Affordable 5 or 6 speed transmissions?

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evans68cuda

evans68cuda

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I just put my motor and trans back into my car, only to find out it will not shift into 3rd/4th while sitting in the garage( havnt tried shifting while driving but doesnt sound like a good idea) I am thinking that since i have not yet ordered the 4 speed tunnel and i would like to drive this thing on the highway with my 3.91s, I should maybe consider a 5 or 6 speed swap. I know t56s are pretty pricey but lets hear some numbers for the conversion!
 
This is my list so far. I included a few new items that you may be able to recondition (flywheel), so you may not need a couple of these things, but most of it you need. And not included is the tunnel and crossmember fabrication that you'll have to do, which is pretty extensive. Don't have a driveshaft on there yet either. The prices may not be up to date, it's from the list I have going for my T56 conversion and I bought most of it a year or two ago.

T56 Swap List:

American powertrain T56 Magnum TUET-11009: 3,050 (+$109 freight)
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/awr-tuet11009/overview/

Quicktime Bellhousing #8074: 684.95
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/qti-rm-8074

Dorman clutch slave cylinder #cs360050: 107.97
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dhb-cs360050

Wilwood 7/8” master cylinder #260-3376: 69.93
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wil-260-3376

Hydraulic clutch line FBPA0039-36 14.97
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aer-fbpa0039-36

Russell Clutch Adapter Fittings -3AN 640281: 21.97
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rus-640281

McLeod 130-tooth flywheel #464102 313.36
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcl-464102

McLeod B&B pressure plate #360153 193.01
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcl-360153

McLeod 26-spline clutch disk #260570: 216.32
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcl-260570/overview/

McLeod pressure plate bolts #1500 26.97
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcl-1500

Ford Racing Transmission Yokes M-4841-A: 71.97
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-4841-a/overview/

RAM Slave Cylinder Spacers 78511 77.97
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ram-78511

Prothane Transmission mount 41.99
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ptp-6-1608-bl

Neutral Safety Switch Connector 7.83
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rfw-pg-097

Reverse Lockout Connector 7.83
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rfw-pg-098

Hurst Speedometer Cable with gear M-243-69-RED 95.00
http://www.hurst-drivelines.com/

Hurst Mopar roller pilot bearing for Tremec 3562-1010 90.00
http://www.hurst-drivelines.com

Synchromesh Transmission fluid #88900333 17.97x4
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-88900333

Total: 5,273
 
man, its always the little things that add up. I was hoping there would be a way I could get away with using my clutch linkage and maybe even the bellhousing, must be dreaming.
 
68cuder said:
man, its always the little things that add up. I was hoping there would be a way I could get away with using my clutch linkage and maybe even the bellhousing, must be dreaming.
Click to expand...

Yup, dreaming. The input shaft lengths aren't the same. And the quicktime bells are all for hydraulic throwout's. In fact even the Viper T56's have hydraulic throwout bearings, even if you figured out a way to adapt over a V10 bell. Using the Viper slave and throwout is by far the cheapest option too, if you look at some of the other hydraulic set ups they're $400 by themselves.

The 5 speeds are less cutting and fabrication, but parts-wise they aren't all that much cheaper if you're buying new.

Chained_360 said:
American powertrain sells a 5 or 6 speed Tremec conversion kit for $1300 minus the transmission. With a transmission, it looks like its around $3800-4800, not including flywheel, clutch, etc.

1967-76 A-Body MOPAR Pro-Fit 5-speed Kit
Click to expand...

The 5 speed kit is 1,365 without the transmission. There's no price listed for the A-body T56 "kit", with or without the transmission. I seriously doubt even without the trans that the kit would be in the $1,300 range though, because the 5 speed can use mechanical clutch linkage. The T56 can't. And the american powertrain hydraulics cost a fortune.

Trust me, I'm a pretty cheap bastard. Outside of a flywheel resurface and the use of a brand new T56, most of the parts I listed with mine are the "cheap" way to do things. Mechanical speedo, viper hydraulics, etc. There are definitely more expensive ways to do it. Cheaper ways too, but you'd have to source used or reconditioned parts.
 
