I was running a 3 speed with open drive conversion behind the flathead in my A, with 4:11's. Around town, fine. Screaming down the highway, not so fun. After 6 years, this past winter I installed a 5 speed/with modified mustang aftermarket shifter. The torque band with the 5 speed is amazing. I'll never go back to a 3 speed.
Have to say,,this board really confuses me sometimes.. Seen some reply to this,saying yeah,who in other threads have been all up someones **** about "traditional"....seems everything is in flux and constantly rewritten.. anywho,,Can't really compare the 2,,T-5 is designed for driving "now" and since that is what your doing ,,it would seem the way to go..I would think if your just gonna travel local, then a good 3 speed would be fine,,not so much so on the hiway. As for period correct,,well thats a given ,,won't happen with a T5.. as far as "ruin the experience" what actually does that mean ? No one can really answer that for you. Yes there can be pro's and cons offered,,but in the end need your **** in teh seat ,,to really know
Actually one can defend what a traditional hotrod is and recomend a T5, I just did. Kevin Lee and Nosurf are the perfect example of guys toeing the traditional line. It works for them and I will defend their stance all day long. Myself however dig the T5 after putting many miles on one behind a flathead. So what am I doing in my car? A 6 banger and a T4
If you really want to feel like you are in a time machine, then the 3 spd is the only choice. If you are building a period correct a-v8, you have to go with the 3 spd. T-5's are nice but they were not around in 1940. This is just my opinion but if you want to do it right, leave the t-5 for another project.
I'm also of the club that if it's going to be an "around town" type of car, stick with the 3-speed and 3:54 ge****t. If you have any intentions of driving this to long distance events in any type of regularity, go with the T5. My 40 Ford coupe had a stock 3-speed originally w/3:78s out back. It ran fine but the engine was wound up at any kind of speed and I wore it out wuick. So, about 6 years ago I swapped in a 5-speed w/8" 3:50 ge****t rear and the car literally "came to life" on the open road. Shifter position is good and I use an original style shifter welded up to the original T5 unit. Works great and I run 2700 RPM @ 75 MPH. The 32 in my avatar also has a 5-speed but with open drive banjo, 3:54 gears, and a stock looking 3-speed shifter. It's not quite on the road but if it performs half as well as my 40, I will be very happy. Engine life will also be prolonged running lower RPMs at speed.
How do I describe what I'm asking? Basically I don't want the car to feel like a 80's mustang.... I know the two different transmissions will be different to drive. But just how different? will i care? I really want this car to be an experience to drive. I don't want it to be easier to drive or tame or new. I do plan to drive the hell out of it. I do drive hard. I do plan to put miles on it. I need to go for a ride in a real hot rod..... something I've never done..............
So, What about a later four speed Ford box behind a Flattie? Did I read somewhere on here that the mid sixties Fairlane? (full syncro) toploader and similar were a fit without cutting a K member about in a 32 frame? Would that also fit in an AV8? Or does that create the same thing as fitting a T5?
I am not trying to start any uproar or a ******* contest but I am not sure of this experience which you seek. I learned to drive on a non syncro standard and have had the (pleasure?) of driving many since. I know everyone has thier own opinion but I for one can not see the pleasure in shifting endlessly in stop and go traffic, having your leg cramp up and experiencing the herky jerky motion of all that shifting. I guess all this comes from driving truck for the last 30 years and the last thing I want to do at the end of the day is hop in my hot rod and SHIFT MORE GEARS!!! Grrrr! If I would have chosen a different career I would prolly have a different opionion but if you do have to have a stick at least put in something that shifts nice.My buddy here has a 30 Model A sedan with a flatty, 3 speed and a banjo diff, a real cool car but I won't drive it when he offers because I hate that friggin ******! Do what you want it's your car and if the experience is what you crave then don't stop till you find it. I think I would see if you could borrow a buddys car with the 3 speed in it for a weekend, go out in al kinds of driving conditions to really get the feel and then make your decision. Like I said I aint trying to start a war, just do a little reasearch and make sure it's what you reall want. Just my half a cent. Happy Rodding!
If you are going to drive it "hard", you will go through a lot of transmission repairs. The old gears weren't meant for anything over 100 hp. 50 years ago, we were changing transmissions every time we turned around. The first transmissions to stay behind a hot flathead were the Y-block transmissions. By all means, run the old gears if you want to have the "real" experience. Then, when you get tired of repairs, upgrade like we did(and do!)
Well I have driven many t-5 cars, and many early 3 speed cars. Yes the T-5 is nice, but so is power steering, fuel injection, heated seats and remote car starters. I'm currently building a 29 roadster AV8. I went with the 3 speed. It's a 40's hot rod, and it will drive and feel like a 40's hot rod! Why can't you take it on the highway? You guys make it sound like nobody ever drove on the highway before the invention of the T-5. How did they get to Bonneville in 1948? Currently my daily driver is a 28 Model A coupe. It is powered by a mild 4 banger with a stock driveline. It does fine on the highway!!! It's simple, stay in the slow lane at a comfortable 60-65 mph and have fun in your time machine. If I wanted to go 90mph I would take my 94 F-350. It has gps a stereo and power windows also. It is very nice to drive on the highway. I say 3 speed Just my 2 cents...
I think it's an unfair comparison to equate a synchronized first gear to heated seats...apples and oranges If I was building from scratch, I'd put a T5 in every day and twice on Sundays unless I was restoring a historically significant car, or recreating a car...
