Here are my thoughts,,,
I do a lot of TKO swaps here as the overdrives are very popular living out here in the desert with 100 miles between towns. I always get 2-3 of these swaps a year. In the Camaro the TKO gets a little tight right at the shifter hole but otherwise fits nicely.
Another transmission I like even better that is about 3-4 years old now is the completely revamped TKO from Legend. This transmission shrunk in size and fits better (no mods to install), has better gear ratios, (1st isn't so darn steep) and fits with no modifications at all, and even works with the stock crossmember. It's also stronger and rated for 700 ft lbs. Another feature I like it that it's a single rail shifter (TKO is a 3 rail) so it's much smoother to shift and will power shift up to 7500 rpm, has better sincros as well. It's just all around a huge improvement over the TKO's. They are however about $800 more expensive. Likely the last transmission you'll have to buy.
The TKO's have that 2.87 first gear. That gets to be a little too steep for my liking if you run anything more than a 3.55 rear. Plus the rpm drops between gears is a little more than I like as well. Goes from a 2.87 to a 1.89....Eh
Legend fixed that issue with their 2.66 first gear. With 3.73's it's a beautiful combo to drive. It's a close ratio box so it keeps the engine in the sweet spot, and a .69 overdrive for cruising.
I've run 2.52 muncies with 3.07-3.08 gears as drivers and that's about the limit for me as far as first gear goes. Drives around fine and still able to cruise 70 on the highway. A 2.20 Muncie really limits your options though. Anything less than a 3.55 rear and that 2.20 is a bear around town. So the wide ratio Muncie box is my favorite as far as Muncie's go, because it just gives you more rear gear options to make the car at least a little more drivable.
Still not enough, then my opinion, I wouldn't even think about a T5. I don't care for the 3.27 first gears most of them had, even makes a 3.73 gear about useless for anything on the street. When it comes to a driver, I'm not a fan of moving the car 10 feet and having to look for another gear before I can get across the intersection. Not to mention those transmissions were marginal even behind those smog motors they came in. In a performance application the T5 is at the bottom of the list for me.
I'm putting our Z back together as a bone stocker for my wife to drive daily. She'll start off in the Muncie but there is a good bet as we plan to take long trips in the car to places like Nevada, and Cali, that a 5 speed will wind up in the car. I'll go straight for the Legend trans, just have a new driveshaft made and it's a drop in deal with no cutting. The 2.66 first gear is perfect and the .69 overdrive will cruise at 75 mph at about 2200 rpm with 3.73's out back. I'm thinking more along the lines of less wear and tear on this very expensive engine build I just finished, LOL. I don't care so much about gas mileage. Neat thing is that when this trans is done in the Z, the Muncie drops right back in and I can use the Legend trans in any other car I choose. If you drive the car enough you'll get your money's worth out of it. If you only drive it a few times a month, especially if you live in a seasonal climate that limits your driving, then I wouldn't even consider an overdrive, I'd just run a 2.52 Muncie and knock some rear gear out of it. Much cheaper option for those that only drive maybe 2,000-3,000 miles a year.
