W Stock..

[impstocker]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Yes, you can use a T5 with the heavy o/d gear removed. I would not suggest doing it though. I had to use a T5 , converted to a 4-speed, in my 80 Mustang turbo car. I needed the 3.94 first gear. It came with a T4 , 4.05 first, but no good shifters available.
Be that as it may, I wouldn't use one if I were you .You still have to deal with that funky top shifter.

So, here's your dime rocket W/ Stock stick shift tip:
Use a 2.84 or 3.11 Saginaw . Slick shift 2,3, and 4, and put a real shifter on it.
It does have an iron case, but the gears are smaller, so it can't weigh much more than a Muncie. I don't see any problem in a 2500# 4 cylinder car.

The operative word here is CHEAP. The "hot rodders" hate them, I guess because they came in Vegas. But they hate 305's too, so what do they actually know? ;-)

First I want to thank everybody for input.

1. Yes, I did think about a Saginaw, most have a low first gear anyway. I was thinking the Saginaw in combination with a McCleod Sof-Lok clutch, probaly a heavy flywheel for sure. Sintered iron disc..now does anybody have any ideas about a "dime rocket" style clutch set-up?

2. Body style and year. Basically any 1980 and older would have to be a Monza. Sunfire body deal with the carb motor. 1982 up TBI motor , Camaro, Firebird or S-10 only choices. Seeing those older Monza are hard to come by, even cheap ones, and not a real fan of race trucks (IMO trucks only for hauling parts and race cars) I would be leaning toward a Camaro. Ends up being basically all the same weight, plus lots of Camar0 cheap under 1K around. Plus lots of aftermarket parts available, since seems like half the cars in Div 1 Stock are these Camaros. I would build it with the idea of maybe putting a V8 in down the road.

3. Engine, doing some research I found the 1982 Camaro 2.5 rated at 120, but the 85 Camaro rated at 115 , PLUS has more compression, with smaller dish in piston plus smaller chambers..hmmmm

So..the conversation continues.

Will