Transmission

Toms63SSQB

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 8
Are there any 5 or 6 speed transmissions the will bolt right up to the bh and still use the original shifter opening on the tunnel?
 

pvs409

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 11
A Richmond 5 speed will fit with minimal changes to the black 4 speed tunnel cover(moves back less than a inch) used on 61 to 63 Chevys.
I have a Richmond 5 speed in my 62 SS 409 convertible using the factory SS shift plate. This Richmond 5 speed was originally installed in a 62 Chevy 409 bubble top with a round factory boot on the factory 4 speed tunnel cover.

A Richmond 6 speed will also fit but the tunnel cover will have to move approximately 2 & 1/2 inches to the rear of the car.
With both transmissions you need a different rear transmission mount. My 5 speed has one that uses the original factory frame mounts for the transmission. For my friends 6 speed bubble top he added new frame mounts moved the rear of the factory frame mounts

Also "zero changes" are needed to the factory floor pan/tunnel with either Richmond transmission other than cutting a factory style 4 speed rectangular hole in the floor pan (like the factory did on 61 to 63 factory 4 speed cars)

The first 3 pictures are of my 5 speed Richmond in my 62 Chevy SS 409 Convertible with a Hurst 5 speed shifter
The last 3 pictures are of my friends 6 speed Richmond in his 62 Chevy Belair bubble top with a Long 6 speed shifter
Paul

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pvs409

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 11
Hey guys are those Richmond's the same size as the tremec tko

for length here are the overall lengths to the end of the tailshaft

Muncie 4 speed (pre 71)= 21.5 inches
Borg Warner Super T-10 = 23 inches
Borg Warner 4 speed = 22.61 inches
Richmond 5 speed = 21.57 inches
Richmond 5 speed overdrive = 21.57 inches
Richmond 6 speed overdrive = 21.57 inches
Tremec TKO 5 speed = 30.4 inches (GM)
Tremec 6 speed = 33.0 inches (GM)

As to size of the transmissions Tremecs tko's require complete removal of the entire factory tunnel in 61 to 64 Chevy's and 55 to 57 chevy's (floorpan) and raising the full length and width of the tunnel in front of the seat around 2 to 3 inches.
Note the significant difference in lengths to Richmond transmissions, Muncie 4 speeds and T-10 4 speeds

There are Long 5 and 6 speed shifters sold for and with the Richmond transmissions.

Paul
 

djnutcase

Member
I don't want to modify the floor a whole lot in my 64 Automatic car, looks like the Richmond is the best way to do that. I'm wondering if anyone knows if the manual transmission shifter hole in roughly the same place as the 61-63? I want to use this console.

Console.jpgs
 

pvs409

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 11
I did all of what I am noting below when I switched my 62 SS Convertible from a Muncie/BW 4 speed to a Richmond 5 speed.

I don't think you can use the 4 speed console with a Richmond 5 speed (with overdrive),without checking what I have noted below. The 64 SS console is designed to fit a 4 speed Muncie (BW is the same) stock shifter location.
  • Note the location of the 4 speed shifter hole in the 64 SS console and the difference in location with the 64 SS Powerglide shifter that is closer to the console.
  • Also note on the side of the console the raised portion of the base of the console. The bottom of the 64 consoles and the 62 SS consoles (63's I am sure are the same) are all the same -designed to fit the floor pan between the bucket seats.
  • See my picture above with the 62 SS console (you can see the a raised part of the floor "that the console fits". The raised portion is about 3 to 4 inches from the front of the console. Its not the floor fit -the raised portion of the console is what lets you know were the consoles are supposed to mount in SS cars
  • You can slide the 1962 SS console between the seats back about 1 to 2" -- "as I recall" (you should try it with the passenger seat in place with a 64 SS console).
  • With my 62 SS console around the shifter - I moved the 61 to 63 4 speed tunnel cover the the rear and moved the SS chrome shifter and moved the mounting plate to the rear about 2 inches for my Richmond 5 speed. This is the Richmond that does not have overdrive but works like a overdrive because of the 1st to 4th gear ratios. 5th is 1 :1 in my Richmond.
  • I think you have to slide the 64 SS console (you show in the pictures) to the rear to make it work, the question will be how much so it does not interfere with the opening between the seats (in the back seat) and will the 4 speed console or even powerglide one move too far to the rear.
  • you should ask for measurements of the 64 original console (or get measurements from a 64 SS car) . The issue you have is checking the console in your car since I assume you do not have a console to put in your car??-to see how far you can move it to the rear.
  • Can you also removed the entire plate in the 64 SS "PG console" to allow a hurst shifter boot through this area. My 62 SS shift plate has a hurst shifter boot in place vs the stock SS shifter boot to fit the flat handle shifter and to allow more movement in the shifter boot for a 5 speed shifter
You may or may not want to use a 61 to 63 SS console tunnel cover for 4 speeds -- this one :https://www.lategreatchevy.com/full...extension-4-speed-transmission-1961-1963.html
64 SS factory 4 speed cars only had a small hole cut in the tunnel for the shifter. The 61 to 63 tunnel cover might work to fit the shifter inside the 64 SS console and provide transmission shifter access and a place to mount a hurst shifter boot.

Here are the shifter locations for Muncies and BW 4 speeds as compared three Richmond 5 & 6 speed transmissions
from the bell housing

  1. Muncie and BW 4 speeds - transmission length (21.50" ) - shifter center line (17.5" ) - transmission mount (14.25" )
  2. Richmond Street 5 speed (1:1 5th) - transmission length (21.57") - shifter center line (20.00" ) -trans. mount (16.50" )
  3. Richmond Super Street 5 spd w/overdrive -trans. length (21.57" ) shifter center line ( 20.75") - trans. mount (18.0" )
  4. Richmond 6 speed w/overdrive - tranmission length (21.57" ) - shifter center line ( 20.75 " ) - trans. mount (18.0" )
Note that the #2 a Richmond street 5 speed is not built any more (they are only available used -I found two of them in the last 2 years).
The Richmond Super Street 5 speed w overdrive comes in 3 first gear ratios to pick from -I like the 3.33 first gear vs the 3:06 or 2.89 first gear ratios. My Richmond has the 3.27 + first gear (with a 3:08 Posi ) and it really drives nice like wide ratio muncie (2:54 ) or BW 4 speed (2:54) first gear ratios.

My Richmond 5 Speed will be 2500 RPM at 65 miles per hour (vs 3800 with a BW or Muncie with a 3:36 rear end) but drives like the BW or Muncies in 1st to 4th gears.

Paul
 

djnutcase

Member
Wow, thank you for the comprehensive reply! I like the idea of scooting the console fore or aft to make things line up. I suppose I could always stick with a 4 speed and it will line up perfect...I guess we'll see how motivated I am. I'm about to begin a body off frame restoration, so I'm a ways from having to figure that out.

I'm not opposed to modifying the floor, but I REALLY want that console to work. It's an original SS Automatic car, I have always wanted a manual tranny in it.
 

pvs409

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 11
So the Turbo 400 mount that. SC has that fits the factory frame transmission mounts and matches the 18” measurement from the bell housing?
 
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