Originally Posted by JesasaurusRex

I donno if im the only one on this site but I bought a 305 with a manual tranny then dropped in a 355. Now currently working on droppin a 406 in. Yes it is a LOT easier to drop a different motor in than doing an auto to manual swap. Get a 305 and drop something else in itll save you time and money in the long run.

Now be warned tho, those T-5s are only rated to like 300 torque i believe. My 355 was puttin out my estimated guess would be around 400. God knows how much my 406 is gonna put out but like I said. Those trannys were only put in 305s because of how strong they are/were. Some peoples last 4 quite a time, some break quite quickly. Ive gotten lucky myself, but nobody knows. I dont remember when they started making the world class T-5s i believe it was 89 (somebody currect me if im wrong). Theyre slightly stronger than the standard T-5s but still nothing special.

Basically what im getting at is if you decide to get a 350 off the back dont do a swap and drop a T-5 in when you can drop a TKO or T-56 in. Either way is up 2 u, i did the motor swap. Good luck.

Originally Posted by blade

i thought the main reason they kept the 350's with auto only was because if they mated the 350 with a t-5, there was a gas guzzlers tax added on. or something to that effect