hikerneil

I have a 1965 convertible. It's a 4 speed with it's original transmission and original numbers matching engine. In general it's been kept very original with a few minor exceptions - I upgraded to power brakes, and after market knock-off wheels have been added. It also no longer has it's original carburetor. My intention is to keep it stock looking, but I have no intention of ever having it scored or rated for originality. My priorities are driving and keeping it looking stock.

That said, I am considering upgrading to a 5 speed transmission. I am considering this because I believe it would improve the driveability of my car. I think it would be nice to have improved and easier shifting and a little quieter and easier ride on the freeway (sidepipes can get really loud after a drive on the freeway).

My question is: WHAT WOULD THIS CHANGE DO TO THE VALUE OF MY CAR? If I go to sell the car in 5 years, would this change drop the value of the car by $5K - or would it just change the audience of buyers to a slightly different group of people?

I am reading everything I can find on the internet and on this forum. I wont make a big change like this until I am 100% confident of my decision (and I'm not there yet). That said, my clutch is pretty much shot so if I'm going to make this change the timing is right to do it when I repair my clutch.

Also - I would be interested to hear what other C2 owners think about this change (I'm looking for feedback from others who made this change - are they glad they did it? do they regret the change?)

65GGvert

A buyer looking for a 5 speed will pay more. A buyer looking for a 4 speed will pay less. It very well may change the buying group for the car. There sure do seem to be a lot of forum members worried about doing anything to their car that would affect resale lately. Less consideration for what they want on their car, and more for what some mythical future buyer may or may not want. Anyone who tells you what the value of your car will be at an unknown future date will make up other stories too.

SJW

I'd do it, and keep the original 4-speed on a shelf. You, or the next owner, could put it back in anytime if that was desirable.

Live well,

SJW

7-11vette

Put a 5 speed in my car at least 10 years.. Never looked back..It made the car a lot more drivable .. Big block with side pipes.. I'm not worried about selling it .. No big deal to put it back as a 4 speed.. Put a new clutch in it with a 5 speed.. I don't think
you will be sorry.. It is your car right now so enjoy it.. Go for it..

SDVette

I think as long as you keep the original 4-speed... it will only increase the value..

Lotsacubes

Why would you think it’d take a value hit? Particularly if you kept the Muncie? Very nice car. Once you install you’ll never go back. Having the OD is a huge enjoyment adder. My car is a 3.70 rear. If yours is a 3.36 then maybe not as dramatic. Anyway worth every penny if you drive often for 1-2 hrs at a time. My car has sidepipes also. The Muncie’s in a box probably forever. Anyway, I’d find your car with a TKO600 or 500 a big plus if I was shopping (assuming the original was part of the deal). LOVE the 5 speed! Cheers

Tom Austin

Three years ago I put a G-Force Street 5 speed in the '66 L79 that I've owned for 43 years - and it was the best decision EVER! With a 4.11 rear, I never really used the car for longer distance drives because it was a PITA to drive at highway speeds. Now, with the .63 overdrive 5th, it's a real pleasure to drive on the highway. I still have the original 4 speed, but it's NEVER going back in the car as along as I own it.

Tom

AZDoug

As long as you have the original trans, (and don't hack the car up) it won't hurt it at all.

The cost to swap back to the 4 is less than what the 5 could be sold for.

Doug

Frankie the Fink

Sold my '61 with the Tremec 5-speed OD transmission and provided the buyer with the old Borg-Warner, original shifter and driveshaft....

Affect on value: $0.00

USMC 0802

My ‘66 convertible has a 3.08 rear end, so I’m happy with my M20.

That said, I’d really like a 5 speed in a coupe (I also need a coupe with sidepipes) someday. In short, if I were looking at a C2, I would pay more for a 5 speed.

I give not a single solitary **** about numbers or NCRS, etc.

wmf62

OD and the 1st gear ratio is the only thing important to me; the 5th gear is a PIA..., just an extra gear to shift. I go 1, 2, 4 now and 5th at speeds above 55

Bill

GTOguy

This.^^. If you have a 3.08 gear and a 4 speed, no real need for a 5 speed. A 5 speed will add value to the car, IMO, as long as you supply the original transmission to the new owner at sale time. For the 4k buy-in for a 5 speed, you'd need to drive the car about 400,000 miles for the fuel mileage increase to cover costs. IMO, the only reason to go with the 5 speed is increased driving comfort/lower RPM if you do a lot of high speed driving with a steep (3.70-4.11) rear gear.

