I'm looking to put a 5 speed in my 71, 4 don't get it with a 3.70 rear at highway speeds.
Has anyone delt with "Classic Chevy 5 Speed"? They seem like they know what they are doing. Right now I'm researching and would appreciate hearing from anyone who has made the swap.
Thanks

 

Lots here have made the swap including me. I have 3.70 gears also. It was probably the best mod I made to the car. I did cut my crossmember, some do some don't. I'm glad I did. I have had mine back out 2 times since the install and it made it much easier. Driving on the highway is a pleasure now with the 5 speed. I went with the Keisler kit because I got a deal on it. Whoever you use you will be happy with it.

 

When comparing 5 speed conversion kits - remember that the Keisler PerfectFIt kit is the only no mods conversion that bolts into your car without removing the engine! That is a BIG difference If you have to remove the engine to put it in, then you have to pull the engine anytime you need to change the clutch, etc ...

 

I went with Keisler's kit. I chose their kit because I liked the idea of no mods, and the transmission shifts beautifully.

 

Chevy 5 is just as good a kit as the Keisler and they seem to have better customer service. They have a complete information list that goes into all problems and pitfalls also, I found it very informative. Dave

 

Although I bought my Tremec T56 6 speed from D&D Performance, we did have dealings with Classic Chevy 5 speed and found them to be very helpful. BTW the mods we had to do to get the T56 fitted were not rocket science, in fact aside from replacing the crossmember they were fairly cosmetic. Have a look at my website on my sig for photo's.

 

I went with a T5 Mustang 5 speed and couldn't be happier. A lot more work but saved tons on money for other mods. Which ever way you go, you will be pleased with the difference!
Bernie

 

but .....remember that the Keisler PerfectFIt kit is the only no mods conversion that bolts into your car without removing the engine! That is a BIG difference If you have to remove the engine to put it in, then you have to pull the engine anytime you need to change the clutch, etc ...
__________________
Robert "The Driven Man" Hall
Keisler Engineering - The Innovators
423-773-9789 - direct line 8AM-8PM Mon-Sat
1966 327/300 Factory a/c
Keisler 5 speed Vette #0001

 

Mr. Hall, I remember talking with a sales person at Keisler about the strength of the 5 spd vs 6 spd. Was told the 650ft/lb rating for the 5 speed was a continious rating and the 650ft/lbs rating for the 6 spd was a peak rating. Is that still a true statement? He also made mention that Tremec put a 5 spd on a transmission dyno to see how much torque it would take. He said the mounting ears that fasten the box to the bell housing failed at 1400ft/lbs, was that also true?

 

A friend just purchased a Tremec from Classic Five to install on his own..he told me that they have followed up by calling to see how he is doing...he can't say enough about them....

I have concluded from many posts here,and talking to various vette owners who have done this conversion,that cutting/fabbing a new crossmember is the way to go...

 

Keisler TKO 500 just installed in my 73 with 3:08 rear.

 

Robert tell me what makes the Classic Chevy 5 kit not bolt right in? Chevy 5 even has a take apart yoke that Keisler does not have. So that means anytime you want to take the driveshaft out you have rig up some C clamps and some sockets. Care to chew on that.

The yoke I was sent was a piece and Gray took it back because he knew it was when I saw him at the Knoxville Expo. You still really need to pull the engine to put either kit in because the Clamshell method of the Bell housing Clutch and tranny is an Abortion at best. Tell me I'm wrong.

The real solution to the yoke issue has been resolved but I don't understand why KE has failed to capitalize on it. The 80's Lincoln yoke is perfect and plenty strong.

You know I was a big supporter of KE until you rubbed me the wrong way and I used to over look the crap that gets sent out the door of KE. Now instead of looking the other way and allowing my corvette brothern to pay big bucks for an overpriced kit, I make sure to educate others. You have my number if you care to talk.

 

So, I am looking to go with a 6 speed conversion and by no means am a profesional mechanic. Here is my question, Keisler looks easy to install and comes with all parts for auto too manual conversion, bounus! But a 5,000.....Ouch!
I have heard good things about Richmond, which consits with alot of ratio bable which I pretend to understand, but I am a little intimitated of the mods. The price for a Richmond is also a little easier to pay.
I have also heard the Keisler kit doesnt always go in perfect, which does not suprise me or detract me as long as it is a matter of patience and prodding to fix. Also I have heard problems about parts being wrong and taking a long time to be recieved.
So what is the better choice. I am judging by ease of install (doing myself) quality and performance.