The 4 speed OD is the cheapest way to go, but has a big RPM drop between the gears. I have 3.91's with a Tremec 5 speed. The gear spacing is fine and the 0.64 overdrive let's you cruise at 80 all day. The Passon 855 is the easiest to install, just a direct bolt in. The six speed is heavier and should have more parasitic loss. Anybody on here with a T56 in an A body?
 
i went from a 3spd to one of Jamie's 4spds...his wait was too long for the 5spd...but i wish i paid the extra for the 5. I love driving to different shows...good luck!
 
I ran an 833 O. D behind a stout 340 with 4.10s and it worked great.
Ran the 1/4 at 12.9 using first 3 gears and OD for hwy cruising.
Our cars are so light and have so much torque that a 5sp is not really needed for daily driving. If you are roadracing and need to stay in the powerband at alltimes it would be a different thing.

IMO.....
 
I did the Hurst Conversion TKO 600 kit. I called and nixed things I didn't need like a clutch (just buy a 26 spline disk), hydro system, throw out arm (you do need the bearing) flywheel, etc. My stock 4 speed to 8-3/4 drive shaft works, just bought a 1330/7290 u-joint conversion. Its all in, buttoning up the tunnel now......slowly. Great kit, sales was helpful and I got what I needed.
 
First of all, you need to drive it and see what happens.

Second, the 833 is pretty simple. With a few simple hand tools and some patience you can rebuild it yourself for very little money. There can be very little wrong. Parts are still available from several sources.
If you were closer to me, I'd tell you to bring it over and help you. It's that simple.
 
68cuder said:
never heard of the Passon 855, sounds cool! I just did a search on it,looks to be about $4000, ouch.
Click to expand...

I think the price is actually $5275 these days for an A855 and who knows what lead time is......would require a call to Jamie.
 
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I was running my a833 and rebuilt one. Turns out the gears were worn too much and I started calculating price.
I ended up going with passon hemi 4 speed overdrive assembled by Jamie himself for a little over 3 grand.
I swapped the 3.55 gears and put in 4.30 and cruise around like I have 3.55 but 1-3 is all 4.30 and it's neck snapping. Settle it down on highway in 4th and cruise along like everyone else.

I debated the t56 and finding a cheap way but decided I didn't want to get back into cutting the floor out again.
 
I agree with yellow rose drive it!
Many times trying to shift it a a standstill, the clutching teeth end up offset and the slider will not go over. Or a brass ring will lock on and then perhaps nothing inside can rotate until you un-lock it, by letting out the clutch in whatever gear you can get, and letting the engine break free the sticky brass.
You need to drive it.
A really nice combo I have found is this one; 3.09-1.91-1.39-1.00-.78od and use it with 3.55s. This will get you a 10.97 starter gear and a 2.77 cruiser gear. Plus the Gvod can be used as a splitter for some additional ratios.
 
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Cool thanks guys, When I turn the motor over, sometimes 3rd will bind up too. Once I get my Headers back, I'll sit and let it run. I just don't want to out the driveshaft, speedo cable, and fluid in, only to find out I need to drain it again and take it all back out. Right now there's no fluid, if that makes a difference
 
If your wanting to swap to 5/6 for mileage reasons you'll probably never recoup your money.

I'm just gonna do what my uncle use to do swap in hwy gears for long trips and stick with the 3.91/4.10 for the rest of the year.
 
Bringing this thread back up with a question. Can the stock 440 flywheel be used with the Quicktime bell and the T56?
 
I could have sworn there was a gentleman who made the manual clutch linkage work with a quicktime bell...he fabricated a ball pivot plate that bolted on the quicktime bell...

Fastback340 I think was his name?
 
Greg55_99 said:
Bringing this thread back up with a question. Can the stock 440 flywheel be used with the Quicktime bell and the T56?
Click to expand...

If it’s a 130 tooth.

mopardude318 said:
I could have sworn there was a gentleman who made the manual clutch linkage work with a quicktime bell...he fabricated a ball pivot plate that bolted on the quicktime bell...

Fastback340 I think was his name?
Click to expand...

Depends on the transmission. For the TKO’s there’s mechanical linkage options for the QuickTime bells. For the T56, there isn’t even a hole in the bell for a clutch fork on any of the Mopar applications.
 
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