Richmond 5 speed input requested

[wheelz]

Guys..I have always been more of a "purist" type resto guy, but I am stepping out here... I am buying a NEW Richmond 5 speed and I have a few concerns. I know I am prolly asking questions that have been answered time and time again, and hate to be a bother, but I really need some advice. I am looking for some economic fuel relief (if thats even possible!) for my 70 4 speed GS"X" clone...I have a freshened up, pretty much stock, with exception of a hemi-killer cam and headers, 70Stage 1 ready to back up to this tranny. I have installed a 70 Ch_ _y 12 bolt posi, 3:08. As I have done some homework by reading up as much as I can, :Comp: this should be a pretty good gear combo, right? Also, I had always THOUGHT I wanted an overdrive tranny but the seller has explained to me that the 1:1 final with the 3:08, will actually be like a final ratio of around 2:73 or so. I HAD thought a 1:1 final was a 1:1 whatever the tranny used...?? Am I wrong to assume this? I am looking for intelligent feedback on the tranny and this combo. ThanX in advance guys. Your help and input, as always, is sincerely appreciated! :beer Wheelz, Tampa Bay

[BUICK528]

1 to 1 is 1 to 1 on any calculator..

[wheelz]

makes you go hmmmmm. ThanX Jim. :grin: Wheelz, Tampa Bay

[racenu]

Richmond is making an overdrive 5 speed, but only for about a year now. The casing cast says "5 speed overdrive"

[wheelz]

ThanX Guys! I have sent a direct email to Richmond Technical support and hopefully, someone will get back to me SOON so I can make a decision and send Brent his :dollar: :TU: Wheelz, Tampa Bay

[jdk971]

wheelz i think the idea is using a 300 or lower NUMBER rear gear. the 1st gears in the richmond are 3 to 4 meaning they make the 300 or lower like 3.90 or 4.11 or even 4.56
then the 1 to 1 backs down to 3.03 or 2.73 of course i could be totally out of
my head. good luck jim

[wkillgs]

Wheelz, the advantage to the 5 speed you are considering is the extra-low first gear...
with 3.27 first gear and 3.08 rear, the overall ratio from engine to tires is 3.27 x 3.08= 10.07.
If you had a Muncie M-20 4-speed with a first gear of 2.52, you would need a rear ratio of: 10.07/2.52= 4.0 for the same first-gear overall ratio.

Sooooo....in effect you would have a combo that performs like a 4 speed with a 2.52 first gear, a 4.0 rear ratio.....AND an additional overdrive gear ratio of 0.77.

[wheelz]

wow Walt...my head is spinning now. :rolleyes: Am I to understand that the 1:1 final ratio of this new Richmond 5 speed SHOULD ACTUALLY be .77:1 with the rear gear 3:08 I now have? :Smarty: This is new territory to me and I feel totally ignorant about all of it.. :spank: Wheelz, Tampa Bay

[Brent]

The final gear in the richmond is 1:1. It has a Lower first gear and the idea is to run a tall rear gear like 2.73. So your final drive would be 2.73 but it would take off like a muncie with 3.73 or lower. Hope this helps.
Thanks
Brent

[436'd Skylark]

yeah 1st gear is really low to compensate for 2.73s, and 5th is 1:1.

[BadBrad]

The final gear in the richmond is 1:1. It has a Lower first gear and the idea is to run a tall rear gear like 2.73. So your final drive would be 2.73 but it would take off like a muncie with 3.73 or lower. Hope this helps.
Thanks
Brent

This is very much like the setup in my car with the Super T-10. 3.44 first gear with a 2.73 rear end. Goes like a bat out a hell in first and cruises the freeway at 2000 rpm. Only possible trouble is the substantial rpm drop between gears - a five speed cures some or most of that problem. Regardless, Buick torque doesn't mind the rpm drop like a SBC might.

The other issue - a ring and pinion can take a beating much better than those little cogs in a tranny. And the higher numerically the tranny gears, the less torque they can withstand.

[jdk971]

let me try to make it easy
muncie with a 4.11 quick off line and terrible freeway
rich 5 speed. quick off line because of the 1 st thru 4 gears make a 2.73 rear
act like a 4.11. then the fifth is 1 to 1 like the muncie and great freeway driving because of the 2.73. God i hope this makes sense.

some one above said something about the rear being strong. that may be the
week link. taking off with the richmond would be like taking off with a 4.11 or maybe a 4.56. you need a strong ass end.

good luck to all jim

[wheelz]

ok. Ok..OK..its all starting to click now.:Brow: .I think I'm catching on finally. My 3:08 is borderline already. I might be better off with a 2:73 or so. IF I can make any of this deal work, I may just have a newer set of Chevy 12 bolt Richmond 3:08 gears available soon. We'll see. THANX to all you edjumacator experts out there for taking the time to learn me about all this new stuff! :cool: I appreciate the input! :laugh: Wheelz, Tampa Bay

[Clark Metzger]

I put this transmission in a 72 vette with base 350 and 3.36 rearend. Bolts up easily, but it's bulkier than the Muncie, and exhaust pipe on shifter side had to be modified--probably won't be a problem in the Buick. Go with nothing numerically higher 2.73. Also,this transmission is extremely stiff shifting when cold, worse in colder weather. The cure is to run ATF rather than gear lube. I know that sounds crazy, but it works and lots of people are doing it without problems. I put 50,000 miles on the car without any noticable deterioration in transmission performance, and it shifts much easier with ATF. Good luck

[wheelz]

Brent and everyone else whom have commented and encouraged..THANQ! I appreciate all the input but I am not 100% sold on the idea of having to perform floor hump re-working plus manufacturing a shifter to work with a factory console, without relocating the console, etc. I am sorry I took so much time to decide, but I have a deep, thorough thought process before jumping into something I am unsure of... I have also noticed that original 4 speed cars sell better than those converted to other trannys. I think I can better spend $2000 on things I need to do to keep this car pretty much "original 4 speed" stock, so I think I'll leave it up to the new owner to convert it to a 5 speed if he/she so desires. I will pass on this deal. I appologize to you Brent...I really hope I havent caused hard feelings and want to THANK YOU for all your time. SOMEONE will buy your tranny and will receive one heckova deal! Good Luck. Wheelz, Tampa Bay