[BubbleTops]

Wondering what 5 and 6 speed manual transmissions with O.D. would you guys recommend? This would be for a street car with occasional track use.

Anybody here have experience with them? I've read some of you went with a hyd. clutch setup. Is this the best way to go about it?

Do any have a shifter location that would work with stock bench seat in a 63?

Just kicking the idea around right now.

Thanks guys.

[tom s]

Might do a search,been covered many times on this board.I run a Tremic TKO in my 63 421 Lemans.LOVE it,put one in my 69 455 bird also.Tom

[BubbleTops]

Originally Posted by tom s

Might do a search,been covered many times on this board.I run a Tremic TKO in my 63 421 Lemans.LOVE it,put one in my 69 455 bird also.Tom

I did a search didnt come up with a lot just a bunch of 4 speed swap stuff. Maybe I'm not using the correct keywords in the search.

[tom s]

I used a hyd clutch,way better than the stock tempest linkage.You can get all diff kinds of shifter handles so that not a concern.The Tremic and the Richmond 5 or 6 speed ODs are a good choice.The tunnel for the Tremic needs to be a little larger than the 5 speed Richmond,not sure about the 6 speed versions.Except for the tunnel size a OD swap is not any harder than a 4 speed.Tom

[tom s]

Has the rearend been switched over yet?Tom

[BubbleTops]

Originally Posted by tom s

Has the rearend been switched over yet?Tom

The rearend hasn't been switched over yet. I'm going with either a 57-64 pontiac/olds 9.3 or a 9" ford. Going with ladder bars and coil-overs.

I'm just in the planning stages of the project right now.

After further research its looking like the Tremec TKO 600 is probably the best option.

Do you have your shifter in the stock rear location? The stock shifter can be turned 180 degrees to move the shifter a few inches forward or there is also a mid shift posistion that moves the shifter to the center of the trans putting it 12" from the face of the trans. Need to figure out what will work with my bench seat.

[tom s]

It wont be a issue if your starting from scratch.You will need to cut the firewall half way up and the floor back to just behind the front seat.Get everything in and then build the floor over it.Make sure to leave room to pull the gear box if necessary.We made our top of the hump removable just incase.If your going to use a scattershield use the Quicktime as it is much smaller than a Lakewood or Mcleod.You will get lots of help,many have done the change over.I have done three,first was way back in 1964.I would use a 9in as wide selection of ratios avil and replacement parts are plentiful.Mine has a 57-58 pontiac but have done one also with a 10in.Tom

[beemergary]

Run a Richmond 4 speed with od in my 61 wagon with stock bench seat. Trans a PITA for racing. Run a 63 linkage and takes a big strong leg too push in the clutch. O WELL

[63Banshee]

Careful when looking at 5 speeds. Some, like Richmond, have a 1:1 5th. Power rating is important too.

When it comes to OD transmissions, I prefer the TKO-600 gearing for use behind a high torque engine, especially with 3.42 and lower gears, not to mention it has a higher power rating.

What I most prefer is a stout 4 speed and gear vendors OD unit, but that pushes the build cost above most budgets.

[JohnFromVentura]

The Richmond 5 speed OD are bullet proof but are large, as they are built in the 6 speed housing. If you use one make sure that you get a "Long" shifter, as they are way more smoother and stronger than a Hurst. I have a Richmond 1:1 (not OD) trans in another car and I love it but they are noisy in the 1st 4 gears. John

[63Banshee]

Originally Posted by JohnFromVentura

The Richmond 5 speed OD are bullet proof but are large, as they are built in the 6 speed housing. If you use one make sure that you get a "Long" shifter, as they are way more smoother and stronger than a Hurst. I have a Richmond 1:1 (not OD) trans in another car and I love it but they are noisy in the 1st 4 gears. John

You're talk'n Richmond Super Street. About a grand more (nearly 4 Large) than TKO-600. You get a little more torque capacity, but loose shifter location options. If I knew my engine was making right at 600 ft-lbs I'd put it on the consideration list, but I'd likely opt for a 4 speed/gv od solution instead. TKO-600 is likely to be a good choice for the intended application. I say that mainly because I know the engine plans as of a week ago --

[beemergary]

Have a Hurst tower and a 4 speed knob on the Richmond 4 speed with .87 OD. Its the design that makes the Richmond and TKO not gear banging friendly. Bought mine from Pace Performance for $2929.00 shipped to the nearest truck terminal but in 2008. Mine has the 2.89 first gear.

[BubbleTops]

Looks like the TKO will work well with the bench seat. Tom sent some pics of the interior in his 63 so I could see where the shifter exits the floor in his car. His shifter is installed on the rear shifter location of the trans.

Will not need to get the $300 shifter to move the shift location to the center of the trans. Good news!

The shifter that is included with the trans comes installed in the rear shift location and will work fine. If your short in stature and need to slide the seat farther forward you can rotate the shifter in the rear shift location 180 degrees to move the shifter about 2 more inches towards the firewall. You can not do this on the center and front shift location.

[JohnFromVentura]

If your going the TKO 600 route I would avoid the Keisler modified shifter location TKO's. Keisler is now bankrupt after almost 8 years of shabby products!

[tom s]

I liked dealing with Hurst Driveline.Tom

[marks73ta]

Is there any examples of using the rear mounted Corvette 6 speed trans and trans axle in the early Tempest/LeMans cars? I would assume it may intrude into the rear seat a little or not since I'm not sure of all the dimensions. I would think it would make a killer street and handling car??

Mark

[63Banshee]

Originally Posted by marks73ta

Is there any examples of using the rear mounted Corvette 6 speed trans and trans axle in the early Tempest/LeMans cars? I would assume it may intrude into the rear seat a little or not since I'm not sure of all the dimensions. I would think it would make a killer street and handling car??

Mark

Yes, you have to cut the entire length of the floor out.

[JohnFromVentura]

It can be done! There is a 53 Ford wagon in town with all 6 speed C5 running gear. He only had to widen the body by 3" but it can be done!

[marks73ta]

Is there any examples out there to see? I would be very interested to see what was done. Doesn't sound any harder than a full conventional rear suspension change over.

Mark

[63Banshee]

I could have, but changed my plans and I won't be using the stock floor and subframe.