5-speed or 6-speed?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Ann Arbor MI
5-speed or 6-speed?
All,
This may be a no brainer, but, if given the choice of converting your car to a 5-speed or 6-speed, which would you choose and why?
Thanks for your input
[Modified by 1971Ultra, 8:34 PM 12/3/2003]
[Modified by 1971Ultra, 8:51 PM 12/3/2003]
This may be a no brainer, but, if given the choice of converting your car to a 5-speed or 6-speed, which would you choose and why?
Thanks for your input
[Modified by 1971Ultra, 8:34 PM 12/3/2003]
[Modified by 1971Ultra, 8:51 PM 12/3/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: 5-speed or 6-speed? (1971Ultra)
I'd go with a 6 speed, just because the work to make the change is about the same, and as far as I'm concerned is the hard part. 6 speeds are more expensive, but I don't think that the actual install is all that much more difficult than a 5 speed.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Wainwright Alberta
Re: 5-speed or 6-speed? (Smokehouse69)
What's the price difference? I'm considering swapping out my 350, 3spd auto and replacing with a rebuilt 383 and a 5 or 6 speed manual. Trying to get an idea of cost.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Re: 5-speed or 6-speed? (1971Ultra)
Depends on your engine and what you want to do. If you want to smoke 'em off the line and cruise at 1500 rpm, you need a wide spread from first to top gear. If your engine has good torque characteristics, you don't need many gears in between. If your engine has a distinctive torque peak, you will need more gears in between.
Consider the size of the trans tunnel vs the size of the trans case for a 5 sp vs a 6 sp. and your rear end ratio also.
Consider the size of the trans tunnel vs the size of the trans case for a 5 sp vs a 6 sp. and your rear end ratio also.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Re: 5-speed or 6-speed? (1971Ultra)
Cost and installation concerns aside, I would prefer the T56. With the double overdrive, it's a real cruiser. You can use 5th gear in the city and then drop it down into 6th for highway and interstate action.
Brett :thumbs:
Brett :thumbs:
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Re: 5-speed or 6-speed? (1971Ultra)
Gotta tell us the engine and rear gears in question. They are all good trannys, but what's best for you changes depending on your usage and what's under the hood.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
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From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: 5-speed or 6-speed? (Eddie 70)
I'm going the 6 speed route.. Two overdrives and a range of first gear ratios.
Plus it has kind of a cool factor. :cool:
Plus it has kind of a cool factor. :cool:
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
From: The Villages FL
Re: 5-speed or 6-speed? (1971Ultra)
I ran the RG 5-spd for nearly six years before the rebuild started. Made the car more like a sports car I would want to drive, and I did drive it much more. The rebuild gets a 6-spd for the long distance tours I'll be taking into retirement.
Spike
Spike
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,159
Likes: 64
From: Nichols Florida
Re: 5-speed or 6-speed? (1971Ultra)
There are some issues that are sometimes forgotten when this question is asked and answered. Where do you drive and at what speed. I have a richmond 6 speed with a 3:08 in a 68 with a 427-L88 top end which gives me a cruse rpm very close to my ZR1 at 60-75 BUT the motor is not cammed/carbed right for this cruse range, the holley does not like to cruse at the lower rpm in 6th gear. Probably should have used a 3:32, think I will go to EFI as holley has some new bare efi manifolds that I can use for a DIY EFI.
Things to remember.
1. 6 sp richmonds have 5th as 1:1 and 6 is od. You can call richmond and get a trans that fits the motor you are going to use it behind.
2. Some 5 speeds have 5th as 1:1 so a rear change is nec.
3. The comaro 6 speeds are od in 5&6 and can be made to fit early cars.
4. Early motors and late motors use different trans and early have to be moded to fit late and vice versa.
5. If your final drive ratios do not match the engine power ranges then you wasted your time and money of just have to spend more money to get it right.
6. In most cases you can change the yoke and U-joint and not have to change the drive shaft.
7. Ask ask ask. Most of us have been there and hopefully save you time and money.
Tyler
Things to remember.
1. 6 sp richmonds have 5th as 1:1 and 6 is od. You can call richmond and get a trans that fits the motor you are going to use it behind.
2. Some 5 speeds have 5th as 1:1 so a rear change is nec.
3. The comaro 6 speeds are od in 5&6 and can be made to fit early cars.
4. Early motors and late motors use different trans and early have to be moded to fit late and vice versa.
5. If your final drive ratios do not match the engine power ranges then you wasted your time and money of just have to spend more money to get it right.
6. In most cases you can change the yoke and U-joint and not have to change the drive shaft.
7. Ask ask ask. Most of us have been there and hopefully save you time and money.
Tyler