Dave Cunningham

A couple of weeks ago , I had posted looking for advise on Five speed trannys, and you guys were super helpful in helping me to decipher the gear ratios ect. Between the Richmond and the Tremec Tko 600.
I am still up in the air as to which way to go , partly because I am tapped out of cash from dumping thousands into my 67 all winter.
I have located an older Doug Nash , five speed locally, it is probably from the late seventies, just wondering ; did they change much over the years, is an old one as good as a new one , or maybe better? The guy had it in a corvette and says it is pretty noisy , like an M22. I know they built a version without sincros , not sure how to tell from the case, here is a picture of it. I can get it for $1500.00 Can.

Vet65te

Dave - I'll look for the info on how to identify the Richmond 5-speeds, maybe another member will have it readily available. You'll need to be able to figure out which version it is because if I remember correctly, the 'A' version came with a whopping 4.44 first gear as opposed to the 3.28 gear I have in the Richmond in my 61.
Edit - Just looked up the Richmond website and I had it backwards, the 'C' version is the one with the super low 4.44 first gear ratio. The 'A' has the 3.28. Here's the site link: http://www.richmondgear.com/pdf/RG23.pdf
Mike T - Prescott AZ

DZAUTO

Dave,
As far as I know, the Doug Nash and the Richmond STREET 5sp was the same. The Street 5sp had a 3.27:1 first gear and 5th was 1:1. It is an EXCELLENT tranny for a car with a very high geared rearend such as 3.08, 2.73, etc.
If it is a Doug Nash, DN4+1 SHOULD BE cast on the tail housing.
If it is a Richmond, Richmond 4+1 should be cast on the tail housing (I've had both). Right now, the Richmond Street 5sp is in the Cutlass behind an Olds W30 spec 455(468). I installed it in 88 and haven't touched it.

From day one, WHEN COLD, shifting has been, and still is, a little notchy (when you put it in a gear, you KNOW IT'S THERE!). Once complethly warmed up, shifting is fine. I've beat on it, I've towed with it and had to replace two clutches (only the disc one time), but it just takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.

DrainSurgeon77

Dave, The one in the picture looks like the race version, check the spline count on the output shaft(32 spline street,30spline race), also the race ones don't have a speedo outlet...

Hope this helps... Crash

Sky65

There should be some numbers/letters stamped in the case on top where it bolts to the bellhousing. Depending on the age there are some differences in the DN vs RG. One that sticks in my mind is earlier DN used bronze bushings under the freewheeling gears. Later DN and I believe all RG used needle bearings as more modern transmissions do. DN also offered a "crash box", non-syncro straight cut gears as well as a syncro version with angle cut gears. Still a little noisy but quieter than the straight cut gears.

I use a RG 5spd and I like it. Not the best shifting trans around that's for sure but I really like the gear ratios with my 3.08. I also have an early DN with the bushing type gears. I would sell it for way less than the trans you are looking at but needs to be gone through. I also have a Hurst shifter for it. PM me if interested.

Tom

Dave Cunningham

Thanks so much guys, I had mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I have had a richmond before in my 66 L72 car, and I absolutely loved it. I checked with the guy, and it does have the 3.27 1st gear, I will ask him about the output, and the speedo.

Sky65

PM sent

Tom