Thread: How to mate a 283 to a 5 speed

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As you research several choices will pop up, all have advantages and disadvantages........probably the two most critical are price and size.
The TKO transmissions are proven, sturdy, and fairly well available. If you're going to rebuild the engine to stock specs, i.e. comparatively low torque you could probably get away with a TKO 500, maybe save a few bucks. TKOs will likely require some floor/trans tunnel work as they're bulkier than other choices. They come standard with three shifter locations so that's a plus.

One other suggestion that some might toss your way is the T5. Advantages are they're available and pretty cheap. Disadvantages are they're comparatively light duty, though some models of the World Class style (WC) could easily live behind a calm 283 if not beat like a red headed step child. The variety of speedo drives (mechanical vs. electronic) scares some people, but with the availability of GPS it's not much of a concern nowadays. If you get a T5 from a GM car they bolt right up to a stock bell housing, BUT there are a couple kickers. The WCs from a Camaro/Firebird might take the torque, but in stock location they are rotated about 18 degrees so need the cockeyed bell housing, will have a "crooked" shifter, and the rear mounting pad will be at that angle. They can be rotated on a standard bell housing, but you still have that shifted pad (some have fabbed an angled adapter to use a "flat" mount. The version from an S10 will install "flat" as normally expected, but they usually need some parts swapping to make them into the sturdier versions. Also, their input shaft is about 3/8" longer so a spacer/adapter is needed between the bell housing and trans to keep the disc from hanging up, and allow full seating of the pilot portion of the shaft (some cut the nose of the pilot area, but that could cause hang ups with the disc). The T5 usually won't need floor mods as it's got a slim profile, but that may already be done with your current automatic. Shifter locations are a bit limited, the Camaro style is toward the rear, the S10 further forward, and the Astro van version (comparatively rare) is in between, not as easy as the TKO, but not real difficult either.

All in all this has become a fairly common swap so there's lots of info out there, but each has it's own set of trade offs. Here are a couple suppliers of parts/kits that support the rod/kit car market. Forte used to post on here and pay advertising for what that's worth.

Forte's Parts Connection - TREMEC, FACTORY FIVE COBRA PARTS, FORD RACING PARTS, FFR, MUSTANG, TRANSMISSIONS, T-56, T-5, TKO, TR-3550

GM Street Rod/Kit Car PerfectFit