Richmond 5 Speed

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Mister G

n00b
May 24, 2018
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Hi guys, I'm new to this forum thing. I have an 87 Cutlass and was thinking of going with a 5 speed. I have a 700R4 in it now. Does anybody have any experience with the Richmond Gear 5 speed, the ones without the overdrive?
 

TURNA

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
Jul 24, 2009
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No OD..................why would you do such a thing?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?
 
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DRIVEN

Geezer
Apr 25, 2009
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It makes pretty good sense with stock Gbody lame-o gears. But if you're making more power than a 7.5" will tolerate, that point doesn't really matter.

I've got no firsthand experience with Richmond 5-speeds but I've run really wide ratio Saginaws and T5s in front of freeway gears.
 
Oct 14, 2008
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How much power?
 

UNGN

Comic Book Super Hero
Sep 6, 2016
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Southlake, TX
The Richmond 5 speed would work best with 3.25 rear gears. With 3.42 or more, plan on 28" tall rear tires and even then, first gear will just be a lot of tire spin with street tires, and then you basically just have a 4 speed.

If you can score one for less than $1200, it might be worth it, but If it was me and the Richmond was any more than that, I'd look for a TKO.
 
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GuysMonteSS

Royal Smart Person
May 21, 2011
1,449
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Theres been an original Doug Nash 4+1 5 speed,(non OD),in my Monte ever since I bought it 17 years ago.
I currently have a Ford 9 inch with 3.0:1 rear gears.With the 3.28 first gear it is equivalent to having a 4.10:1 rear gear if compared to a 4 speed Muncie,but with the 1.0:1 fifth gear it is equal to having a .64 OD.
I would not recommend anything lower than a 3.08:1 rear gear,a previous owner told me that at one point the Monte had a 3.25:1 rear gear and first gear was useless and he just used 2nd gear starting off.
With 425 HP you should be safe from breaking anything unless you launch it at high RPM.
They can be blueprinted and made to work better,here are two videos that I had my transmission guy watch last trime he rebuilt it;
The gentleman that made these videos,Paul Cangialosi,really knows his way around these transmission's.
I talked to him and bought the better synchro rings and spring clips and also switched to Royal Purple 75W-90 Gear Max synthetic oil that he recommends.
I also had 1st - 4th gears,the main shaft and input shaft cryogenically treated for more strength.
It shifts real nice now,the best it has ever worked.
IMO,selecting the correct rear gear ratio is the most important factor with these transmissions.
Ideally,you want a SLR,(starting line ratio),between 9 and 11.This is found by multyplying first gear by the rear gear ratio.Mine works out to 9.84,(3.28 X 3.00),which I find works very well.Here is a chart from Wallace Racing;
http://www.wallaceracing.com/calc-slr.php
Hope this helps.
Guy
 
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Oct 14, 2008
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Unless you are road racing and need a close ratio trans, a TKO or T-56 sounds like a better option. I assume sbc or ls powered but Macar1993 has a T-56 behind no doubt 500+ ft/lbs and similar hp with his Olds 403.
 
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