The '51 Chevy t5 swap is finally done

[@robertmashburn8330]

I’m doing the very same swap right now, except I don’t have a lift. Going with a 350 and 350 Trans, with a 78 Camaro 60”rear end. The 350 is an RV 4Bolt Block, pretty much stock. Looking ahead at this video shows me what I’m up against. Thanks for the video!

[@ninja63639]

You got it. I'm glad it could help you out some

[@Chris-from-AZ]

Im building a 50 deluxe And this helps alot

[@ninja63639]

I'm glad you found it helpful. If you havent gotten an axle yet I'd go with either a 3.55 or a 3.43 or whatever it is. I'm thinking of switching my 3.73 for one of the two.

[@dccavazos5352]

Hey Christopher thanks for all your videos I’m building a 52 Styleline deluxe , hoping to get a s10 blazer rear end and a t5 trans hoping it will all work out for me . Thanks for all your information .

[@ninja63639]

Hey man no problem. I'm glad they're helping you out. It seemed anytime I was researching and looking for a video, say like for a t5 swap, it was just people driving around. I want my videos to actually show some of the work involved and what it'll be looking like as you go along. As soo as I can stop driving my car I'll be pulling it in to do a ton of stuff to it so keep an eye out

[@dccavazos5352]

That’s awesome thanks

[@raulmendoza1685]

Wonderful and informative video: what year is that rearend and what ratio? Thanks

[@ninja63639]

It's from a '94 s10 blazer with a 3.73 ratio. I wish I went with a 4.10 though

[@fredrhodes540]

One other question did you do anything to center the rear end in the wheel wells? I have a 1950 3100 that has a newer 235, 3 speed and open driveline. But the rear end is on the stock springs isn't centered same as original. This is my 3rd 3100 all have been stock, well except for updating to a 235 from the 216.

[@ninja63639]

I got custom spring perches made with holes spaced 1.5" apart instead of the normal 1". It centered the wheels perfectly

[@fredrhodes540]

@@ninja63639 perfect, thanks!

[@marknphyll]

Crazy camera control

[@ninja63639]

That's how it goes when you make a video from a galaxy S5. I have an iPhone 14 now but feel free to donate a tripod and a good quality camera to me and my camera control will step up just for you 👍🏼

[@marknphyll]

😂, I am dealing w Vertigo at this time and everything is dizzy to me. No really, I wanted to study on what you did w the crossmember better. Working in a ‘50 Deluxe. That part looks like I need.

[@ninja63639]

It's the Waltons th350 crossmember but if I were doing it again (which I will be when I sell this shoebox I'm building) I'll be going with the Hotrod Works crossmember

[@fredrhodes540]

I have heard that you don't have to put a rear crossmember on the t5, the stock trans even the heavy 4 speed didn't have one. Your thought?

[@ninja63639]

The '49 - '54 had a trans crossmember. The reason the '55s and so forth didnt is because they had actual mounts on the bellhousing as opposed to just anti torque mounts. I would 100% use a crossmember with the t5. They're much longer than the factory trans and they're aluminum as opposed to the cast iron.

[@fredrhodes540]

Huh? The 47 -54 did not have a crossmember, the engine mounted at the front and at the bellhousing. I will see how it looks once installed. Thanks!

[@ninja63639]

@@fredrhodes540 I didn't realize you were talking trucks. I would still use a crossmember due to the reasons I stated. I've heard of guys not using them on trucks initially, but I've never heard anybody follow up on longevity without one.

[@gagepuffinbarger6939]

Where did the shifter come out through the floor? I have a t5 for my '50, and some quick eyeballing told me it would come out under the bench seat

[@ninja63639]

It came out about a foot in front of the bench seat but I had to heat the shifter base with a torch and straighten it up. There should be another video of where I had to cut the hole in the transmission access plate

[@gagepuffinbarger6939]

@@ninja63639 right on, I'll look for that video. Thanks

[@ninja63639]

No problem man

[@VictorFlores-po6jo]

What did you end up doing for the speedo situation?

[@ninja63639]

I kept the gear ratio calculator print out with me until I figured out my RPMs for whatever speed. They sell a converter but it's like $300

[@alvarorosas53]

Where can I get the u bolts exactly like the ones u used? Thanks in advance

[@ninja63639]

It's a company called Jags That Run

[@bryceconley718]

What year s S-10 did you get the rear end out of?

