Best 5 speed for a SBC

Ive been searching all over the place and have read various people claim one will work, and another guy say its not worth the time to even try. Most of these claims have been on a S10 V8 forum that I have found some good info on. So get your popcorn ready... whats the most cost effective way to put a 5 speed behind a SBC?

Lets minus the late 80s early 90s Z28s, they are hard to come by in my area it seems. And I am also building a 400-450 horse power 383 to power it.

Thanks for the input!

 

Ok! You asked for it!... A Doug Nash 4+1..

 

Because of the power you have stated, my choices would be the tremec tko 500 or 600. I have the older 3550 but it's not rated at the power you have listed. The t5's will not handle any power shifting at that power level.

 

^yeah tremec

 

Richmond 5 speed in my 62 Belair 409

 

I think Richmond Gear bought out the Doug Nash 5-speed and made it their own... I could be wrong...

 

Yes you are right

 

I took the Muncie M21 out and installed a TKO600 in my '56 Del Ray. Had to modify the floor. What a greeeaaatt tranny for getting CRAZY. You'll want 3.50 ring and pinion or numerically higher. 3.73 would be killer!

 

I run a TKO600 behind a mild built 427 in my 64. It's great for the overdrive and the gear spreads are better than the M21 it replaced, but full throttle shifts aren't as good. I hear now there are improvements available, faceplating, etc, but I think if I were to start over I'd probably go with DN/Richmond.

Devin

 

You did say cost effective - so I take that you'll assume a bit of risk? The cost effective route would be a T5 with some G-Force parts in it. The Mustang guys punish them with your kind of HP and get along OK. The better deal - and a bit more initial money - would be the TKO 500 or 600. My prerefence is the TKO with the .82 OD "Road Race" gear set. You get a 2.87 first gear and the shallow .82 OD - great even gear steps without the big gap you get with a .64 OD. Backed by a 3.70 / 3.73 gear it's killer. Plus you get all of the TKO benefits - 8 shifter positions, both mechanical and electric speedo hookups. etc. The only drawback is that as mentioned above - and in the owners manual - they do not like power shifts above 6500. So for a pure drag car, you can do better. But for a street car, they are really hard to beat. But in the end you'll have to draw you own wallet and opinion.

 

I should have mentioned when I said T5 it would need to be a world class model.

 

Just go for broke with a Tremec. You wont regret it.

 

Whats the cost of a TKO500 roughly? I did some searching out there and really havent seen any solid numbers about what they cost.

 

$1999 - $2199 depending on where you buy it. Goggle Forte's Parts Connection in MA. They have good prices and been doing Tremec work from the get go.

Here you go:

http://www.fortesparts.com/

 

TKO600 behind my stroker 383 and it works great.
Lost the clutch at HCPU one year and drove from Chicago back to Dallas with almost no clutch and the TOK laughed the whole way.

 

TKO600 in my BelAir. Great transmission and it will hold up to the motor.

 

I went with a Richmond 6 speed. 3:27 first gear and a .76 sixth gear, the rear end was a 3:42. The only drawback was a lot of shifting around town and gas mileage sucked, but on the freeway, it was great. Oh, it was behind BBC with dual quads in a Biscayne.

 

~~~~~~~ 10-4 on the TKO 600
I have 45K miles on mine with a ZZ-4 Great combo with a 3:73 you need to be over 50 to get into 5th

 

Thanks for all the info. I currently have a nicely built 700r4 that I will use for now and save up for the TKO. I figure do it right the firs time. Looks like itll be another year before I will be banging gears!