Fed up driving automatic
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
When I did my Tremec swap about three years ago, I bought all the parts one piece at a time thinking I would save a bunch of money. I had fun tracking down all the parts, and I learned a lot in the process, but in the end I think I saved less than $100 over buying a complete conversion kit from one of the suppliers.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 183
From: Port St. Lucie Fl
Just a quick thought, are there no other gm rwd cars with manual transmissions in the country? Could you find similar to a wrecked 94-97 Camaro Z28 or Firebird Trans am that had a factory 6spd and swap it in?
Or what would it cost to import a used car?
Or what would it cost to import a used car?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 289
Likes: 32
When I was about 19 I converted my '59 Chevrolet Impala from a PowerGlide to a 3-speed manual with a Hurst shifter. It was really fun to be able to manually shift its gears but when I encountered hilly terrain with stop lights and heavy traffic I discovered the downside of manual transmissions. Now that I am 70 years old I would never go back to manual transmissions because automatics are so darned good. And with my TH700R4 and 3.70's I have the best of both worlds; blistering acceleration and low rpm cruising.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 169
Likes: 43
From: Stockholm Sweden
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 169
Likes: 43
From: Stockholm Sweden
A couple of comments:
The M-21/Super T-10 close ratio had a 2.43 1 st gear like on my 78 L-82 with the 3.70 ratio:
2.43 x 3.70=8.99 or 9:1 which is pretty heft for a total ratio to get the car moving from a standstill. In fact, I never found with my OEM L-82 that I had to slip the
The M-21/Super T-10 close ratio had a 2.43 1 st gear like on my 78 L-82 with the 3.70 ratio:
2.43 x 3.70=8.99 or 9:1 which is pretty heft for a total ratio to get the car moving from a standstill. In fact, I never found with my OEM L-82 that I had to slip the
clutch to get the car moving and never with the 355 L-82 now. I did notice that the gear ratios are too close between shifts as expected and I would prefer the wider ratios of the M-20 if i could. The M-21 1st gear with a 3.70 rear is almost useless in everyday driving due to the steep gear multiplication.
The wide Ratio M-20 came with a 2.64 first gear which would make 1st even more useless with the L-82 3.70 gears:
2.64X3.70=9.77....
However, the wider ratios I would prefer with the L-82
Stock L-48's came only with the wide ratio M-20 with 2.64 1st gear and either a 3.08 rear or 3.36 gears which is the reason for the 2.64 1st gear:
2.64 x 3.08=8.13 which is less the the 1st gear M-21 and the 3.70 gears above^^^
Or 2.64 x 3.36=8.87...again less than the 2.43 and the 3.70 gears.
The M-21 close ratio 2.43 and 3.70 gears results in MORE torque multiplication than the wide ratio and less numerical gears.
Hope that helps!!!!
The wide Ratio M-20 came with a 2.64 first gear which would make 1st even more useless with the L-82 3.70 gears:
2.64X3.70=9.77....
However, the wider ratios I would prefer with the L-82
Stock L-48's came only with the wide ratio M-20 with 2.64 1st gear and either a 3.08 rear or 3.36 gears which is the reason for the 2.64 1st gear:
2.64 x 3.08=8.13 which is less the the 1st gear M-21 and the 3.70 gears above^^^
Or 2.64 x 3.36=8.87...again less than the 2.43 and the 3.70 gears.
The M-21 close ratio 2.43 and 3.70 gears results in MORE torque multiplication than the wide ratio and less numerical gears.
Hope that helps!!!!
My problem is that I don’t know what rear end I got. I think 3,36 was standard?Thus I think the 70 ls5 came with different, even with the th400 ? All I can say is that when I’m in 60mph I’m about 1800-1900 rpm with the th400. Th400 ratio is 2,48 1,48 1,00
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 169
Likes: 43
From: Stockholm Sweden
[QUOTE=Kacyc3;1596265434]Just a quick thought, are there no other gm rwd cars with manual transmissions in the country? Could you find similar to a wrecked 94-97 Camaro Z28 or Firebird Trans am that had a factory 6spd and swap it in?
Or what would it cost to import a used car?[/QUOTE
Or what would it cost to import a used car?[/QUOTE
On no, there’s a lot of American cars over here, we love them but I do not have space for one more to rate apart. I will check with some salvage yards and see what I can find
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
You really need to know what your rear end gears are before you pick a transmission. Having said that if they are 3.70 or numerically lower I think you'll like the M20 rather than the M21 based on my experience with my 3.70 geared M21.
Last edited by Priya; Dec 28, 2017 at 04:07 PM.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 169
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From: Stockholm Sweden
Hah how funny! Me and a friend is doing my corvette and his impala 59 coupé parallel. Much convenient when we share garage! Both cars are total tairdowns and Resto modded. Those 59 coupe are expensive as h%\\ over here in Sweden. Almost 60$ for one in “good” condition
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 169
Likes: 43
From: Stockholm Sweden
Yep I think you’re right. Need to check that out!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Hah how funny! Me and a friend is doing my corvette and his impala 59 coupé parallel. Much convenient when we share garage! Both cars are total tairdowns and Resto modded. Those 59 coupe are expensive as h%\\ over here in Sweden. Almost 60$ for one in “good” condition
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 169
Likes: 43
From: Stockholm Sweden
So I finally got hold of an M20 included flywheel, bellhousing, clutch & clutch fork for under 700$ and it looks pretty good besides the reverse gear and idler gear. That piece got a real beating !
Never done this before but I look forward to it.
Any tips and tricks is appreciated
If anyone is interested you can follow my restoration/restomod on Instagram. “freddehelaveckan”
Never done this before but I look forward to it.
Any tips and tricks is appreciated
If anyone is interested you can follow my restoration/restomod on Instagram. “freddehelaveckan”
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
I have an M-20 with reverse gears that look identical to yours.
Seems a lot of people are impatient and slam these things into reverse before the car stops moving.
I left mine as-is and I have no issues shifting into reverse properly.
Just my .02
Elm
Seems a lot of people are impatient and slam these things into reverse before the car stops moving.
I left mine as-is and I have no issues shifting into reverse properly.
Just my .02
Elm
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
When I was looking for a five speed that was one of the key features I was after, a synchronized reverse gear
Last edited by Priya; Jan 9, 2018 at 04:54 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
If the car isn't moving and the clutch is properly disengaged, there should be no grinding as there should be nothing spinning in the trans.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I don't shift into reverse when the car is moving. As to why it grinds almost every time when I shift into reverse, I don't know.
Last edited by Priya; Jan 9, 2018 at 05:33 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
Under normal circumstances, there should me no grinding if the car is at a complete stop.
Just sayin'
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Perhaps. I vaguely recall someone telling me it had to do with part of the transmission spinning after it was in a forward gear and the clutch is pressed in. Then when you put it in reverse it grinds. If I remember correctly there's supposed to be some sort of movement you do with the shifter and/or clutch pedal that prevents the grinding when you put move it into reverse from a forward gear.
Last edited by Priya; Jan 9, 2018 at 06:08 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
I simply joined the 2 wires that went to the original switch at the shifter with 2 longer wires to the 2 contacts on the switch at the pedal assembly.