[@ninja63639]

It was from a '93 or 4 I think but all 4wd are the same width except the zr2 or whatever it is

[@joevalencia3867]

what angle did you put your rear and transmission at?

[@ninja63639]

Joe Valencia The trans was down 3.5° so I pointed the pinion up 2.5° since I'm using factory springs with tall perches.

[@burn1962ride]

What year s10

[@ninja63639]

BURN! Mines out of a '95 but any will work, as long as it's 4wd. The 2wd axles are too wide

[@alvarorosas53]

Am doing a swap on my 51 styleline deluxe and am installing a 59 chevy truck transmission by any chance do u know how I can get the transmission mount? since this 59 doesn't have cross member. I know there on the bell housing but how to mount on my 51

[@ninja63639]

Thanks for watching man. You're gonna need to fab mounts up and weld them to the frame or fab up a crossmember with the mounts attached and bolt it the the frame.

[@ninja63639]

If I were you I'd drop a few more dollars and go with a t5 swap though. It's pretty much the same exact job but theres no shifter binding and overdrive is key

[@alvarorosas53]

Thank you for answering man i appreciate it. The reason why I didn't go with the t5 is because I want to keep the shift on the steering column. Well hopefully I can get it fabricated lol thanks for responding

[@alvarorosas53]

Do u have a video on what you did to mount the hand brake?

[@ninja63639]

It's mounted exactly the same as stock but if you're not running a crossmember I'm not sure how you'd do it. I sold the Chevy so I can't get under and look at it. I would most likely leave the stock cross member in place and just cut the center of it out.

[@jpascaln]

There wasn't a powerglide in 50. 51 was first year for automatic transmission.

[@ninja63639]

There was a powerglide in '50 as well as the car 235. Not quite sure how this comment fits this video but I appreciate you watching. Take care

[@jpascaln]

@@ninja63639 Borg Warner introduced the powerglide in mid 1950. 1951 was the first production year Chevrolet offered the 2 speed powerglide transmission in the Delux model. In 1951 Chevrolet only offered the 92hp 216. You mentioned powerglide in 1950.

[@ninja63639]

@@jpascaln not to argue but do me a favor and google 1950 chevy powerglide and you'll see a ton of examples.

[@jpascaln]

@@ninja63639 I own a 51 with the 2 speed powerglide behind the 216. It has the "Automatic" emblem on the deck lid (1st year). I bought it from the original owner who was a salesman at the dealership it came from. A man who was there. Thanks

[@ninja63639]

@@jpascaln ok man I got you

[@textech4056]

Great work.! I'm converting a 37 Chevy Coupe. I've been researching for months what I learned in your video. About what is your cruising speed now.?

[@ninja63639]

It will go about 70 at 2000 rpm in 5th if not a little bit faster. The factory sway bar at that speed is not up to the job though and the car moves around a lot. One of the upgrades I want to do is a larger diameter sway bar

[@textech4056]

@@ninja63639 Thats perfect. I'm going to get killed on the highways driving 55-60. These old cars were not built for high speeds. They damn sure were not built to stop at high speeds. Im thinking of an IFS rack and pinion upgrade for the disk brakes if nothing else. It's easy to do on my 37. The whole cross member and suspension is held on by 4 bolts.

[@textech4056]

While i have your attention. What year T5 Transmission did you use.? Those things are rare and expensive. One rebuilt and converted is 2000.00. I think it's a 1983- 1987 S10.

[@ninja63639]

@@textech4056 Mine is actually an '89 with the electronic speedo output. When I first put it in I printed off the gearing chart so I could use my tach to measure my speed.

[@textech4056]

@@ninja63639 Thanks for the help Chris. Glad to see you kept the 235. Everybody and his brother goes to a SBC. I love the old 235's. They are solid as a rock. It aint always about Horse Power.

[@daleolson3506]

Butcher

[@ninja63639]

Haha it had to be done. In building it to drive so I need to be able to keep up with traffic. Besides, everything can be swapped back to stock in an hour or so if I want. No permanent modifications were done 👍

[@textech4056]

So you drive 55 in an 85 mph speed zone.? Ever notice all the horns honking..?