[bbd564]

I have decided to get rid of the turbo 400 in my 68 427 car and go with a 5 speed. I don't care about an overdrive 5th gear as the car gets very limited use. Given this fact does anyone have any opinions on what to use. I also hope to score used parts to do the swap, which is another consideration. I found the following opionion very interesting.

"IF you are happy with the RPM of your engine NOW cruising at 70 MPH with your current 4 speed transmission, consider an old Doug Nash "street" 5 speed. This is old school with 5TH gear being a 1 to 1 ratio like any Muncie 4 speed and first gear being a very deep 3.27 gear instead of a 2.52 that's in a Muncie wide ratio 4 speed. What this means is that you can run a 2.56 rear-end gear and driving in first gear will "perform" like the car has a 3.73 gear in the rearend. You can also lumber along at 70 MPH at 2000 RPM in 5th gear. You are just accomplishing overdrive backwards from modern/late model 5 speed transmissions.

I suggest this as you can "sneak" up on a GOOD old Doug Nash "steet" 5 speed WITH shifter for $500-$800 if you look hard. You will have to do a "little" fab work on the transmission crossmenber, but it's easy. Your current bellhousing will still work as will your clutch with a "fine spline" clutch disc. You may have to shorten the driveshaft depending on your application.

These transmissions are VERY strong! This 5 speed is STILL sold NEW today under the "Richmond" brand since Richmond bought out Doug Nash. New they are currently over $1,900 plus the cost of a shifter. Two shifters are available, a Hurst and a "Long" brand shifter. The Long brand shifter is the better of the two shifter choices.

This is a cheaper way to go IF "cash is short and time IS long". All the benefits of "modern" 5 speed transmissions at a cheaper price. Spend a little time scrounging for a good USED Doug Nash 5 speed transmission and you will be rewarded. If you find one, MAKE SURE IT IS A STREET 5 SPEED! Doug also made crash box 5 speeds for the drag boys with no synchro's. If a Doug Nash 5 speed has a 2 inch, kinda round bulge/ZIT on the passenger side of the transmission, it is a race 5 speed. Not a good choice for the street. You can alway split open the transmission and look and make sure it has synchronizers. If it has synchros, it's a street 5 speed.

Old School however it works VERY WELL!"

What does everbody think? Thanks for the help.

Bill D


Here's a link to a previous post from where the quote came from:

http://www.camaros.net/forum/ultimat...c/18/1876.html

[JimM]

I think pdq shoulda read this.... sounds like a great idea. But where does a person find this trrans? They were never put in any car from the factory, were they?

[pdq67]

I am and that's why I'm looking for a more plentiful factory 5-speed tranny...

You know, onna them $200 AND I take it out of a wrecked truck sorta deal...

pdq67

[JimM]

ya, I know... such a thing as the nash would suddenly make my 3:08 gears make sense, too.

[Eric Kammerer]

Bill -

Unless you're planning on changing your rear gearing (you have 3.90, right??), I would think that 3.27 first gear would be pretty useless (unless you need a granny/creeper). I would think you'd be screaming that big block and wasting a lot of time shifting.

Of course, there's quite a few folks on here running Tremec's with a 3.27 first, but I'm not certain what rear ratios they are running. Seems to me when I bought my TKO, Mike Forte told me low 3's (3.08 for example) made the most sense with such a steep first, but then you wouldn't use OD much. That's why I ended up with a TKO600 RR, 2.87 first and 0.83 OD, and 3.42 gears with a 27-inch tire.

I've known guys who love the Nash, and I've known guys who hate them. If you could get one cheap, it might be worth a shot.

[bbd564]

Eric: I would plan on running a different gear in the rear if I went to the Doug Nash/Richmond trans. My other choice is an M-21 Muncie that I have sitting in the garage. I would also probably change the 3.90 with this setup to a 410 or 456. I don't drive the car much so cruising is just not an issue. When I do take it out, I want it to go and it probably will go to the track (on a trailer) occasionally. I just prefer shifting the car.

[mjs-13]

Guys,

Just bought another "Doug Nash Street 5 speed" for $250 with shifter. The guy had the transmission forever and never used it so he took my lowball offer.

Nash 5 speeds really are out there if you start looking. Drag racers are the guys to talk to when looking to find a "Nash". They are typically "sitting" in the corner of a guy's garage unused for YEARS!

I run one with a 2.56 rear gear in the rearend. It's great with a 1st gear that performs like the car has a 3.73 in the rearend and a deep overdrive in 5th. Second gear through fourth gear are fine as far as gearing also. Remember that you CAN change the 1st through 4th gear ratio's in a Nash/Richmond if you do not like it. Gears are readily available although expensive through Richmond. Also, 2.56 and 2.73 rearend gears are CHEAP if you want to change out your 3.73's. Good used gears are everywhere for high ratio's for $25 or less.

Nash 5 speed transmission ARE OUT THERE and forgotten by MOST people. Don't make a big deal out of the fact that a NASH is what you REALLY want and you can usually score one CHEAP!

Everyone is either too lazy or not thinking outside the box as WE do here on this board to give my idea much consideration. A "Doug Nash" may not be a $200 "late model 5 speed" transmission that we would all love to find that will bolt in our cars however "I" do not know of ANY 4 OR 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION FOR $200 that's worth a damn even IF it did bolt in to our cars. Let's face it, most late model transmissions are junk as they were too light duty for the crummy late model GM car in which they were originally installed. Truck transmission work very well in trucks, but shift poorly in comparison to passenger car transmissions. Try and buy a $200 Muncie today and IT comes to you in a box needing assembly and parts. I do see a lot of Saginaw 4 speeds for $100 or less. We ALL know how good a transmission Saginaw's are!

[bbd564]

Mike MJS: Well I am listening. I am sold on the Doug Nash/Richmond idea. If I have to change the 390 gears so be it. I am now in the hunt to find a trans and the rest of the stuff to swap out the turbo 400. However, I have not had any luck finding a trans for a reasonable price. Also, I am getting the impression that the old Doug Nash units may have been put together than the current Richmonds?

[66]

were in the World are you finding Doug Nash 5 speeds for $250.?

[mjs-13]

I know, $250, that's REAL cheap! That's why I bought it. Every now and then the blind squirrel finds an acorn.

Most good, used, ready to run Nash 5 speeds I see are in the $700-$800 asking price range including the complete shifter. The one's advertised or asking over $1,000 do not sell here in Tennessee. Maybe elsewhere, but not here!

[ 11-06-2004, 05:13 PM: Message edited by: mjs-13 ]

[bbd564]

I know the deal, when you want something you can't find it. When you don't need it everybody has one for sale. If you stumble over another one let me know. Thanks