Richmond ROD 6 sp

[Chris Chrapko]

AHH so many questions to ask. Well I guess I'll start out by asking if anyone out there has succesfully installed a Richmond ROD 6 speed in a 1980 camaro with out major tunnel mods or relocation of the shifter position. First of all I'll state that I have chosen the Richmond tranny because it appears to be much smaller in physical size (than a T-56) and is rated to 450 ft lbs. Although I am more partial to a top loading Transmission, I have found that a T-56 swap will not work for me due to alot of tunnel mods (to keep drive angle correct), and the GM aftermarket is only rated for 400 ft lbs. My car is an original 4 sp car and I have just installed a 540 hp, 480 ft. lbs 383 cid engine. My goal is to make these mods if possible without cutting any sheet metal to make a 6 sp work. I guess my question is am I barking up the wrong tree ?? I would really like to have a 6 speed in the car. My other option is a TKO 600 which should drop in other than a modded drive shaft and tranny mount, but once again it is only a 4 speed with an overdrive. I appreciate the time taken for those who read this post and pls be patient because this is all relatively new to me.

One other note, my plan for this car is to be a daily driver/ pro-touring type car. In the event I get some positive feed back on the instillation of the Richmond transmission, the following would likely be my choice of driveline gearing. Any advice would be much appreciated.

1 - 3.04
2 - 2.13
3 - 1.57
4 - 1.24
5 - 1.00
6 - 0.62
Built 10 bolt 8.5 ring, Moser axles, C-clip eliminators, and if possible GM Posi with a 3.42 diff. ratio
27 inch tires.
Redline = 6200-6500 RPM

Thanks Again

C.C

[HILROD]

I've got an ROD in my '68 Camaro. It fit O.K., even with 1/2 lower body mounts. The side of the tunnel needed clearancing for the shifter rods and shifter itself. On a different '68 I built I installed a TKO with stock height body mounts, and ended up spacing down the subframe a little bit more, as the trans hit the top of the tunnel pretty bad. The Richmond needed an adapter that replaces the top of the Long shifter to keep the stock console. You might try to contact Long and ask about shifter placement in a second gen.

[69Myway]

I have one in a 69 Corvette behind a fuel injected 468. No tunnel mods needed to slip it into that car, only a cross member mod. Long makes a good shifter assembly and I'd agree to check with them for a 2nd gen.

It is a good trans and has worked flawlessly in our car.

[Chris Chrapko]

O.k thanks for the input fellers. It kinda looks like not many take the 6 speed route.

[Chris Chrapko]

By the way what do you guys think of those driveline numbers. Do they sound reasonable??

[HILROD]

I used the 3.28 1st, and .76 OD, with a 3.31 rear gear. I love it. It starts out easy and OD is fine. Gear spacing is perfect! Unless I wanted to only drag race, I don't think I'd pick any different. I used the Car Test software to try out a lot of different gearsets before I got my trans. With the 3.31s I rarely get it to 6th around town. I think with 3.42s it might be a bit better, but I had my rear already. The lower OD can be too much unless you've got a low reving fuel injected motor.

[79ZED]

Chris,

I don't understand the need for tunnel mods with a T56 in a 2nd gen Camaro. Just need a new hole for the shifter. There are a number of guys over at http://nastyz28.com/ that have done this swap without a problem.

I'm just getting ready to install my T56 and a BBC 509 into my 79 Z28 ( 4 speed car).

John

[Chris Chrapko]

Thanks for the input HILROD, my original thought was to drive the cruising speed RPM's way low for long trips. I calculated roughly 1600 RPM at 60 mph with the 0.62 OD. The 0.76 option was about 1820 RPM at 60 mph.

