Author Topic: Richmond 5 speed Install  (Read 10805 times)

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Offline WkillGS

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Richmond 5 speed Install
« on: September 06, 2008, 07:21:12 PM »
I recently swapped a Richmond 5 speed into my '66 Special. It was a fairly easy swap, requiring little modification.
This is not the new overdrive 5 speed that was just released, but the Street 5 Speed trans that has been avail for many years. It features a 1:1 5th gear, and a 3.28 first gear. It works great with the stock 2.78 rear axle gears and 300 engine, and would work well with 2.41 or 2.56 gears behind the extra torque of a Nailhead.
The floor did not require any modification, but the shifter hump did need to be massaged to clear the Hurst shifter. The stock crossmember and mount was used. The crossmember did need to be moved back slightly. On my non-boxed Special frame, I was able to use one existing hole, and only had to drill one more hole at the far end. GS and convert frames might need the crossmember mount extended.

I liked the swap so much, I bought another 5 spd trans to install into one of my '66 GS's! I hope to have that one on the road this fall. Should be fun!
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline wildcat65

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2008, 02:26:04 PM »
Hmm, I could put a 2.78 rear into the grey car, use the Richmond...
all possible w/time and $, both of which are scarce today.
Ted
Ted Nagel         65 Skylark GS 4-speed + Wildcats + GS's

Offline WkillGS

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2009, 11:36:26 AM »
I'm back on this project, trying to get it on the road by May 2nd! :P
Here's the rebuilt 401 with the 5 speed.
The Richmond trans needed some additional mods to work with the Nailhead bellhousing and clutch setup.... The input shaft retainer had to be turned down slightly to fit the original throw-out bearing. Then I tried to install it and discovered the OD of the flange had to be turned down to fit into the Nailhead bell. It was an easy process for the local machine shop to do for me, it just took me two trips.
The Richmond input shaft is slightly shorter than the original, but that does not appear to be a problem. I guess I'll find out soon enough!

It's now in the car. I'm still finalizing crossmember mounting and shifter placement. The Long shifter does sit further back than the original. It just fits in the stock floor cutout, but doesn't fit the stock floor hump. I may try a Hurst shifter to see if it fits better.


P.S. The engine is SUPPOSED to be red! It's a 66! ;D
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline dsags

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2009, 11:50:23 AM »
Very nice, Walt. Do you have any pictures of the other side of the engine with the transmission mounted ?
1965 Special Convertible, L33 LS, 4L60

Offline Loren At 65GS

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2009, 03:37:56 PM »
[

P.S. The engine is SUPPOSED to be red! It's a 66! ;D
[/quote]

I knew that ;D

Loren
65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
 70 GS 455 htp / original engine
 94 Roadmaster wagon
 96 Roadmaster wagon- parts car
 63 Riviera

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Offline wildcat65

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #5 on: March 29, 2009, 05:12:25 PM »
Drool.  I like the way you ran the plug wires.  Clean. 
Ted Nagel         65 Skylark GS 4-speed + Wildcats + GS's

Offline WkillGS

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2009, 08:59:31 PM »
Sure! here's the other side.
Ted...but now I wish I had bought the red wire set.  ;D
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline Joe65SkylarkGS

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2009, 09:14:02 PM »
Come on!! Go get the red wires and cut it out allreadt.
Going Fast with Class
GSCA # 3741
1965 GS 4 Speed Hard Top (Under Construction)
1965 Skylark 462, 12.21@109.8
1964 Special FireBall V6, 3 on the tree 4 Sale
1987 Grand National
1987 SS Monte T-Tops 4 sale
1995 Slammed Asstro
17 in Boyd Coddington
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Offline Loren At 65GS

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2009, 06:20:41 PM »
Looks very good!

