[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by David Jones

I installed a shifter porch and split the tunnel and opened it up some. I'm not sure major mods is accurate.

That doesn't look too bad actually. Almost doable. Considering the cost of a new Richmond 5 speed overdrive is $3500 or so, the TKO makes decent sense considering the cost of the entire kit they provide with you.

Always wanted to learn how to weld... ;-)

[GOAT WHORE]

Originally Posted by David Jones

I installed a shifter porch and split the tunnel and opened it up some. I'm not sure major mods is accurate. I've seen where people have completely hacked the top off the trans tunnel and I didn't find that to be needed in my case.

I installed a shifter porch on top of the existing porch which brought it up about 1.5"s iirc. I cut out most of the tunnel and used a rolled piece of steel to make a knew one. I wanted to make sure I got the transmission up high enough and still have a little room for ease of removal and install.
I did try just mocking it up first with out any cutting and it was not happening at all. I proceeded to cut out a little at a time till I got the transmission where I wanted it then started fabbing it back together.
Yah, major modification might be the wrong term, major modification might be a more appropriate term for what I just went thru turning my 91 Ford van into a 4X4 Still, there is a fair amount of work to get that TKO in there And worth every bit of the effort!

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

That doesn't look too bad actually. Almost doable. Considering the cost of a new Richmond 5 speed overdrive is $3500 or so, the TKO makes decent sense considering the cost of the entire kit they provide with you.

Always wanted to learn how to weld... ;-)

I used seam sealer and pop rivets.

[old66tiger]

I split my tunnel up the middle and made a pie-shaped piece of steel and welded it in place. I had to make a special shifter porch to fit the widened tunnel. I wish I would have got the tranny up another 1/2" or so, but it fit pretty well.

Here is a link of my modifications

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ght=tko&page=2

[old66tiger]

If I can get a good deal on a LGT-700, I will probably be putting my TKO up for sale. That LGT tranny is pretty sweet.

[Nitebird]

Anybody know if that TKO600 would fit in 1979 Trans Am behind a Pontiac 455? My car is a original 4spd SE W72 car so I don't want to do any cutting on it.

[KO]

I have a Doug Nash/Richmond 5 speed I removed from a 79 Trans AM W72 WS6 car, the transmission fit directly in the same place as the original ST10 4 speed with no cutting or hammering, just the crossmember was slid back and used only two holes or I think a TH400 would work to use all 4 holes.

[Ben M.]

Is there anything special about the Doug Nash\Richmond 5 speed overdrive when buying one? Or pretty straightforward?

[GOAT WHORE]

Originally Posted by old66tiger

I wish I would have got the tranny up another 1/2" or so,

I think this is what some people run into when they don't want to face the fact that you have to hack up the floor. If your going to do it take the leap and do it. What the hell is another 1/2" When you already got it opened up? The objective really isn't how little you can cut but rather getting the right geometry from tranny back to rear end. You leave it too low and your asking for trouble, jmo.

[David Jones]

.....and if the angles aren't right, it's a buzzmobile.

[mrennie]

Originally Posted by GOAT WHORE

I think this is what some people run into when they don't want to face the fact that you have to hack up the floor. If your going to do it take the leap and do it. What the hell is another 1/2" When you already got it opened up? The objective really isn't how little you can cut but rather getting the right geometry from tranny back to rear end. You leave it too low and your asking for trouble, jmo.

I agree 100%. I am installing a T56 Magnum in my Judge and even with the extensive tunnel mods I did, I started checking driveline angles yesterday and need to raise the rear of trans another 1/4-1/2" which I didn't expect.

[FrankieT/A]

I had the same issue with pinion angle, I just raised my tranny another 3/8 of an inch and the car is a lot smoother above 90. The 700 is a lot higher toward the back of the trans, which does bring the trans really close to the tunnel.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by KO

I have a Doug Nash/Richmond 5 speed I removed from a 79 Trans AM W72 WS6 car, the transmission fit directly in the same place as the original ST10 4 speed with no cutting or hammering, just the crossmember was slid back and used only two holes or I think a TH400 would work to use all 4 holes.

