[Antalamo]

I'm taking some flak from my other car buddies about not going with a 5 speed while building my rolling chassis. My original plan is to go with my freshly rebuilt Muncie M-20. With the new rear gear at 3:42 and 15" wheels the engine will be winding at 2800-3000 on the highway.

With funds in questions to spring for a new Tremac or McLeod 5 spd, what is the trans option on an earlier 5 spd. I believe Camaros and a few others had a light duty 5 spd. I will be putting 400 hp through the drive train so I have to consider that issue. I'm looking for an easy bolt in from an earlier 5 spd.

What's my options....?

 

[Steve R]

Who cares what your buddies think, they won't be driving it, you will. If you can tolerate the rpm you will be turning at highway speed then run the Muncie.

As for your question, if you can find a Richmond or Doug Nash 5 speed that will be your easiest and cheapest heavy duty 5 speed. Unfortunately, most are not overdrive.

Steve R

 

[al1950]

i kept my m20 and love it, i have a 3:31 diff
i did put larger taller tires on rear, that helped a lot
i can do freeway 75mph at just under 3000 rpm
down from about 3400rpms with the normal 15s.
my car has 15 inch rally wheels

 

[69-CHVL]

If you drive the car at all, especially any highway the 4 spd will get old fast. If you don't drive a whole lot or just back roads/around town, I think you'll tolerate the 4 spd.

 

[Aaron]

I think you have a nice combo.

If you run a 3:42 gear and or 3:55 gear with a 27" to 28" rear tire, you will have a 2500 to 3000 rpm cruise at 60 mph. I had a powerglide with a 3:08 and it cruised at about the same. I dont know why that was, but I thought I would mention that.

If you tune your engine with a good timing curve and or lock it out and use manifold vacuum you will basically eliminate low speed bucking at around 10 to 15 mph. Like 36* of lock out timing with say 12* of vacuum at cruise.

The milder the cam the better to get that 400 horse. If it is rowdy you still will have to tune, tune, and tune to get where you need to be.

That is only concern I see there.

If you want the rpms down even more at high speed cruise, just make sure the cruise rpm is still within the powerband of the cam and the cam does not start to lope at cruise.

You do have a choice of overdrive with what you have already said or another transmission, or maybe a gear vendor unit.

If you just drive the car on Saturday and Sunday, I dont see the extra money spent on that overdrive.

 

[Andy's Auto Repair]

Save your money and get the Tremec. A T5 out of a 92 Camaro would work, as long as you drive like a 90 year old woman.

 

[Auto Gear]

Go with an M22Z (2.98 1st) gearset; and change your axle gears to 3.08s. Re-use a lot of your cars current parts; and have O/D cruise-ability in a compact package. Also remember OD manuals can be a little noisy in 5th/6th depending on design.

Id pick M22Z and axle change OR the Legend 5spd out of the crop (if you give in to peer pressure and MUST have OD). You MAY find that the current available OD ratios are too severe of a drop to pair with your current axle ratio; something that you should verify.

 

[[email protected]]

I would recommend taking a look at something like a new TKO instead of an older light duty 5-speed. If you are making 400hp, you run the possibility of breaking something like an old T-5. If you can budget for it, a Tremec TKO that can handle 500ft/lbs or more is always going to be a safer bet.

What size are your rear tires? What are you planning on doing with the vehicle? HDC offers three different TKO transmission options for the '64 Chevelle with different 1st gear and overdrive ratios depending on what you are trying to achieve.

If you’re interested in, or have any questions about what it would take to run a TKO 5-speed, give us a call at 707-535-3030. We would be happy to go over all of your options and help you find the right parts for your swap.

 

[Tom Mobley]

jeeze, seems like every post is turning into a vendor parts for sale ad.