FAQ |
Members List |
Social Groups |
Calendar |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Manual trans behind a warm 455.
As the title suggests, I want to warm up a 455 I have with some 6X heads and a cam on stock crank/piston assembly and put a stout enough manual behind it without cutting non standard holes in the floor of either my Firebird or my Judge. Which one is most likely to live behind the street engine? As I understand the TKO requires cutting more floor than facotry? I have an M20, a Saginaw and an HD cast iron Muncie 3 spd now. Is the Super T10 the best option? Or should I use a Supercased Muncie? Am I wrong on the TKO fitment?
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
You will have to cut the tunnel on ther GTO. I know, I did it on my 70. I think you may not have to on the second gen F body. Go to Classic Chevy 5 speed web site. Tons of info and great guy to work with. Highly reccomended. BTW, putting the TKO in my 70 was the best mod I have ever done to any car.
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
A richmond 5 speed will bolt right up, you just have to run 2.56-3.08 gears. Slight massaging of the floor pan to clear onr shift rod. No cutting. OD trans.
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
So, the Richmond will be better behind the 455 then? I suppose the massaging could be undone with a little work if so--if wanted.
I won't cut the tunnel on the Judge. |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
The shifter ends up in a different spot so you can't use the console without mods.
Maybe the HD3speed will live if you don't use a sticky tire. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Pulled from one of my earlier posts:
I have the Tremec TKO600 5-Speed w/.64 overdrive. It is modified by Keisler Engineering and bought from same as a kit. Kit included everything needed for the swap including new cross member, driveshaft and speedo cable among other things. I installed it in a 1976 Trans Am. There was not one hole drilled and not one cut necessary. It was a direct bolt-in. I could not be happier with my choice!!! Old set-up was stock 200HP 455 w/ST-10 4-speed and 3.23 rear gears. Best recorded gas mileage w/old set-up was 12mpg (tired engine). New set-up is freshly built 462 w/500HP (estimated), Keisler/Tremec TKO600 5-speed and same 3.23 rear gears. New best recorded gas mileage is 22.6(All Interstate-Non Stop)!!! RPM's at 80 MPH have decreased from 3000 to 2000. Bonus is 1st and 2nd gears in Tremec are lower than same in ST-10. Real reason for making swap is that I did not believe my numbers matching ST-10 would hold up to the power of the new engine. Gas mileage is a sweet bonus!!! Would do it again in a heart beat!!! |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Doug,
FWIW, I have an M-21 in my Judge (Street Car) and it lives for over 6 years now. The car has even made countless low 12 sec passes at the strip.
__________________
1969 GTO Judge Ram Air III 1968 Catalina "Darkside" Vert! |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Chris, my buddy with a Muncie in his 70 TA with a 428 broke numerous parts.
__________________
Skip Fix 1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever! 1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand 1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project 2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4 1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project 1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks all.
So loggerhead, how long has the trans been in your car? |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
1969 GTO Judge Ram Air III 1968 Catalina "Darkside" Vert! |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
Doug, I also installed a TKO-600 in my 76 T/A. I got it from Keisler as well and the "Perfect Fit" kit was exactly that, a perfect fit. I didn't have to massage or cut anything. I know that won't be true for your GTO, but it will be for your Firebird. I've only got about 600 miles on it as of now, and they are break in miles at that, but if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing. You will have a tough time breaking a TKO-600 with a warmed over 455. Oh, I'm also running a Moser 12 bolt with 3.73's.
__________________
John "There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots!" |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
I beat the holy hell out of a freshly rebuilt M22 with my Bisschop motor, it took 4 years of spirited street driving. I have laid down about 40 12 second passes and many, many mulitple gear burnouts.
I bent the tailshaft and wasted the Italian gears ! Plus 3 clutches. LOL Last year I put a really nice custom made Supercase M22 with the 2.52 first gear ratio in my 70 Judge. It also has that beefy gusseted tailhousing. It's holding up just fine. It's not easy being dedicated to 4 speeds but they sure are fun to drive
__________________
Knock Knock Knockin' on 11's Door '70 Judge, Palladium Silver w/Red Interior Powered by SD Performance, Ported 6X Heads 501 HP, 554 ft lbs TQ 12.14 ET @ 114 MPH , Supercase Muncie M22, 3:55 Suspension: HO Racing, BMR< Sykorat, and Bilsteins Narrowed 12 bolt , 16x8 VintageWheel Works, Comp T/As on street, MT Drag Radials @ Strip http://www.sdperformance.com/custome...1.php?carID=42 |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
I would keep the judge stock w/ the HD3speed...put the keisler in the TA for your fun OD cruise. OTOH, Richmonds can be had cheap and they are pretty strong. Mine survived on slicks and sidestep launches to 12.10's at 112mph more than a few times. No cut in A body, best of luck in whatever you decide.
Once you put an OD trans into your musclecar you will NEVER want to go back to 4.10-3.90 even 3.55's can be a little steep when you get used to 2.56's.... |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
Doug,
One option with Keisler is they are right down the road from you in Rockford. I used to work with the owner about 10 years ago before he went full time into the conversions. It will not fit in the Judge without cutting the floor but may fit in your Firebird.
__________________
1970 GTO 400 Atoll Blue, PS, PDB, A/C Was M20 4 speed, now has Keisler RS600 5 speed. |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
Here's what happens to a ST-10 with 500+ HP connected to it. Split case and wasted gearset. Don't use sticky tires if you want it to live. My choice would be a Supercase M22 from Gearzone or the TKO-600.
__________________
Home of WFO Hyperformance Shaker induction. |
#16
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Knock Knock Knockin' on 11's Door '70 Judge, Palladium Silver w/Red Interior Powered by SD Performance, Ported 6X Heads 501 HP, 554 ft lbs TQ 12.14 ET @ 114 MPH , Supercase Muncie M22, 3:55 Suspension: HO Racing, BMR< Sykorat, and Bilsteins Narrowed 12 bolt , 16x8 VintageWheel Works, Comp T/As on street, MT Drag Radials @ Strip http://www.sdperformance.com/custome...1.php?carID=42 |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Be glad to answer any questions. David |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
You can thrash and trash any of them, if the tranny don't break, something else will.
If you are planning on breaking something, you need to HD the whole drive train, from flywheel to lugnuts. In my younger days, "I" broke more than my fair share of 3 & 4 speeds. I can't fault the transmissions, it was the "I" behind the wheel. I like the T-10s, you can play with them as hard as you like, as long as you don't abuse it. As long as you don't yank one with slack in it, they will probably all stay together. |
#19
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
John "There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots!" |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks all for the good information--and I didn't know there was a place called Keisler that is so close and that they sell a kit complete. Good info. But it sounds like I'm going to need some overtime pay for the rest of the mods.
|
Reply |
|
|