65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
General Discussion => How To's => Topic started by: WkillGS on September 06, 2008, 07:21:12 PM
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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!
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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
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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.
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff123/retlaw66/66%20Resto/2009_03_24013.jpg)
P.S. The engine is SUPPOSED to be red! It's a 66! ;D
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Very nice, Walt. Do you have any pictures of the other side of the engine with the transmission mounted ?
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P.S. The engine is SUPPOSED to be red! It's a 66! ;D
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I knew that ;D
Loren
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Drool. I like the way you ran the plug wires. Clean.
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Sure! here's the other side.
Ted...but now I wish I had bought the red wire set. ;D
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff123/retlaw66/66%20Resto/2009_3_20_012crop.jpg)
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Come on!! Go get the red wires and cut it out allreadt.
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Looks very good!
Loren
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Thanks Walt. That is really sweet. Just needs a set of red plug wires ::)
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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????
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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....
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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.....
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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
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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
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Damn that thing looks amazing!!!
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Update:
Finally fired it up in July and did the 30 break-in run. It's been out in the driveway a few times, but not on the road yet.
Everything from the dashboard forward on the car has been redone, or is in process.
Still doing all the detail items. Geeze it takes a lot of time! I must have spent 2 days restoring the headlight assemblies! (but boy, do they look nice)....I sure could use Erin's help...she likes red '66's right? :icon_biggrin:
Today I aligned the front fenders, then prepped and painted the underside of the hood. Hood will go on this week. Also hope to repaint the grille and h.l. trim this week. Almost road-ready! :hello2:
Anyway, here are some pics:
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I'm so jelous bro!!! :angryfire:
Looks amazing!!! :love4:
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Walt
What radiator did you put in your 66? It looks aluminum
Tom
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Yes, it's a Griffin #26242-X. Avail from Summit for $180:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRI-1-26242-X/
This one has 1" wide tubes.
It fits great! Only drawback is it does not have a drain or a built-in automatic trans fluid cooler. I haven't driven the car yet, so I can't comment on its cooling performance. But it did keep the fresh Nail cool for the 30 min break-in run.
There is a thicker version avail with 1-1/4" tubes. It's pn 56242 for $270.
Here are some pics:
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Finally got her out on the road for the first drive!
Drives real nice with the rebuilt front end, fast-ratio power steering, power discs and 1-1/4" front swaybar.
Fresh 401 runs real sweet. Took me a few days to confirm the secondaries of the Q-jet were not opening. Fixed that today, and she runs much better. :icon_biggrin:
Richmond 5 speed is still a little stiff, but much quieter than the one in my Special. weird.
Still has the 2.93 rear, which works well with the 3.26 first gear of the Richmond. The 1:1 fifth gear is used for 50 mph up.
Still have some items to attend to (can you spot them?), but here are some pics:
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Walt. I`m thinking of getting a rad like this only the thicker one. I`m sure it will fit the same in my 65 GS as your 66? Looks like I will have to change my lower rad hose as this rad has an angle on the outlet. What rad hose did you use? My car is a 4 speed so no problem with transmission cooler.
John
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John, For the lower hose, I went to the auto parts store and matched one up. I don't know the original application. It should have different sized ends for best fit: 1-5/8" on the engine side and 1-3/4" for the rad end.
I do remember there was a Jeep hose that should have fit, but it was out of stock. I'll try to find more info on the hose I did buy.
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Would this be the lower hose you used? From a 89 Jeep wrangler
With the Griffen Radiator:
ACDELCO 22036M - Molded; 1-1/2" x 1-3/4" x 15 11/16"
GATES 20559
End 1 Inside Diameter 1.5 In.
End 2 Inside Diameter 1.75 in.
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Very nice Walt!