Which 4 speed trans for a big block??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Hershey Pa
Which 4 speed trans for a big block??
I plan on installing a 454/500 hp while converting to a 4 speed trans.
Will an M20 be strong enough? A 6 speed isn't in the budget so I'd like to stick with a Muncie or T10.
Can someone tell me the differences between the 2?
I was tols the M20's won't hold up to the horsepower of a big block.
I will not be running sticky tires or going to the track.
Thanks in advance.
JZ
Will an M20 be strong enough? A 6 speed isn't in the budget so I'd like to stick with a Muncie or T10.
Can someone tell me the differences between the 2?
I was tols the M20's won't hold up to the horsepower of a big block.
I will not be running sticky tires or going to the track.
Thanks in advance.
JZ
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,455
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
Originally Posted by viperjesse
I plan on installing a 454/500 hp while converting to a 4 speed trans.
Will an M20 be strong enough? A 6 speed isn't in the budget so I'd like to stick with a Muncie or T10.
Can someone tell me the differences between the 2?
I was tols the M20's won't hold up to the horsepower of a big block.
I will not be running sticky tires or going to the track.
Thanks in advance.
JZ
Will an M20 be strong enough? A 6 speed isn't in the budget so I'd like to stick with a Muncie or T10.
Can someone tell me the differences between the 2?
I was tols the M20's won't hold up to the horsepower of a big block.
I will not be running sticky tires or going to the track.
Thanks in advance.
JZ
It's not a question on IF but WHEN the 4spd will go out. I have yet to take my Vette to the strip and don't power shift and the 4spd is already having to be rebuilt. Go w/ a T10 in the least. Next June I'm swapping in a Viper T56 6 speed.
If you baby your car, never take it to the strip (especially w/ slicks) and on'y for parades then you'll be fine. But if you drive the way it was intended buget $$$ for a rebuild
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I blew 2 Super T10's with my 406ci in short order so I would not recommend putting one of those behind anything with some serious torque 
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
I have a Borg Warner Super T-10 in the 78 Smallblock. Have raced it in autocross,and have power shifted...still going strong...
Have an M-22 behind the 69 502....no problems,but have not drag raced it....just road stuff so far...check Richmond out for a 4 speed...or get a M-22
Have an M-22 behind the 69 502....no problems,but have not drag raced it....just road stuff so far...check Richmond out for a 4 speed...or get a M-22
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 723
Likes: 0
From: North Port, FL
I drag raced several years with an M-22 behind BB engine combo's ranging from 500 HP to greater than 600 HP. That trans is still going strong in my blown BB 65. A Richmond six speed did not hold up. Jurry is still out on the TKO-600 that replaced the Richmond.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 805
Likes: 0
From: Vasteras, Sweden
Originally Posted by viperjesse
I was tols the M20's won't hold up to the horsepower of a big block.
I will not be running sticky tires or going to the track.
I will not be running sticky tires or going to the track.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 303
Likes: 2
From: southeast Idaho
I blew my old stock saginaw 4 speed the other day. I have been careful not to bang gears in it so I didnt tear up the trans or the rest of the drive train behind my twin turbo 468 but the other day I was taking a friend for a ride and was accelerating in third gear and somthing went bang and that was the end of it so i am looking for somthing stronger too. Are there any 5 or 6 speed transmissions that will take 800 hp/ft lbs of torque?
Mike
Mike
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
I'm running a Doug Nash 5 speed (same as Richmond 5 speed)...as long as you don't go nuts with the power shifting, you will be fine with any stick...it's the power shifts that tear up the rear ends and trannys
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,942
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
I went with an M-22, only because I wanted a direct swap-in and it was a very limited option that year. No racing, and only about 1,000 since rebuild.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Originally Posted by viperjesse
When you talk about power shifts do you mean banging gears?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Central Ill
Originally Posted by viperjesse
I plan on installing a 454/500 hp while converting to a 4 speed trans.
Will an M20 be strong enough? A 6 speed isn't in the budget so I'd like to stick with a Muncie or T10.
Can someone tell me the differences between the 2?
I was tols the M20's won't hold up to the horsepower of a big block.
I will not be running sticky tires or going to the track.
Thanks in advance.
JZ
Will an M20 be strong enough? A 6 speed isn't in the budget so I'd like to stick with a Muncie or T10.
Can someone tell me the differences between the 2?
I was tols the M20's won't hold up to the horsepower of a big block.
I will not be running sticky tires or going to the track.
Thanks in advance.
JZ
If you aren't going to the track, just want to romp on it every now and then, go with the M20. You'll be much happier with the way your car leaves in first gear....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,281
Likes: 6
From: NC USA
Go for the Kiesler Tremec TKO-600!
If I were you, I'd go with the TKO-600 for piece of mind. It is a short-throw rail-shifted tranny, locates their look-alike shifter in the stock position, and IMO it is bulletproof. With it's 3.27 first gear you can run a 3.08 - 3.73 for incredible off-the-line performance and have an OD 5th gear for low RPM cruising - the best of both worlds!
At ~$3800 the kit ain't cheap but on these cars, what is?
I exploded the non-original M20's tailshaft housing with my BB's torque just doing burnouts with TA radial street tires.
At ~$3800 the kit ain't cheap but on these cars, what is?
I exploded the non-original M20's tailshaft housing with my BB's torque just doing burnouts with TA radial street tires.
