Pontiac + manual trans info wanted

[G-Body_Vet]

I know a couple of you guys are running a manual trans behind a Pontiac engine and I'm curious to know more about your set-up and what you're using.

I'm kicking around the idea of going back to rowing gears and not even bothering with an auto trans. I've been eyeballing the TKO-600, but I'm open to running a 4 speed too if they can handle a stout 455's torque. I'm open to suggestions and advice. I'll more than likely be using the RA manifolds instead of headers too.

 

[green79gp]

I know a couple of you guys are running a manual trans behind a Pontiac engine and I'm curious to know more about your set-up and what you're using.

I'm kicking around the idea of going back to rowing gears and not even bothering with an auto trans. I've been eyeballing the TKO-600, but I'm open to running a 4 speed too if they can handle a stout 455's torque. I'm open to suggestions and advice. I'll more than likely be using the RA manifolds instead of headers too.

if ya need a bell housing i got a aluminum one for $50. plus shipping

 

[CGimbel]

If you are looking for a 4spd., grab a super T-10... everything else *WILL* blow up behind a Pontiac (even M-22). Ask me how I know how. I have done many 4spd. GP's with 400/455.
And they are fun. Even more fun if you use a scatter shield, so you not worrying about your feet.
I still have many parts left and can steer you the correct way.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

If you are looking for a 4spd., grab a super T-10... everything else *WILL* blow up behind a Pontiac (even M-22). Ask me how I know how. I have done many 4spd. GP's with 400/455.
And they are fun. Even more fun if you use a scatter shield, so you not worrying about your feet.
I still have many parts left and can steer you the correct way.

Here's what I'm juggling at the moment.
1. I want a 4th gear!
2. A built 200-4R is going to put me in the poor house
3. Yeah I could go TH400, but I want a 4th gear!

The main question being the cost to do a 4spd swap and if it's worth it.

 

[CGimbel]

Any 4spd manual trans is going to have a 1:1 4th gear.
400th trans will hold up, but its so heavy.
Second gear drum is really heavy, it sits static and then when its needed it has to spin at a moments notice to match the speed your going.
350th's are just as good (not forever) and lighter.
2004R... well yeah, your going to have to put money in it to hold up.
What it comes down to is... how deep is your pockets.
Me, I'm cheap. I would go super T-10 / 350th.

 

[pontiacgp]

bonnewagon will probably have the answers to this one...

 

[shotgun]

Did a few TKO conversions and they rock. Short throws and shift like butter. Contact Grey at American Powertrain (tell him Bob, the guy who figured out how to mount the shifter in a 65 GTO sent you).

I love the Kilgore TH400 in my Cutty , but not cheap .$$$$$

A relatively inexpensive ( note did not say cheap) way to a poormans overdrive is the TH400 with aftermarket gears.


This is a post I did on another site:

Just thought I would add some info on the aftermarket deep gear sets.

Did some simple math and came up with this.

This compares a normal TH400( 2.48, 1.48 )gear set to the deep set (2.75,1.57) and how they change the "effective" final gear ratio.

Under the 1st/2nd/3rd is the equivalent ratio or what the gears "acts" like.

REAR-----1st-----2nd-----3rd
3.08*** 3.31*** 3.23*** 3.08
3.23*** 3.55*** 3.42*** 3.23
3.31*** 3.73*** 3.55*** 3.31

Looks like 3.23 would be the winner for me. Pulls like 3.55 off idle, nice mid range with 3.42 and decent cruise rpm when in third.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

You guys are all bringing up some good points. In my case I'm trying to find some middle ground to balance cost vs reliability vs highway friendly rpms.

I'm not building this car to only drive it around the neighborhood or turn 3k+ at 60mph either. I really like the TKO-600. The fact that it's already rated to handle 600ft/lbs of torque is what sells me on it. A decent 200-4R is going to be in the same neighborhood without a 5th gear. They also come in a few choices for different 5th gear ratios. Yeah....455 and gas mileage don't belong in the same sentence but anything helps on long drives. I guess I'll figure it out when the time comes (which won't be anytime soon!)

 

[pontiacgp]

I have the T5 WC with the .63 5th gear and the 3.08 rear, at 75 mph I'm reving 2000 rpm...my spare T5 WC has the .72 5th and at 75 mph I'm reving 2400 rpm and that's with a 245-50-16 tire. That might give you an idea of what 5th you want.

 

[shotgun]

Oh yeah, well I got a T5 with .54 5th with 4.11 gears, so there!!

"cost vs reliability vs highway friendly rpms."

That's kinda like the performance triangle (fast, cheap, reliable) , pick 2.