#1  
Old 07-08-2020, 05:32 PM
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Aluminum Chief Aluminum Chief is offline
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Default Auto Gear M-23 or Hightower 4-Speed Trans

Has anyone used one of these M-23 4 speed transmissions from Auto Gear in Syracuse NY? Or a Hightower 4 Speed Trans?

I am looking for a 4 speed trans for my 67 GTO that will stay together.
I had a Richmond Super T-10 in the car for the last 8 years and I`m tired of changing 1st gear & the cluster gear, last time the main case cracked as well.
I don`t want to cut the floor, it`s a 46k mile original and I have had it since high school.

My best et was a 12.001 @ 113mph, I never had the engine dynoed but should be right around 500 hp & 550 ft lbs of torque.

Engine is a 400 with a 455 crank, Crower Rods, flat tops with 670 heads, solid roller, 71 455 HO intake & carb with HO exhaust manifolds & 2 1/2 inch Pypes full exhaust . Looks stock when the hood is open.

Rear is a Chevelle 12 bolt with 4:11`s

Any 4 speed trans suggestions would be appreciated.

Sorry can`t get the pic right side up.

Thanks KC
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Old 07-08-2020, 06:38 PM
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I have a M22Z, nice unit but have not really hammered on it. Iwould talk to them, they will tell you if you need more trans than they can supply.

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Old 07-08-2020, 07:46 PM
NAPA68 NAPA68 is offline
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I had an M22W built by Midwest Muncies behind a 422" SBC. Took everything I could throw at it. I was told some of the M23 parts are on backorder

Tim

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Old 07-08-2020, 08:51 PM
younggto younggto is offline
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If going to a Hightower I’m sure you’ll need to cut the floor some. I was in the same boat; 67 GTO owned since HS, also a 46Kmi car, didn’t want to cut it up too much... I went with a G Force G101A and couldn’t be happier; but the Hightower looks like a stout piece. The shifter linkage required some floorpan modifications in my case but what can you do; rod ends take up space. I can take a pic of my panel if you want.

I had previously used an AutoGear M22W with the roller bearing first gear (it wasn’t meant to be a drag car at the time...) but I could tell the transmission was having some issues so I changed transmissions.

Any questions just ask.

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Old 07-09-2020, 12:25 AM
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i82much i82much is offline
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I have an m23 super wide ratio behind a 505, but strictly a street car. I like the trans quite a bit but cannot speak to racing durability. You can hurt the drivetrain with 300 horsepower on slicks easier than you can with 1000 hp on street tires.

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Old 07-09-2020, 02:01 AM
Dragncar Dragncar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aluminum Chief View Post
Has anyone used one of these M-23 4 speed transmissions from Auto Gear in Syracuse NY? Or a Hightower 4 Speed Trans?

I am looking for a 4 speed trans for my 67 GTO that will stay together.
I had a Richmond Super T-10 in the car for the last 8 years and I`m tired of changing 1st gear & the cluster gear, last time the main case cracked as well.
I don`t want to cut the floor, it`s a 46k mile original and I have had it since high school.

My best et was a 12.001 @ 113mph, I never had the engine dynoed but should be right around 500 hp & 550 ft lbs of torque.

Engine is a 400 with a 455 crank, Crower Rods, flat tops with 670 heads, solid roller, 71 455 HO intake & carb with HO exhaust manifolds & 2 1/2 inch Pypes full exhaust . Looks stock when the hood is open.

Rear is a Chevelle 12 bolt with 4:11`s

Any 4 speed trans suggestions would be appreciated.

Sorry can`t get the pic right side up.

Thanks KC
I put a Ford Toploader in my 69 GTO back in the day. Did not have to cut the floor. Just modified the shift lever to come in in the stock console hole. Mine was a small block short shaft Toploader, worked great, still have all the stuff. 110lb tranny vs a 65lb tranny, you know which one is stronger.
You can get a big input shaft Toploader that came in a big block Mustang and make it work.
Hey, Pontiac ran a Ford Toploader 3 speed in their cars. Our 66 Catalina 3 on the tree station wagon had one.

  #7  
Old 07-09-2020, 08:45 AM
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62cat 62cat is offline
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Default Fixed it

Here you go Ken. I have been looking at both gearboxes also. I heard good things about both. I am leaning to the M23.
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  #8  
Old 07-09-2020, 09:54 AM
70GS455 70GS455 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aluminum Chief View Post
Has anyone used one of these M-23 4 speed transmissions from Auto Gear in Syracuse NY? Or a Hightower 4 Speed Trans?



