has anyone done this?
i've been looking at it pretty hard. if i could sell my richmond 4 speed to help cover the cost, i would love to jump on it. would like to hear from people that have one and how they like it.
i want to keep my console so if you've installed one with a console, let me know. does this go in with no mods?
right now i have a Richmond t10 4-speed transmission (26 spline)
Lakewood bellhousing (#15000)
borg warner 11" clutch assemb. (#90144)
11" flywheel
Hurst super comp shifter (#3738609/3917438)
seems like everything should just mate right up.
can i still use the same shifter?
what was the finally cost with everything? and where did you get it?
i have 3.07 gears and was thinking about keeping them with this. with my 2.64 1st gear now vs. the 3.27 on the tko, they should act like a 3.80 rear and with the .68 o/d i should do 2000 rpm at 70 mph instead of the 3000 rpm now.


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To see a pic of my car, click here... pages.prodigy.net/mtbmtb/rf396ss.jpg (http://pages.prodigy.net/mtbmtb/rf396ss.jpg)

Mike,
A friend of mine tried to do it. He finally gave up when Dark Horse out of Oregon or Washington? Sent him a trans with a shortened input shaft that was too short on splines to be reliable. There is another vendor on the east coast that moves the shifter to a better position and may know how to modify the trans to fit a chevy properly. It won't fit your console without the shifter relocation mod. Also there are a couple of versions of that trans, one is a little stronger.

The ford trans needs the input shaft shortened to fit the chevy. They trimmed it too short so a longer pilot brg had to be made. And then they trimmed the splines too much. There was only about a half inch of splines contacting the clutch disc. He sent it back and we swapped in a Richmond 4+1 street five speed. It gives 4.10 ratio performance in the first four gears. It is 1:1 in 5th so you would have the 3.08 high gear. We had to move the hurst shifter forward and down by making a new trans adapter plate. And offset the stick about an inch forward and to the right to get it to come out of the console correctly.

You would have to slide your crossmember back a couple of inches too. We used a turbo 400 crossmember and cut the mount off it. We drilled holes in it for the trans mount. His 69 Z/28 was slightly different rearward spacing compared to my 67 for some reason. I have photos of all mods. The tranny is the same length overall, so you won't have to mod the driveshaft. It uses a turbo 400 yoke and 26 spline clutch.

Did this in my 70. Shifter is about two inches or so back. Worked ok in the 70. There are two ways of conversion. Fortes is the official dealer and they use a completely different front shaft. Others machine the shaft and it takes some doing to match up the clutch and throwout bearing. Very good swap when finished. Slick gearbox with good ratios. Not cheap, but probably worth the money since it will last forever.

Mike,

Since you have the 4-speed already putting in the GM Tremec will be very easy. Forte's (781-647-1530 or check out his website) has everything you need. There are two versions of the Tremec, the 3550 and the TKO. From the Transmission Technologies Corporation website (www.ttcautomotive.com) you can download a service manual that covers both of these transmissions. It even lists the differences. There are are four major differences: 1) The TKO input shaft is upgraded to 26 splines, 2) the TKO output shaft is upgraded from 28 to 31 splines, 3) the TKO output housing has a larger output shaft seal bore to accept the larger OD 31 spline shaft, and 4)the TKO has a short throw shifter. Forte's makes a new 26 spline GM shaft, and the adjustable shifter Forte's sells is a reworked Hurst unit that is modified to fit in the stock tunnel/console location. What it all boils down to is that the only major difference for transplanting a Forte's 3550 vs a TKO is the output shaft size. There are no differences in the internal gears, bearings, or components. Mike Forte has a '68 with a 3550 that is his road race car that happens to run high 11's in the 1/4 mile. He has run it since 1992 with no problems. Even our arch-enemy Mustangs run in the 10's with a 3550. Forte's also sells a cross member that will bolt in the original frame holes for $125. He can supply a 2 1/2" driveshaft for $189. I have seen one installed in a '68 no console car and it is really nice. Next month and this (the 3550) will be going into my '68.

Carl; Looked over the TTC web site and could not find the manuals to download. How about taking a look and see if you can steer me in the right direction. Like to have some of this info if possible.

Would you like to sell that t-10? Or do you know anyone that has one or a m-22 they would like to sell, I bad want to convert my auto to 4-speed? If you know something, please let me know.

tom3, you can view or download the TREMEC TR3550 and TKO Transmission Service Manual at <A HREF="http://www.fortesparts.com/ (http://www.fortesparts.com/)" TARGET=_blank>http://www.fortesparts.com/[/URL]</A>
Robby Miller, i sent you an email about buying my t-10 4 speed. your right next door so shipping my not be as high as stated in the email.


[This message has been edited by mike brown (edited 02-13-2000).]

The March 2000 issue of Kit Car Magazine has a story on transmissions. It shows the tremec 3550 rated at 350 ft lbs, the 3550 TKO has more shifter positions 3, and is rated at 375 ft lbs.
The Richmond 4+1 is rated at 450 ft lbs. A note on the 31 spline output shaft. The yoke is really a 32spline with one spline removed for indexing.

disadvantage of the Richmond 4 + 1 is that while it is stronger, it has no o/d. true it has a std. 1st gear ratio of 3.27 (same as the tremec) with $200 optional 4.06 and 4.41 1st's, but the final 5th gear ratio is only a 1:1 while the tremec offers the .68 o/d i'm looking for. i run 3000 rpm at a shade above 70 mph with my 3.07 (3.23 with my 235r15 tires) and if i went with the tremec my 1st gear ratio would be like a 3.80 rear end (4.00 with my tires) and still give me 2000 rpm at 70 mph in o/d.