T5 Gear Ratios
Gear
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Ratio
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1st
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3.76 : 1
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2nd
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2.16 : 1
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3rd
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1.38 : 1
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4th
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1 : 1
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5th
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0.86 : 1
|
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5 Speed Transmission
The Borg-Warner T-5 manual 5 speed transmission was offered as an option in chevettes starting in 1981. The chevette T-5 was tuned specifically for the chevette with carefully selected ratios to optimize both acceleration and economy. For those who drive their chevettes on the highway frequently, the T-5 is the only way to go as far as keeping the engine RPMs at a reasonable level. One of the major fallbacks of both the 4 speed manual and the 3 speed automatic transmissions was their lack of an overdrive gear for highway use. Realizing these shortcomings, GM introduced the Borg-Warner T-5 manual 5 speed in 1981 as an option for those looking for improved economy.
A side benefit (possibly the main benefit) of the T5 is that with this transmission, the chevette finally had some reasonable acceleration. The low first gear ratio was great for off the line acceleration, while still having the 0.86:1 overdrive 5th gear for highway cruising.
The T-5 proved to be exceptionally durable in the chevette, due mostly to the fact that it was originally designed for considerably larger, heavier, and more powerful cars. The T-5's installed in chevettes have been known to last several hundred thousand kilometers (mine has 300,000 on it) before the need for a rebuild.
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