Originally Posted by Ben M.

Is there anything special about the Doug Nash\Richmond 5 speed overdrive when buying one? Or pretty straightforward?

The Doug Nash Transmissions were designed to be replacements for Muncie Transmissions.

The rear Trans Mount is in the 67 GTO Turbo 400 location vs the Muncie or Turbo 350 trans mount location.

With a "Roof Car" you can typically add a couple of holes in the frame area and get the right location on a earlier A-Body frame. Convertibles are harder as they have a weld on mount on the enclosed frame.

When I had the frame out I split the frame mount, removed the rear section and moved it rearward, and added a section in the open middle area. This now allowed me to run a Muncie, a Turbo 350, a Turbo 400, or a Doug Nash in my 64 GTO Convertible. I don't do car shows so 99% of the people would never notice the modded trans frame mount.

The driveshaft angles should be about right with the Nash trans as the overall length of the trans is the same, just the trans mount location moved on the trans.

Tom Vaught

[GTOLou]

The Doug Nash has a great reputation - I looked into buying one and was advised against it my my local tranny specialist (guy in upstate SC who used to work for Richmond before they were bought out) as he said you can't get parts for them.

I'd say 1/2 the time I purchase a used "ready to run" tranny it needs work or parts. I just don't see many "richmond" five speeds for sale that are pretty reasonable on cost, etc.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by GTOLou

The Doug Nash has a great reputation - I looked into buying one and was advised against it my my local tranny specialist (guy in upstate SC who used to work for Richmond before they were bought out) as he said you can't get parts for them.

I'd say 1/2 the time I purchase a used "ready to run" tranny it needs work or parts. I just don't see many "richmond" five speeds for sale that are pretty reasonable on cost, etc.

Yep, Doug sold out to Richmond and the true Nash Parts are scarcer but good non abused street 5 speed trans are still out there. I figure on skipping the power shift routine (fractions of a second difference in et and let the boost make up the difference in time. LOL!

As a note, Gale Banks ran a twin turbo BB Chevy engine in a 3rd Gen Trans Am at Bonneville. The engine made around 1400 HP. They used a Doug Nash Transmission and a Overdrive add-on. The DNE trans worked fine in the car if it was shifted properly vs Power Shifted and saw High shock loads. Just saying.

Tom Vaught

[Nitebird]

Originally Posted by GTOLou

The Doug Nash has a great reputation - I looked into buying one and was advised against it my my local tranny specialist (guy in upstate SC who used to work for Richmond before they were bought out) as he said you can't get parts for them.

I'd say 1/2 the time I purchase a used "ready to run" tranny it needs work or parts. I just don't see many "richmond" five speeds for sale that are pretty reasonable on cost, etc.

That is good information to know because if you buy a used Doug Nash and more than likely it will need repairs you are pretty much out of luck...then you just have a expensive boat anchor.

[6 Grrrs]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

The Doug Nash Transmissions were designed to be replacements for Muncie Transmissions.

The rear Trans Mount is in the 67 GTO Turbo 400 location vs the Muncie or Turbo 350 trans mount location.

With a "Roof Car" you can typically add a couple of holes in the frame area and get the right location on a earlier A-Body frame. Convertibles are harder as they have a weld on mount on the enclosed frame.

When I had the frame out I split the frame mount, removed the rear section and moved it rearward, and added a section in the open middle area. This now allowed me to run a Muncie, a Turbo 350, a Turbo 400, or a Doug Nash in my 64 GTO Convertible. I don't do car shows so 99% of the people would never notice the modded trans frame mount.

The driveshaft angles should be about right with the Nash trans as the overall length of the trans is the same, just the trans mount location moved on the trans.

Tom Vaught

Is the ROD 6 speed trans similar in size to the 4+1?

[Tom Vaught]

Have little info on the ROD trans Sorry.

Could be identical or much different.

Nash used to have a side view of the trans dimensions.

Tom Vaught