richmond tranny question
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Cruising
Joined: Aug 2005
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richmond tranny question
My dad is looking to but an 85 vette that had a 4+3 that was swaped to a richmond 6-speed racing tranny in it. The owner selling it told us that it does not always want to go into second. what are some reasons that it would be doing this? and how much to fix it
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,638
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Theres a guy who hangs out in the C-3 section that builds up Richmonds for racing - he's really knowlegeable - but I can't remember his name - go into C-3 and post asking for the Richmond guy - maybe he will find you.
Carl Johansson
Carl Johansson
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Luckily you have a Richmond, probably one of the least expensive transmissions to repair/rebuild. Do you know how long that trans has been in the car?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 1
From: NewCastle IN. USA
Originally Posted by whiteboy477
My dad is looking to but an 85 vette that had a 4+3 that was swaped to a richmond 6-speed racing tranny in it. The owner selling it told us that it does not always want to go into second. what are some reasons that it would be doing this? and how much to fix it
its probably the 2nd gear syncro, the part itself is cheap ($16 each from Jeg's last time I bought one). but the work involved is pretty major (remove trannie, disassemble ect.).
for the "do it yourself'er" its a long weekend of work and some special tools may be required (HD C-clip removal, some parts need heated, and I wouldn't even try it without the manual), not something for the mechanically challenged to try.
some trannie guys don't like working on the richmond, so having it done may cost more than a normal trannie rebuild (never had it done but one trannie guy did say this).
the most common cause of the 2nd gear syncro problem is abuse (these things don't like to be speed shifted and 2nd gear is the one that usually goes out first),
or using the wrong type of fluid. it can't have any limited slip type additive in it, if it has been ran with the wrong lube then all of the cone's that the syncro's ride on may need to be scuffed up (because they will be too polished from the additive to work correctly, per Richmonds tech dept.)
one thing is for sure, it will have to come out and be torn down/ repaired, so budget accordingly.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 2
I've got a Richmond in my '85. Same deal it was swapped by the previous owner from a 4+3. Sometimes I think the previous guy was a bit on the mechanically challenged side.
ol,RJ - I've got about 12,000 miles on my Richmond, how long do the parts in the stock Richmond usually hold up under normal / slightly agressive driving? I have noticed that shifting even slightly hard into 2nd works the syncro real hard - I'm careful not to do that.
Ryan
ol,RJ - I've got about 12,000 miles on my Richmond, how long do the parts in the stock Richmond usually hold up under normal / slightly agressive driving? I have noticed that shifting even slightly hard into 2nd works the syncro real hard - I'm careful not to do that.
Ryan
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 1
From: NewCastle IN. USA
Originally Posted by reidry
I've got a Richmond in my '85. Same deal it was swapped by the previous owner from a 4+3. Sometimes I think the previous guy was a bit on the mechanically challenged side.
ol,RJ - I've got about 12,000 miles on my Richmond, how long do the parts in the stock Richmond usually hold up under normal / slightly agressive driving? I have noticed that shifting even slightly hard into 2nd works the syncro real hard - I'm careful not to do that.
Ryan
ol,RJ - I've got about 12,000 miles on my Richmond, how long do the parts in the stock Richmond usually hold up under normal / slightly agressive driving? I have noticed that shifting even slightly hard into 2nd works the syncro real hard - I'm careful not to do that.
Ryan
I'd say they would hold up ok under normal driving, I tore up the second gear syncro at the dragstrip (trying to shift faster and faster/ with clutch) in the end I decided a few tenths af a second wasn't worth pulling/rebuilding the trannie.
I do wish the richmond was easier shifting (like a ZF or T56 ect) but I don't think its going to happen. a TKO 5spd may be in my future.
