I am now considering a 5-spd manual trans instead of using my orig TH350 or going to a M20 Muncie. Any recommendations/links to decent 5-spd transmissions? Big time mods needed? The only one I have heard briefly about so far is Tremec. There must be others though?

My rear is going to be 3.42's and would like to cruise ~2000rpm @ 60-70. I am assuming 3.90's would likely not be overkill rpm wise in this case with a 5th (OD) gear? Engine is a 350 7A with (hopefully) specs closer (or a bit better/faster) than a 1970 350.

I also want to be able to take it down the 1/4 track a few times a year.

tx

 

I converted my G-body w/a 350 Olds, 350 THM to a Tremec TKO 5 speed and have been very pleased with the results. The setup has been in since the fall of '99 and have no complaints to report. I also have a 3:42 ratio rear with 255/60/15 tires approximately 26" tall and run around 2100 RPM at 70 mph. You could get away with the deeper gear though, especially with the small block, mine gets a little fussy in fifth gear if I get below 55 mph, lugs and wants to downshift. I am running a fairly stought cam, but still have a dual plane Performer RPM intake, either way I don't think you will be dissapointed, just think about what you want to do with the car. The conversion should be pretty straightforward for an A body and these days there are more suppliers of GM friendly Tremecs than there were back when I did mine. Fortes did my input shaft as well as the speedo adapter, but now I'd likely get it as a plug n' play from my local dealer here in Ft Worth, Standard Transmission and Gear. Driveshaft will need to be modded as well as possibly the crossmember. The newer TKO's are also rated for more torque than earlier ones. I would not reccomend a T5 Borg Warner, if your going to go to the trouble to convert try to do it right the first time. No offense to the T5 folks, just the route I chose.

Heath

 

We're running Richmond/Doug Nash 5 speeds in our cars. They have held up at the track with over 600 ftlbs of torque. Some say they don't shift as good as a tremic but I wouldn't know, they can be shifted without letting up on the gas at the track but you better have a long shifter. They have a 1 to 1 fith gear that would make your 342 gears a little steep. The back of a factory 4 speed hole through the floor would need a little modification for the shifter. The crossmember needs to be moved a little, a 400 drive shaft bolts right in.

 

You need to talk to Anthony(Raleigh350),on ROP. He has a real nice 71 supreme with a 350 5-spd. I think he has a Tremec in that.
I have a customer's 71 442 that he swapped the original 4-spd for a Richmond 5-spd.The Richmond is a nice unit,but bigger,and there's a fair share of ball-peen hammer marks under his trans tunnel,plus they had to modify his original tunnel hump,so the shifter could come up through,which is slightly farther back.His console boot assembly also had to be moved back on the console.This job can be daone nicer if you were starting from scratch,or had a little more knowhow about it. This was already done prior to me recieving the car.The Richmond is like the Muncies,with mechanical linkage,whereas the Tremecs are all inside,and the shifter mounts directly on top.

 

I loved my TKO600. I used 3.73 with 27" tall tire with the stock 330. My plan was for a future 455 and I think it would have been perfect. Had I kept the 330 4.10 would have been a better choice. You will love running 1-4 around town and having a 5th to use on the highway. I would use one again in a heartbeat.