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G'day all, Just sold my C3 today and want to get going on my C1. I have a 59 that has been a drag car all it's life until I got it. Been collecting dust for 30 years and it is time to do something.
I have a Richmond gear 5 speed set up for road racing and am looking at a hone-o-drive unit. Will they fit the tunnel of the car without modification? I also have the components to build an alloy 427 Sbc. I know the engine is a no brainier but I cannot decide to go for the overdrive. I know it would be less complicated to go with just an od tranny but I don't even know if the will fit.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Please excuse any errors as I had a strke two months ago and it took a while to get back on the site to pose the question.
What rear end ratio do you have? My Richmond 5sp non-rr is 1:1 5th. With a 3:08 it makes a nice cruise gear with plenty if pull in 1st. Car is a sb 65. The rr I think has a different 1st gear though.
The C1 has a severe drive shaft angle (and relativly short drive shaft), plus the X frame. Think you are much better off using an OD transmission to gain wider total gear spacing. Several of us have a variation of OD transmissions (Tremecs, GM MY6, or other Keisler units, so those do fit to some degree or another). I am running the MY6 4 speed OD, and it is the simplest to install, but the hardest to find (it is not reproduced, and was made in limited numbers during 1980-86).
I had a Hone that I bought to put in my C3, and realized it just would not work due to the amount of driveshaft tunnel "alteration" needed (so I am familar with them).
I am aware of some C1's that have a Richmond. "Sebring Bill" here in Florida is one. Might want to PM him.
Welcome back!
Good luck,
Plasticman
Last edited by Plasticman; Jun 15, 2013 at 10:44 AM.
I've got a Richmond Street 5-Speed in my 61 and with it's 3:28 first gear there's a 3:08 rear gear and that works out okay since I'm doing just over 2K at around 60 mph. That first gear multiplication comes out near what a close ratio Muncie and a 4:56 rear gear would be and I still cruise at around 2K+ at 60 mph in fifth.
Mike T.
G'day all, first off thanks for the response. The cars are stored about 85miles away so luckily my friend wanted to pick up the 1980 I sold him yesterday. I was sad to see it go but now I can start on the 59. The 59 has been a drag car all of its life so a lot of the original parts are in boxes. It was raced with a.non corvette seat in it so I found one of the seat frames and a seat.
From looking at the existing tunnel, the seat frame and seat, there is no way to modify the tunnel to make the overdrive fit. It looks tight to even get the Richmond in there. As my dusty hulk has always been racing it has gone through updates and has a Dana 60 rear with 5.38 gears and a spool. Real street able huh. I have acquired a 3.54 gear and a locker for it but that is the tallest gear for the 60.
I guess I may have to part with the Richmond 5 speed and get a 6 speed. I guess there are a couple of Doug Nash 4+3 trans sitting up there.
I have a TKO 600 in my 57 resto rod with a ZZ383 motor. 2200 rpm at 70 with a 373 posi. Relative easy install, tight but doable the only mod was to remove the metal insert in the drive shaft tunnel. With that removed you have a 1/4 inch clearance on each side. If you get the Tremec make sure to get the Hurst shifter, the others tend to be notchy the Hurst isn't.
I had a Doug Nash AKA Richmond 5 speed in my 1961 with SBC. It had the Long shifter installed with it. As mentioned earlier its a 1-1 in 5th gear, but 1st-4th were a blast. As far as fitment it was tight but no mods required to the tunnel, I think the trans mount was modified though, prob the driveshaft also at least had a different yoke….I sold the car but still have the trans & shifter in case I find another project for it…..
G'day, The thread may be over a year old but I am still getting ready to start on the car. I appreciate all the info that has been provided. I just picked up a Richmond Gear 6 speed with the overdrive 6th gear. I think that will work nicely with the 3.54 that we have installed. Due to the stoke I had last year the car has been on back burner for a year and we have just gotten going on it again.
Once again, thanks for the input. Further input would always be appreciated.