 

Hello Shafrs3,

The T56's are not rated quite that high. They all fall in the into the 350 (F Body)-550 (Viper) lb/ft range.

The TKO is bar none the single strongest production tranny out there that has an overdrive gear and is made for driver-friendly street use

The 1,400 lb/ft story came right from Tremec themselves.

I'd be happy to answer your questions and help you spend your money in a wise and fun manner

 

You have to pull the engine with a Classic Chevy kit because they do not have the engineering in their tailhousing that we do. Ours fits over the crossmember, theirs doesn't. It's that simple.

I'd love to chew that up and spit it out
We do have the strap type yoke - it's included at no extra charge in all of our C2 kits. You DO NOT have to use clamps

You are wrong It is not the easiest job in the world, but it has been done by over 1,000 Keisler customers. I have one in my car that was installed that way.

I'm at home now, so I don't have your info here. It sounds like you bought this quite a while back; when did you purchase your kit? There have been scores of upgrades on the kits since they were first introduced and we are constantly striving to better serve our customers. I want to know what we did that offended you and see if we can make it right. When would be a good time to call you?

 

I went with the TKO-600, bought it from Darkhorse Performance

I like the best stuff for my car... but I also like the best price... So for my install- including shortening the driveshaft, oil and getting the slip-yoke (in the back of the trans) that has bolt-caps...? $2200, installed and DONE.

 

Bloody hell I paid half that from D&D Performancen for my T56 (550ft/lb) 6 Speed! $2.5k buys you a hell of a lot of fabrication and my crossmember and prop shaft did not cost that!!

 

Whoa - wait a minute "Youwishtobeme" your profile says you are "Randall 'Pink' Floyd", but are you really Dave Hitchens from NC? That threw me last night.

If that's you Dave - you ordered your kit 2 years ago. Yes much has changed since then. Much has improved. You ordered back in March 2004 when we were growing so fast we could hardly get out of our own way

If I remember corecctly what really "rubbed you the wrong way" just happen a couple of months back even though you bought your tranny 2 years ago. You are angry with us because:

1. We are not as cheap as Autozone, etc... when it comes to pilot bearings and t/o bearings. You ordered those from us when you had your engine out in December 2005 for a rebuild. You were happy with those parts and the pricing until you found them cheaper somewhere else, and then you wanted us to refund the price difference. We do not even try to compete with the chain parts stores on maintenance type items, but we do make sure the parts we sell are top quality, because we sure do not want a $20 part making one of our kits look bad!

2. When you ordered your kit, WE GAVE YOU A FREE CLUTCH UPGRADE to the larger "cheater" clutch which you used for more than a year! When you blew your engine a few months ago you decided you wanted a standard clutch and THAT WE SHOULD GIVE YOU ONE FOR FREE You were concerned that the larger clutch was dangerous. We politely explained to you that there are 1,000's and 1,000's of these clutches in use all over the world and they are perfectly safe, but you still wanted us to GIVE you (free, gratis, no charge, on the house) a new clutch to replace the upgraded clutch we sent you back in 2004. The very clutch that you had used for months! You did not have any problems with the clutch; you just wanted a different one.

Dave, there is eventually a line where good customer service ends and blackmail begins. We will do our best to help our customers, but when people make unreasonable (and expensive) demands we will not buy them off in order to keep them from backstabbing us on this forum.

I wish you were happier, but we cannot give away free clutches. If we had sold you a defective part, of course we would replace it, but that was simply not the case here.

 

Yes - but did it fit without cutting your car ??? Correct driveline angle ??? Correct shifter position in an unmodified factory console?
Extended warranty? Lifetime free tech support? etc....

Price and Value are different things.

 

The price James quoted was for a complete auto to 6 speed conversion. There is a huge difference between a bare tranny and a complete conversion kit!

The auto to 5 speed kits are in the $4,500 range and are complete down to the last nut and bolt. Tranny, bell, pedal assembly, clutch , flywheel, etc...