RICHMOND FIVE SPEED HELP
 

HOWDY YALL I GOT A 1971 FIREBIRD FORMULA 455 H/O THAT I AM TOSSING AROUND THE IDEA OF CONVERTING TO A RICHMOND 5 SPEED OVER DRIVE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WILL IT FIT IN THE FACTORY FOUR SPEED PERCH ON THE FLOOR, AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER PIT FALLS MAKING THIS CONVERSION AS FAR AS SHIFTER LOCATION CROSS MEMEBER DRIVE SHAFT ETC ANY HELP FROM SOMEONE THAT HAS ALREADY PLAYED THIS GAME WOULD BE APPRICIATED THANKS CHAD

Putting a Doug Nash (Richmond) 5 speed in a second gen bird is a BREEZE.

You don't even need to remove your factory console.

The Hurst shifter for that transmission fits real nice.

Nobody will even know you are running a 5 speed unless you tell/show them.

You will need a fine spline clutch disc & a TH400/ST-10 yoke.

The transmission mount is a bit further back so the rear crossmember holes (in subframe) become the fronts & you need to drill new ones for the back.

RICHMOND FIVE
 

HOWDY THANKS FOR THE INFO, CONSOLE AND SHIFTER LOCATION WAS MY BIG WORRY. THAT IS MY MAKE OR BREAK PROBLEM. ITS ONE THING TO UPSET THE NUMBERS ON THE CAR BUT TO HACK IN A NON TRUE AND CORRECT PART IS NOT IN THE CARDS HAVE YOU RUN A RICH 5 SPEED BOX WITH OD ????? AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ???? I AM RUNNING A 3.31 12 BOLT

Here are some pictures of a 70 Formula 400 that belongs to a friend of mine. It has a Richmond 5 speed. Sorry, these are the best pictures I have.

HOWDY THANKS FOR THE PICKS,,,,, DO YOU KNOW IF THATS THE LONG SHIFTER OR THE HURST ???????

I've had mine in several birds/T/A's & LOVE IT!

If your trans has the 3:27 1st gear,3:31's may be a bit steep.
I run 3:08's and they're perfect.

The Nash/Richmond 5 speed is actually considered an "underdrive" transmission.

If you have a manual trans already,there is NO hacking required.

Other than drilling 2 extra holes in the subframe,it's a total "bolt-in".

I put a DN 5 spd in my 74. no problems. I would recommend getting a longer driveshaft even if it is 1" long. being it is a 1:1 5th, I run a 2.73 rear. you should be fine w/ your 3.31 rear as long as you get the .74 OD, the .62/ .64 would be a bit steep giving you the equivalent 2.05 rear end ratio. you would need some decent torque to use it. I have a Hurst shifter on the DN 5. I put it in just for the show seasons, but liked to combo so much that it is still in there. city mpg still blows, but I get 17-18 on the highway w/ a SD455.

I don't know what a long shifter looks like but I'm thinking it's the hurst shifter. It looks completely stock, so much so that I didn't know it was a 5 speed till I looked at the shift pattern on the shift ball. If you look closely at the picture from the passenger side you can see the shifter arm is round and has "Hurst" on the side, just like the factory shifter.

richmond six speed
 

Do you know if the six speed will fit as well? Is it the same trans as a chevy.

You are going to have to purchase a Hurst 5 speed shifter. The 4 speed or 6 speed shifter will not work.

http://www.hurst-shifters.com/hurst-...ACING-SHIFTERS

The 6 speed trans is slightly longer then the 5 speed as well as the cross member mounting perch.

2many this is what I have. Its in a 77. I tried using a 70 4 sp cross and its way back and it seems like the frame is wider on a 77? Got any ideas? The trans also sits high with this cross in it. I may have a half inch between the trans and tunnel.

70-74 & 75 -81 crossmembers are not interchangeable.

You can use your STock 77 c/member (they are all the same,stick & auto)
Just move it back about 3 inches & bolt the front to the back holes.
You can drill two more holes through the frame once it is lined up.
OR,just knock the mounting tab OFF the crossmember & weld it back on 180 degrees around.

I found a crossmember from a 75 and it fits perfect just like you said. Now I need to replace the scattershield since I put a chevy one in there unless I want to push start it. The things we do when we are in a hurry.

2
 

2manyTA's..

Any comments on the Richmond 6 speed?

My tranny guy has a new one for sale. I am thinking about putting it into a 76 TA.

He said the Richmond 6 speed is a direct bolt in except for moving the tranny crossmember back..

Is that a good upgrade (my car has a 3.08 gear) from a super t10 and what is a good price...

Thanks..

1300 RPM at 70 mph, you WILL pass gas stations!