[Chris Chrapko]

79 Zed I had a look at some of the post at the nasty Z28 forums, and I gather that the tunnel may need to raised to allow room for the bigger tranny. I say this because the tail shaft will not be high enough to maintain proper drive line angle. The forums also indicates that the shifter position is also moved back 2", which means that the shifter opening must be trimmed ( by how much not sure). This would also alter the console position and I really don't want to change the car that way.
Don't get me wrong I do appreciate the input, and would really like to see the steps you take to install that tranny. I still have not made up my mind yet on which way I'm gonna go. The price of these transmissions are huge here in Alberta, and I don't want to be disappointed.

ROD with shifter $3200
Tremec no shifter $ 2800

Thanks for your time, and pls send some pics this way during your project.

[andrewb70]

I have the ROD in my GTO behind a 502. Mine has the 2.77 first gear and with the big block I feel that the gears are just too close together.

Andrew

[rocketman]

I like this gear set up, its the standard gears in a T-56

2.66
1.78
1.30
1.00
.74
.50

I had a richmond 6 spd in a pro street car about 15yrs ago, and broke it all the time, sent it back 5x's, Hopefully there better now

[molyorange 77]

I have a richmond 6 spd in a 77 camaro with no tunnel mods. the only thing that was changed was the crossmember I think I had to move it back a little. I said before no tunnel mods, I did have to cut a hole for the shifter. (automatic car)

[ZZ430]

I'm running the ROD in my 67 Camaro with a ZZ430.

I took a lot of time to dial in the bellhousing.

I'm using the Redline NS fluid. It shifts great, and has been in there more than 7 years now.

Extensive tunnel mods were needed for the shifter rods..

[Chris Chrapko]

Rocketman do you remember what diff. ratio you had??

[Chris Chrapko]

ZZ430 thanks for the pics. Do you have any pictures of the cab (top side) without the console installed??

[Chris Chrapko]

Molyorange thanks for the input that is what I needed to hear.

[ZZ430]

ZZ430 thanks for the pics. Do you have any pictures of the cab (top side) without the console installed??

I wasn't able to use the stock console. The shifter location is about 4" further back, and a couple of inches to the left.

[spink7124]

Chris,
I have a richmond 5 speed in my 1980 Trans-am and from what i gather it is nearly the same construction as the 6 speed without the added overdrive. Although I am using it behind a pontiac motor, i would have to belive that the locations would be pretty close; I am also using the Long shifter. My car was origianlly an automatic car so other that cutting a hole in the floor, the only mods that I had to do were dimple the floor pan to be able to utilize the 1/4" rod that you put into place to adjust the shifter. The Long unit has a fair bit of adjustment to it when it comes to mounting, I think it has two sets of mounting holes if I remember correctly.
When I installed everything in my car I ended up using the 3/8" spacer that Long includes to space the shifter more towards the center of the car, they even have handle choices you can choose from, I think that i used part # 1010B. This allowed my shifter to come up in the perfect location for my factory 4 speed console, although I may have moved the console forward or back some to mount it perfectly as my car was origianlly an automatic.
The last thing I have to caution you about is the power weaknesses of this transmission. Assuming the 5 speed has about the same internals as the 6 speed (they are both rated at 450hp) my transmission is not that strong. When I was making about 320hp my tranny was fine, but when I added the Procharger and 8 lbs of boost (around 450hp and 450ft lbs) I have broken the teeth off of several gears multiple times. I run 255/60/15 BFG radial tires that don't hook and during the breaking moments i wasn't powershifting, just rolling back on the power. Even that as it may be, I love this tranny, it makes driving around town a bit manly, and the serviceability is awesome, but if i had it to do over again i would probably have done the tko600 or a t-56, these just were'nt as viable options several years ago.
When my car goes back together in its most recent iteration I am shooting for north of 700hp so i am looking at either a liberty 5 speed (same internals/externals as a richmond but with all new parts rated @ 1000hp) or possibly a jerico.
Good Luck,
James

[Chris Chrapko]

Thanks guys for answering my posts, there is some really good info here for me. I'll be sure to let you guys know how my project progresses.