5 speed trans
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 39
From: cincinnati ohio
Cruise-In V Veteran
5 speed trans
I would like to install 5 speed trans in my 75 which is currently a 4 speed. Is there a trans that is a direct bolt in?What would be easiest route?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,040
Likes: 672
From: FL
Re: 5 speed trans (jlsru75)
What do you want the 5 speed for? Better acceleration or overdrive on the highway?
The Richmond 5 speed is basically a bolt in with the exception of modifying the tranmission mount bracket. Howver, 5th gear is 1:1 so no OD. 1st gear is steeper so you get better acceleration than stock.
On the other hand, the Tremec TKO (or 3550) is a 5 speed with a steeper first but a .68 OD fifth gear. So, the RPM drop is a little larger between gears than the Richmond but if you build a torque motor, that can be overcome.
I went for the Tremec primarily for the OD. I know cruise at about 70 at 2000 rpm. 2400 rpm was getting me 85 mph in Montana.
The Tremec was a little harder to install. New tranny mount bracket, shorten driveshaft, modify Tremec shifter so it comes up through stock console. Only difficult part was the fact that in the manual cars, the crossmember is welded in so the tranny and engine were installed as a unit due to clearance issues.
For Tremec info try http://www.fortesparts.com and http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com .
The Richmond 5 speed is basically a bolt in with the exception of modifying the tranmission mount bracket. Howver, 5th gear is 1:1 so no OD. 1st gear is steeper so you get better acceleration than stock.
On the other hand, the Tremec TKO (or 3550) is a 5 speed with a steeper first but a .68 OD fifth gear. So, the RPM drop is a little larger between gears than the Richmond but if you build a torque motor, that can be overcome.
I went for the Tremec primarily for the OD. I know cruise at about 70 at 2000 rpm. 2400 rpm was getting me 85 mph in Montana.
The Tremec was a little harder to install. New tranny mount bracket, shorten driveshaft, modify Tremec shifter so it comes up through stock console. Only difficult part was the fact that in the manual cars, the crossmember is welded in so the tranny and engine were installed as a unit due to clearance issues.
For Tremec info try http://www.fortesparts.com and http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com .
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: 5 speed trans (jlsru75)
The t-5 out of 88 to 92 or 93 camaro is a pretty much a bolt in except you have to cut your trans tunnel a little and weld up a shifter to it. I am thinking about going that route myself. Pretty good o/d (.72) if I remember right. I keep hearing rumours of a 5 speed muncie which should bolt right in and but would need a different shifter. The t-5 has an integrated shifter in the tail of the tranny and I hear it is much smoother than our ext linkage. There has been a few threads on this in the past.
[Modified by Fevre, 7:13 AM 7/11/2002]
[Modified by Fevre, 7:13 AM 7/11/2002]
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: waterdown,ont,canada
Re: 5 speed trans (Fevre)
I did the T-5 swap, did not have to mod. trans. tunnel but did modify cross member and had to modify the shifter. Very happy with the swap, much more drivable now. And yes do a search "5 speed" tons of info here. :yesnod:
And yes the shifting is 100 times smoother
And yes the shifting is 100 times smoother
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: 5 speed trans (buds)
Buds
Did you do the work yourself or did you have a shop do it? Just curious how much had to be done to the trans crossmember. What car did you get the donor trans from?
Thanks
Chris
Did you do the work yourself or did you have a shop do it? Just curious how much had to be done to the trans crossmember. What car did you get the donor trans from?
Thanks
Chris
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: 5 speed trans (jlsru75)
To me there is nothing wrong with the T5. Some say it is too weak but I have seen guys severely abuse these with nitrous 350's and they lived. The weak part is power shifting into 3rd. 1st will not break in burnouts .
They come from camaro's . I have used one from a Mustang with an adaptor plate behind my blown big block with a single problem. My 11 second 355 nitrous mustang has ran the same one since 89 without any problems. The mustang and GM tranny's are almost the same and some
internal parts can be interchanged.
Just avoid power shifts if you want it to live.
They come from camaro's . I have used one from a Mustang with an adaptor plate behind my blown big block with a single problem. My 11 second 355 nitrous mustang has ran the same one since 89 without any problems. The mustang and GM tranny's are almost the same and some
internal parts can be interchanged.
Just avoid power shifts if you want it to live.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: 5 speed trans (norvalwilhelm)
Norval
I see a t-5 in summit racing for the mustang for $1100, I think it is build as a heavy duty t-5. It is a lot less expensive then the other 5 speeds I see and with your adaptor plate would seem to be a nice alternative for thsoe who want a new one. I am still looking for a t-5 out of a camaro and found one for $500 but it has a 'sticky' 5 th gear so I am still searching.
I see a t-5 in summit racing for the mustang for $1100, I think it is build as a heavy duty t-5. It is a lot less expensive then the other 5 speeds I see and with your adaptor plate would seem to be a nice alternative for thsoe who want a new one. I am still looking for a t-5 out of a camaro and found one for $500 but it has a 'sticky' 5 th gear so I am still searching.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: 5 speed trans (Fevre)
An adaptor plate is very easy to build but I will not supply them. Any good wrecking yard should be able to find you a T5. 5th gear is tacked onto the back of the transmission so a simple tail stock removal will reveal the overdrive and allow simple fixing.
When I bought my Tremec TKO I bought a ford unit, not the modified GM unit and with a simple adaptor plate bolted it right in.
Go for a T5 when you find it. You will love the overdrive. My 4.11's in overdrive act like 2.8 on the expressways.
When I bought my Tremec TKO I bought a ford unit, not the modified GM unit and with a simple adaptor plate bolted it right in.
Go for a T5 when you find it. You will love the overdrive. My 4.11's in overdrive act like 2.8 on the expressways.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
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From: Living in the Hartland
Re: 5 speed trans (norvalwilhelm)
Norval
What? You don't want to supply the forum with adaptor plates? :jester Didn't think so. I remember you sold/gave one to another forum member and they made a pattern for it. Can't remember their name but a quick search would probably yeild it.
Thanks buds. That is beyond my expertise for know but I will watch how it is done since i think I know just the guy to do it for me.
What? You don't want to supply the forum with adaptor plates? :jester Didn't think so. I remember you sold/gave one to another forum member and they made a pattern for it. Can't remember their name but a quick search would probably yeild it.
Thanks buds. That is beyond my expertise for know but I will watch how it is done since i think I know just the guy to do it for me.
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruz CA
Re: 5 speed trans (Fevre)
I put a Richmond 5-speed in my '68 big block and a 6-speed in a small block '64. These are very durable transmissions and the 5-speed was an easy swap (the 6 was more difficult because it went into a mid-year). Shift quality is not as good as the old Muncie or Ford top loader, but it is entirely acceptable in a solid, mechanical kind of way.
