Question for Dave Pozzi

[mikes69z]

Hi again Dave,

I was looking at your website and digesting the Richmond 5 speed installation you wrote up. Great info! You also mentioned that you put a 6speed ROD in your car.

I'm seriously considering one of these two trans for my car and wanted to know if you had to modify the trans tunnel to fit these in.

I spoke to Richmond and they said no. They said to carefully follow their guide for driveline angle in their installation guide, and it should be OK.

Are they telling me the truth, or will I have to cut and reshape the tunnel for my '69 camaro?

PS - I have the center console with standard Muncie shifter hole.

Thanks again,
Mike

[Grandpa Ronsy]

Got a Doug nash/ Richmond in my "68 camaro using a modified th400
crossmember without hitting the tunnel. Had to cut around the shifter for clearance but the console covers that.

Had to space the shifter to the right to come up the centre of the gearstick hole. Good tailshaft angles and no vibes up to 120 mph.

Not happy with the shifter and I plan to improve that (built in torque steer with the offset spacer) It's a right hand drive car in Australia.

Apparently these shifters aren't flash even when you use them from the left side??

It's an automatic console modified

[68sixspeed]

I can't speak for the 5 speed, but I crammed a richmond 6 speed in 8 years ago... the tranny fits, the shift linkage doesn't. You can get away with slicing and spreading the drivers side of the tranny tunnel about 2" at the top for linkage clearance, I have some pictures available if you are interested, also some drawings on a crossmember. I ended up making a new top for the tranny tunnel since the 4 speed shifter hole is in a differnet spot. You can use the 68-69 console though if you move it back just a touch. -Dan

[mikes69z]

Thanks for the replies guys. I had an idea..

What if I modified and mounted the shifter linkages on the inboard side of the 3 levers on the transmission? Would this preclude me having to beat on the trans tunnel?

PS - I'm planning on using a modifed Long shifter thats custom made for the 1st gen Camaros.

I also spoke to Richmond today. They're 5 speed overdrive is on schedule to be released this fall.

[Kenova]

What if I modified and mounted the shifter linkages on the inboard side of the 3 levers on the transmission? Would this preclude me having to beat on the trans tunnel?

I changed my Nova to a four speed. The Borg Warner tranny I used had an interference problem with the 1st/2nd shift lever and tunnel. I solved the problem by doing exactly what you suggested.
The same mod just might give you the room you need.
Ken

[mikes69z]

yea! I kinda thought so... I saw an installation of a Richmond into a Camaro on another website where someone did this... I just wasn't sure how much work was involved in modifiying the shifter arms.

Kenova,

Did you have to bend the arms to make it fit?

Dan,

Did you do this on your '68 Camaro?

[mikes69z]

Here's the pic of the Richmond with the shifter arms mounted inboard

[68sixspeed]

Man, it would be tight... I remember mocking mine up that the tranny fit without the shifter on it. You'll still have to bust a hole through for where the shifter itself peeks up through the tunnel. Nothing a plasma cutter can't fix. I found a couple pictures of the installation-- Dan

[mikes69z]

Dan,

Thats a nice crossmember you have - where did you get that?

Thanks,
Mike

[68sixspeed]

Mike-

Got it the hard way-- made it-- but I'll share, prints attached- (1998, no one had a kit back then) -Dan

[mikes69z]

Dan,

Sweet! Thanks!!

Is this setup like Richmond recommends in their installation manual? They say the mount should be 3.75" farther back than the Muncie and .56" lower. When I spoke with them, they said slightly lowering the trans is the often overlooked parameter and thats why the trans hits the tunnel.

PS - I noticed you're a mechanical engineer also. After all, who else would make drawings on AutoCAD for a crossmember before fabricating :-) Very Nice

[68sixspeed]

Manual?? All I got was a spare parts guide and a tech over the phone who said "good luck"; so maybe I was one of the earlier test dummies and didn't know it. I set it up with the driveline at the same angle as stock, not wanting to get things too out of wack. (driveline angles); if you do try dropping it, watch your distributor cap clearance, it will close up pretty quick.

Autocad, yep, actually the first one was a pencil sketch, but I've had a few people ask for help on this install over the years, so I ended up documenting it. Enjoy- Dan

[mikes69z]

Dan,

Do you have the Long Shifter or Hurst on your car. I've checked out both and it seems the Hurst offers more clearance to the trans tunnel

[68sixspeed]

I didn't know Hurst came out with one for the ROD 6? (so needless to say, I have the Long.) -Dan

[Steve68]

Dan, nice drawings, I work on the shuttle program and we don't have it that nice, where in CT are you,

[68sixspeed]

Steve- I'm up in the northwest corner- Torrington area (about 1/2 hour west of Hartford, 1/2 hour north of Waterbury); I did some shuttle switches and worked on a switch for the o2 supply on the space walk suits right when I got out of college-- now I have a business designing and building automation and assembly machinery, so at least we have a machine shop and fab area to play with for toys. -Dan

[mikes69z]

Dan,

AH - I didn't know that, thanks.

I'm going 5 speed with my car. I've been waiting for AGE, but they are taking forever.

I called Richmond this week and their 5speed OD is coming in the next month or two. Their tech people said it's in testing right now - Rated for 600 ft-lb! Not sure how long it will take to get into distribution (Summit and Jegs).

I'm hoping I can use the Hurst shifter with it since it doesn't have the heim joints like the Long shifter. It would definately provide more clearance with the trans tunnel.

[crash]

Mike, Do you know what the gear ratio's are for the Richmond O.D. 5-speed???
Do you also know what the shift pattern is???
Crash

[mikes69z]

Crash,

Same shift pattern as the existing 5 speed. But the tailshaft housing is going to be similar to the ROD 6 speed trans. Anyway, I'm hoping to swap in a Hurst shifter with a modified mounting plate. Or speak to Long about putting the links inboard

They also said the gears are wider on the new 5 speed. Thats why it will carry 600 ft-lb torque.

As far as ratios - give them a call. They're very helpful. I do know they're offering a 26 as well as a 10 spline input as a drop in swap for the Muncie.

[Kenova]

Kenova,

Did you have to bend the arms to make it fit

I cut, welded, and bent. I had the tranny mounted to a bell housing on an engine stand while I re-fitted all of the shift rods. The shifter works much better now .
Ken