USMC 0802

Exactly - my point was IF I pick up a coupe in the future I’d definitely be putting in a 5 speed.

Current set up is the aforementioned 4 speed, 3.08 rear and a stout crate motor that is more than up to the task of 3k RPM cruising at 80 mph...

tuxnharley

That’s exactly what I did- and I love the 5 spd !

68hemi

I think to most they would look at it like me and it is no different then buying an already restored car--few ever gets their money back that restored the car and I would look at a 5 speed the same way.

To me, if I were looking at a car with a 5 speed (done right original type shifter so no one but a driver would even know the 5 speed was there) I would consider it a bonus but I would not pay anything extra for it. If it had the original 4 speed set up with it, it would only be a bonus for the next buyer when I sold it, if they were an NCRS type but it would just be eating into my storage space.

GearheadJoe

I put a TKO-600 in my '67 several years ago, and I absolutely love it. This is a pure bolt-in swap that is easy to reverse if you ever decide you want to reverse the swap.

I don't think the 5-speed will hurt resale value as long as the original Muncie is part of the sale. In fact, I think it would increase resale value. It's only a day's work to swap the Muncie back in, so you could plan to do that before selling the car if you want.

In my view, there is a double benefit to the TKO-600. The overdrive 5th gear is the one that most people focus on, and that is a great benefit, especially with side pipes.

However, the other benefit is the lower first gear of 2.87 in the TKO-600 compared to 2.56 in the Muncie wide-ratio that is probably in your '65 (the close-ratio Muncie has a 2.20 first gear).

The lower first gear gives you a stronger launch from a standing start, which is another nice benefit.

If you decide to install a Tremec 5-speed, I think that Silver Sport transmissions has the best reputation for for the C2 conversion and for customer support.

6T5RUSH

Just do it!! As others have said here, definitely keep the original, born with transmission for if and when you decide to sell. Justs enhances the value of the sale. I'm in the throws of doing just that right now.

Took my '5 to the M1 Concourse yesterday morning for cars and coffee for some exposure. Was about a 20+ mile drive. Coming home I got caught up with a group and found myself cruising at 85 mph, taching at 2,500 r's. Side pipes open just hummin', not screemin'. Point is twofold: Your not ringing the motor out (and yourself) tripping on the interstate AND if you drive the speed limit, your mileage definitely improves. My setup is the SS700 close ratio 5 speed (2.66:1 1st gear) mated to a 3.73:1 diff. My most recent trip to South Bend, cruising 65-70 mph averaged 21 mpg.

Believe Bill mentioned the ideal index guide of 10 achieved by multiplying the 1st gear ratio x the rear diff ratio. 2.66 x 3.73 = 9.92. I love that jump in 1st gear!

Jim
In God We Trust!

Jam421

I never had a matching #'s car but it did have a rebuilt Muncie. Selling my fully dressed 305cid + Muncie took a week on CL. In your case I'd store the Muncie on a shelf. Aside from my BP 383 stroker ...the best mod I made is the 5 speed tremec 600 conversion...on every level, longer first gear, tight short ratio shifter...and simply can't emphasize how awesome it is to cruise on a highway 65mph lower 2000's rpm effortlessly. No more 3500rpm cruising dropping far behind the pack (:->).

blue max

I just bought a 65 with a five speed transmission and that is one of the main reasons I bought it, It is an expensive process but I had sold my Duntov 65 and wanted a car that was more driveable. The previous owner spent more than $3,000 for the unit with shift attachments etc plus installation. These are sold right here in East Tennessee by a company which is now named Silver sport from Keisler Engineering.

SLWRNU

You won't be doing anything to hurt the value and if you actually drive the car it's a much more pleasant experience. The very first thing I did to my 65 #'s matching coupe was a 5 spd. Why worry about some future mystical value. Make the car what YOU want it to be and enjoy it TODAY.