eyes are practically bleeding and I'm somewhat overwhelmed, so figured I'd just throw the question out about recommendations.

Isuzu, Fiero Getrag, (insert other model) Getrag, F40..... or...... ?
hnthomps JUL 08, 11:23 AM
I have a Getrag 282 mated to a fuel injected 383 and it works OK. However, I do not do high rpm clutch dumps because something would likely break!

Nelson
fieroguru JUL 08, 11:57 AM
I have driven SBC's with the Isuzu 5 speed, Fiero Getrag, FWD HTOB 282 Getrag, and F23 Getrag and also driven an LS4 w/ F40.

They all have their good points and bad points.

My personal favorite is the F40, but it certainly is the most difficult/costly to install, rattles at idle without the clutch pressed, and the shifting is a more clunkier than the others (the transmission shift rail assy has a gated shifter assy internally).

The F23 is popular for strength, but with the 3.94 final drive it was my least favorite to drive with a SBC. It shifts quick and smooth though.

The 282 will hold up for quite some time if you drive it like a sane person and start with either a rebuilt unit or a lower mile one. Worn differential bearings will cause the case to break when abused.

The isuzu is probably the best shifting transmission and has the lowest cruise RPM for all the 5 speeds, but they can't take much abuse before stripping the teeth off 2nd gear.

My advices is to start with whatever you have and upgrade as you break it. This will keep the initial cost of the swap lower or allow you to spend the same $$$ but get better engine parts.
Taijiguy JUL 08, 12:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by fieroguru:

I have driven SBC's with the Isuzu 5 speed, Fiero Getrag, FWD HTOB 282 Getrag, and F23 Getrag and also driven an LS4 w/ F40.

They all have their good points and bad points.

My personal favorite is the F40, but it certainly is the most difficult/costly to install, rattles at idle without the clutch pressed, and the shifting is a more clunkier than the others (the transmission shift rail assy has a gated shifter assy internally).

The F23 is popular for strength, but with the 3.94 final drive it was my least favorite to drive with a SBC. It shifts quick and smooth though.

The 282 will hold up for quite some time if you drive it like a sane person and start with either a rebuilt unit or a lower mile one. Worn differential bearings will cause the case to break when abused.

The isuzu is probably the best shifting transmission and has the lowest cruise RPM for all the 5 speeds, but they can't take much abuse before stripping the teeth off 2nd gear.

My advices is to start with whatever you have and upgrade as you break it. This will keep the initial cost of the swap lower or allow you to spend the same $$$ but get better engine parts.



IMO that's great advice. Thanks for that and the other info. I don't intend to thrash it *too* much, but I would like to humiliate the occasional backwards-hat wearing fartcanon Honda guy once in a while without leaving transmission parts in the middle of the road.

Will JUL 08, 03:41 PM
F23 is avaiable with a 3.63 final for gearing comparable to that of the 282.
2.5 JUL 08, 05:17 PM

quote
Originally posted by fieroguru:


The isuzu is probably the best shifting transmission and has the lowest cruise RPM for all the 5 speeds, but they can't take much abuse before stripping the teeth off 2nd gear.


F40 ..rattles at idle without the clutch pressed
.



Hmm so if you rev up 1st and take it easy on 2nd an Isuzu will work ok on a V8?

My stock getrag rattles at idle without the clutch pressed, I know of quite a few other owners who have the same issue.
Taijiguy JUL 08, 05:35 PM

quote
Originally posted by Will:

F23 is avaiable with a 3.63 final for gearing comparable to that of the 282.



I read that somewhere but couldn't really nail down what they came in.
Will JUL 08, 07:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by Taijiguy:

I read that somewhere but couldn't really nail down what they came in.



Cobalt XFE (Extended Fuel Economy)

However, the transmissions with that gearset do not come with the V6 bellhousing pattern, so you have to buy one of the 3.63 transmissions and one of the 2.2 pushrod transmissions and make two out of one to get that gearset.
fieroguru JUL 08, 08:20 PM

quote
Originally posted by 2.5:


Hmm so if you rev up 1st and take it easy on 2nd an Isuzu will work ok on a V8?

My stock getrag rattles at idle without the clutch pressed, I know of quite a few other owners who have the same issue.



You can also push 5th gear out of the end of the Isuzu case at 135 mph... I ran an isuzu with a 282 whp 317 wtq SBC for a year and it didn't give up the ghost. Its OK for a cruiser and mashing the throttle in gear, but I wouldn't use it for the 1/4 mile or with sticky tires.
Taijiguy JUL 08, 09:17 PM
My intent isn't to thrash it too hard. It would be fun to crush some of the dimwits in their Mustangs, and the smartass Honda dorks with their grapefruit canons. Other than that the only possible racing I might do would be autocross. I'm planning to build the motor with that in mind (having drained the pan on the original 2.8 that was in this car on a long hard sustained right hand curve......) Radius and relieve oil returns, baffle in the oil pan, and an oil accumulator.