I fail to see how adding a couple more gears is going to "ruin the experience" - would think anything that makes the car more drivable would make it more enjoyable to drive. What's fun about topping out at 60 in the right lane winding the engine at close to max RPM? I too drove a 4-cyl S10 and it reminded me how much I miss a manual trans in the first place. I wouldn't hesitate to run one in a rod whether I had a flattie or an SBC in it -
I also don't see how an updated transmission is going to affect the driving experience. How much time do you spend shifting? I've got an aluminum 3 speed OD in my 39. Doesn't effect the way the car sounds, rides, handles or looks. And don't compare driving on a highway in 1949 with driving on one now - there is no comparison. Of course if you really want the old experience, then go with the 39 and you can be replacing or repairing the ****** instead of driving it.
Hitchhiker. I've got an early 3 speed behind my flatty and I'll tell you this. If you like to drive it hard, make DAMN sure you build your transmission tight. Correct specifications on things like endplay and gear mesh means you're less likely to break stuff. I learned that the hard way. I didn't baby my transmission the first summer. I do now. I think I'm going to put a T5 in my A coupe eventually, so I can cruise at 80 without worrying about head gaskets, etc... If you want to know what it felt like back then to drive a car, build a 3 speed. If you don't want to be replacing gears every year, get a T5, or keep your 3 spd and drive it with respect.
I guess at this point you should build the car with the 3 spd. I originally built my roadster with a 3 spd. Drove it for for 8 years. Then put the t5 in. It was the best thing I did for that car. Believe me, it won't feel like you're driving a Mustang. I was only driving my AV8 about 3,000 miles a year, once I got OD, I was driving 5-6,000 per year and 9,000 miles in '08. Give the 3 spd a shot, it'll make the t5 that much sweeter.
I have a T-5 behind my rebuild 8BA in '52 Mercury. It's one of the reasons that I love the car. In a car that is slow from the get go it's nice to at least be able to keep up with the p***ing lane on the tru-way. I feel like in a custom I am a little more lenient with the modern advances as I would be with a Hot Rod. I have a aluminum radiator and electric fan. None of that bothers me because it ensures a cool running car and I can run it at 80mph. It also gives me piece of mind behind my first flathead. Now in my '35 I plan on running the '39 Trans behind a '56 265 Chevy engine. I am pretty particular about what I run in that car and I think it's because it's a HOT ROD. I am far more p***ionate about Hot Rods compared to kustoms so I like to have things just the way I want them. The '39 is coupled to a 3.54 Ring & Pinion from a '39 Merc and some 32.5" tall 7.50's out back. I feel like those choices coupled with the High revving 265 will be a good choice in my car and I'll be able to cruise on the thru-way with no problems. I will definitely be proud of the car seeing out there is nothing newer then 1958 on the car and it should drive just fine. My '32 Coupe is a different story. While I would like to have everything perfect, I also know that I want to beat on that car a bit. So I am putting a G Force Built T-5 behind the 331 Hemi in that one. It'll give the right look form in the ****pit but definitely let me act a fool a bit before giving way and breaking. I won't be less proud of that car compared to the '35 just because it's got a modern trans because.... ....if you can't drive it like you want to then what the point? Somethings have to give for us to feel comfortable in a particular car. I would run the 3 speed in the AV8 for a while and then if you are still interested in the T-5 swap it out next winter. SHould only take you a couple weeks of down time.
If real hot rods have three pedals then why not lots of gears? I love the t-5 in my 95 SVT and I am looking at a six speed for my 56 f100. To me shifting up and down to keep an engine in its "sweet spot" is half the fun of driving. Especially on the curvey roads that all the rod runs seem to end up on. Nice day, wind in your face, shifting gears, what could be better? But in the end it is your build and you are the one that needs to be happy. If we all did it the same what would be the point? B
I have two roadster projects for which I'm collecting parts, an RPU and a Niekamp clone. Both will be flathead powered. The RPU will have a T-5 five-speed for driveability. The Niekamp clone will have a 39 3-speed to keep it as close to the original car as possible. It all comes down to what YOU want to do with the car and how close your plan has to fit your idea of traditional.
Build it with the three speed and plan the upgrade to the t-5. Then you will get the experience and can make your decision. You need to experience that "time machine" driving experience! Some folks love it, and others will want to jump into the t-5 immediately. It can always be undone and converted to t-5 later.
Hey Hitchhiker, I have both kinds of ******s. My '36 Ford flathead car has an original 3 speed. Just picked up a '49 Ford sedan with a three speed on the tree. Both of these cars are the stock setup. Now, this time, we did something different with our flathead powered '32 roadster. Just got it on the road and use a T-5 (non WC) with a '39 Ford shifter grafted on. THIS SET UP IS WONDERFUL! Still drives/rides like an old car but the flexability with syncro and two more gears makes a whopping difference! No regrets! I'LL DO IT AGAIN! Eventually I'll get a short throw shift unit to make those long swan neck shifts a little shorter. And by the way - ya got a great avatar!!
I've got a line on one. hopefully the guy calls me back. I think he knows I'm a hot rodder. the question is, will i break it?
I love my old '39 three speed...with my mitchell 36% overdrive! I have a 4:11 in the early rear, run a split torque tube with the overdrive between the rearend and the trans. If I had it to do over again, I would run Cad Lasalle trans, only because I busted a 2nd gear once. I can run around town and its quick, traditional and FUN then get on the freeway and shift into overdrive and cruise at 80 at 2300 rpm!!! And the only thing you see in ****pit is a '39 swan shifter! The overdrive is operated by a T pull handle under the seat in the riser. Just my 2c Keven
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