Loren
65 GS hardtop BCA Senior
 65 GS thin pillar coupe
 65 Skylark coupe v-6
 65 GS hardtop restoration project
 65 Sport Wagon
 70 GS 455 htp / original engine
 94 Roadmaster wagon
 96 Roadmaster wagon- parts car
 63 Riviera

 BCA 14371
 BCA 65 Gran Sport Division

Offline dsags

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #9 on: March 30, 2009, 07:41:08 PM »
Thanks Walt. That is really sweet. Just needs a set of red plug wires  ::)
1965 Special Convertible, L33 LS, 4L60

Offline telriv

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2009, 06:07:41 PM »
And a "NailHead Mini-Starter"!!!!!  I've had my plug wires run like this for the past 25-30 years. Makes for a much cleaner, uncluttered look. I use Taylor Spiro wires & make the lengths up myself. I even have little number tags I used from old M/Benz plug wires to identify each cylinder. This one the engine that will get the "Rockers" Walt????
Classic & Muscle Automotive
C/O Tom Telesco
12 Cook St.
Norwalk, Ct. 06853-1601
Daytime phone:
203-324-6045
No answer: leave message, will call back
E-Mail: telriv@yahoo.com

Offline WkillGS

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2009, 07:52:10 PM »
Your rockers are already IN there Tom! Along with a NH400 cam.
Yes it was your comment about the wires on my blue 66 that swayed me to put the angled boots on this build. Definally a much cleaner look...but not stock :-\
This one is getting a Q-jet carb, original chrome air cleaner, and aluminum valve covers.
Been taking a break from working on the GS to do some overdue yard work.

As for the 5 speed install, the Long shifter sits further back than stock by an inch or two. Fits the original floor cutout, but not the original 4 speed floor hump. (good thing there are repos :D)
The trans crossmember mounts further back too. I'm modifying a non-GS crossmember to fit. Don't want to hurt the original.
I lucked out on the driveshaft big time....I jut happened to have one from a 71 LeSabre (or was it an Electra) that fit perfectly. ;D who woulda thunk....
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline WkillGS

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2009, 10:20:31 PM »
It's been tough to find time to work on my ole cars, but I finally fired up the rebuilt Nailhead last weekend for the break-in run!
It ran pretty nice. Ran at under 180* the whole time with the Griffen aluminum radiator and 7 blade fan, and didn't develop any funny noises, so I'd say it was a success!
Bled the brakes tonight. Maybe I'll drive it out of the garage this week for the first time in ....5 years?
Biggest job still to do is to sandblast and paint the inner fenders and radiator support.

It's a sweet car.... Red 66 GS from California (1996).....Erin, that sweet red-head in the other thread, would love it!
More pics soon.....
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline Chris

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2009, 09:01:15 AM »
I received a call the other night from Roger Sears.

For those who don't know Roger, he has one of the nicest slightly modified 65's that I've ever seen.  The car is black and is LASER straight!

Roger doesn't get on the computer (I'm trying to talk him into it) but he drives his car everywhere.  Every year that I can remember he's made the trip from Minneapolis to Bowling Green KY for the Nats.... and it's driven every time.

Ok... I'll cut to the chase.. Roger told me that he just installed a Tremec 6 speed manual tranny in his car and he said that it went in like butter!

The whole conversion I think only set him back $3,500 (expensive yes.. but worth every cent) and everything lined up exactly like it was supposed to.

I gave him Dan A. phone number because I'd remembered that Dan was thinking of going this route himself and maybe Dan has some more information he'd like to share.

Sounds like a really trick conversion that would actually probably pay for itself in fuel alone if you drive a lot.

Chris
-= A Howitzer with Windshield Wipers =-

 1965 GS Coupe
 1983 Porsche 911 SC
 2000 Porsche 911
 2011 Lamborghini LP550-2

Offline dsags

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Re: Richmond 5 speed Install
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2009, 07:09:27 PM »
Roger's is one of the straightest cars around. Plus his work is darn near perfection. The installation of his after market A/C is a thing of beauty.

Dan
1965 Special Convertible, L33 LS, 4L60