Does anyone have experience with the new Richmond 5-sp with overdrive? Cut 4-sp opening to fit shifter? Other tunnel mods? Cross-member move?
Hello, My Dad and I installed this trans in his 51 Mercury - 455 powered. I know its not an 'A' body but I looked it over real good. The Long shifter sits way back from where a Hurst shifter would sit w/ a Muncie. For 'A' body there will be some tunnel clearance issues where it narrows in the rear. It seems the 5 speed dimensions are closer to the Richmond 6 speed. Check out Richmond's website and see if they have posted the specs. The main case could clear the tunnel although tight, but the shifter arms and rods could create clearance problems. I know this doesn't help to much, but I thought it was worth something. BTW, the Richmond seems to be a great trans w/ good gear spreads. Wes
Put one (Richmond 5-speed, but there is no overdrive, just a really low 1st gear, & 1:1 5th gear), in a 66 chevelle. It needed some modification to the crossmember (the mount was too high, so we cut out the mount and lowered the sides of the crossmember), but it may have been an automatic car originally so it depends on your crossmember. Great trans, really fun. The shifter is farther back in the console, so plan accordingly, and we needed to cut the tunnel on the drivers side because the shifter sits out more than a 4 speed on a muncie that was in there before.
Sounds like all the same issues as when I installed my ROD. I hoped that the new 5-sp would make the task easier for a '67 hardtop 4-sp that I'd like to make more pleasant to drive at 70 mph.
I read in Car Craft that the new 5sp overdrive uses the six speed case, but with physically larger/wider/tougher gears so they could rate it at 600 ft/lbs of torque. So the install might be like the older six speed as far as case size, etc.
I've got the new richmond super street 5 speed for my 71 skylark project, I haven't got it installed, its still in the box. I bought it on the assumption that it should be less cutting on the hump than the Tremec? I hope to have it installed in the rolling frame within the next 3 weeks. If this cold weather keeps up it shouldn't be a problem.
Ok heres some pics from tonight, test fit to engine and bellhousing only. Looks like it should fit ok and it appears low on top side so hopefully no or very little hump mods:3gears: ?
This tranny does look very similar to the ROD 6-speed, which moves the shifter location back a bit from the factory position. Is your car an original 4-sp? I'm interested to know if you have to modify the shifter hole through the floor. Great project! Keep me posted. Really liked the pics.:TU:
Thanks for the compliment, I really thought i'd be driving the car by now, but as you can see maybe next summer? The car was an auto on the column, but i have a 72 gs 4 speed car dissasembled so i'll be test lowering that body on the frame, once engine and tranny is installed, so I can see where the shifter ends up coming through and if the hump needs modifying. The body shop that has my 71 body is 120 miles away and they'll soon need to know where to cut the hole and if the shifter hump needs work? I'll post some pics of the body test fit soon, thanks again, Gord
oh ya, i forgot to mention, I do have the original short console from the 72- 4 gear car that I'm hoping to use with tthis set up..
ok i finally have a test fit for the body on the frame with the richmond overdrive 5 speed installed:eek2: . This is a mock up using on an old body i had to bring to the body shop so they can modify the hump on the restored body i have them working on. The shift linkage took up alot of space and the hole for the original 4 speed is about 6 inches back from the original 4 speed location. The top of the tranny was very close to the tunnel and may not have needed to be cut and raised much but if any rockin and rollin where to be taking place there prob would have been contact:3gears: .
Too bad the shifter is going to be that far back although it does fit great as far as the hump goes. Maybe cut the hump and add about 1" to it and that will give it plenty of clearence without even being noticeable. That's what sucks about the TKO. Adjustable shifter mounting allows for stock looking location but you have to hack your tunnel to get the rest of it in there.
racenu thank you very much for sharing this information and pics. I cant wait to watch this progress even further. Looks like the Richmond is a nice package for a A-body swap.
How are you connecting the speedo cable? I ended up buying a 90deg adapter with a ratio increase to help with the right speedo calibration for a 2.73 12 bolt. The Richmond folks recommended this adapter, but it was years ago and I didn't keep record of the vendor. With this adapter, I was able to use the stock cable. It wouldn't have been long enough without the adapter.
Well Boe, Good point...I hadn't thought of the speedo cable thing (yet)o No: , gps instead of speedo???? I'm probably about 4-5 months away from that bridge, but never too soon to be thinking ahead.... This maybe a good reason to go to SEMA and look for something, I'll tell the wife ASAP:laugh:
That looks awesome!!! My car is has a bench seat. With the M-20 and Hurst Comp plus shifter it is close to the seat when in 2nd and 4th. I'm guessing this swap is not do-able for us bench seat owners? o No:
This was a bench car column shift, but will be buckets, the shop built this so I can still use and mount the factory short console. I'll keep you guys posted as the project progresses. thanks for looking. Gord
Hey Gord! Any NEW, UPDATED JUST RELEASED pix you'd like to share with us??o No: ??? Wheelz, :bglasses: Tampa Bay
