1980 corvette transmission question...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 1
1980 corvette transmission question...
Hi everybody. First time poster here and I have a question. Ok so I have a 1980 corvette with a 350 V8 bored over. 60, with a .458 cam, a dart highrise manifold, edelbrock 650 cfm thunder series carb, hooker super comp headers with sidepipes (no baffles), a 3.73 gear and unfortunatley a 3 speed automatic. I'd really like to put a manual transmission in but I would like to know which ones would work with my car. Really looking for a 4 speed. Any help would be appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,379
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
I'm not a real specialist in these matters, but I'll go out on a limb and say that your car most likely would have come with either a Borg Warner or a Saginaw 4 speed, had it originally been a stick shift car.
If you're going to go through the work of a conversion, why not consider a modern 5 or 6 speed, for the added drivability?
If you're going to go through the work of a conversion, why not consider a modern 5 or 6 speed, for the added drivability?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you are going to install a manual 'box' in the car, you should install a 5 or 6 speed gearbox with at least one overdrive gear. Some 6 speed units have two overdrive gears (approx. .8 and .6 ratios, compared to a single .67 overdrive 5th gear in a 5 speed box). With a 3.73 [or higher] rear gear, highway driving is much more comfortable, economical, and engine-saving if you have an overdrive tranny in the car.