I am looking for a 4 speed trans for my 67 GTO that will stay together.

I had a Richmond Super T-10 in the car for the last 8 years and I`m tired of changing 1st gear & the cluster gear, last time the main case cracked as well.

I don`t want to cut the floor, it`s a 46k mile original and I have had it since high school.



My best et was a 12.001 @ 113mph, I never had the engine dynoed but should be right around 500 hp & 550 ft lbs of torque.



Engine is a 400 with a 455 crank, Crower Rods, flat tops with 670 heads, solid roller, 71 455 HO intake & carb with HO exhaust manifolds & 2 1/2 inch Pypes full exhaust . Looks stock when the hood is open.



Rear is a Chevelle 12 bolt with 4:11`s



Any 4 speed trans suggestions would be appreciated.



Sorry can`t get the pic right side up.



Thanks KC
Was your T10 iron case? Iron mid plate?

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

  #9  
Old 07-09-2020, 10:12 AM
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Aluminum Chief Aluminum Chief is offline
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Default Trans

Thanks everyone for the response
Thanks Ray for the flip, how did you do that? Leaning towards the M-23 as well.
Newer all alum T-10

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Old 07-09-2020, 05:40 PM
younggto younggto is offline
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Intended use dictates what to get. Street/strip the M23 is probably the way to go. Strip only the Hightower/G101A/Jerico wins.

The G101A has straight cut gears and dog rings, same as a Jerico; I’m not sure about the Hightower but I would expect the same. Having dog rings on the street is kind of a pain; double clutching for slow speed shifts, rev matching to downshift, and coming to a complete stop before putting it into gear are a few things that come to mind to prevent gear clash/clunk. Or just shift it like you mean it and be prepared to rebuild it at some point, which will happen.

  #11  
Old 07-09-2020, 06:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by younggto View Post
Intended use dictates what to get. Street/strip the M23 is probably the way to go. Strip only the Hightower/G101A/Jerico wins.

The G101A has straight cut gears and dog rings, same as a Jerico; I’m not sure about the Hightower but I would expect the same. Having dog rings on the street is kind of a pain; double clutching for slow speed shifts, rev matching to downshift, and coming to a complete stop before putting it into gear are a few things that come to mind to prevent gear clash/clunk. Or just shift it like you mean it and be prepared to rebuild it at some point, which will happen.
Yes the Hightower has straight cut gears and I think dog rings as well, reasons I am leaning towards the M-23.
Thanks for the input.
KC

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Old 07-11-2020, 11:03 PM
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Larry Navarro Larry Navarro is offline
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I grenaded two ST10's......
Call Paul Cangelosi and get one built with Supercase and trick internals.
https://www.5speeds.com/cart/index.p...&product_id=58

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  #13  
Old 07-12-2020, 08:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Navarro View Post
I grenaded two ST10's......
Call Paul Cangelosi and get one built with Supercase and trick internals.
https://www.5speeds.com/cart/index.p...&product_id=58
Thanks, I have talked to Paul about building a trans for me.
I purchased all the parts from him every time the T-10 let go, he is a very knowledgeable & nice guy.

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Old 07-19-2020, 10:12 AM
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I like the M23 also. You can drive up to NY and watch them build your trans. Well that was before the virus don't know about now. Paul knows his stuff. Jody's Transmission in Reading,PA can build one also. He's a racer.

  #15  
Old 07-19-2020, 12:01 PM
wbnapier wbnapier is offline
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I have one of Paul's Muncies. Dealing with him was a pleasure. From confirmation to delivery was 3 weeks or so. The tranny has held up well. He has a cool YouTube channel too.

I felt that financially it didn't make sense to assembly the tranny myself vs. pay Paul to do it. Especially if you need to buy a press.

Good luck!

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  #16  
Old 07-19-2020, 08:38 PM
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Default Trans

Thank You

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Old 07-19-2020, 09:05 PM
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I've not used either but in our area a lot of guys use the Hightower in the SEGA and Southern Outlaw Gasser cars. It is a very strong and reliable transmission, being locally built helps as well.

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  #18  
Old 07-20-2020, 12:36 PM
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Bill Eveland Bill Eveland is offline
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Ive heard alot of guys in sega have switched to the g force which is what i would recommend.

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