[Hal Copple]

Several Superformance cars have Tremec T 56 six speeds in them, i have driven one. I wanted more gears to stir in my car, so i asked Bob Olthoff, my east coast Superformance dealer, about installing one. It can be done in an SPF because the differential is a fixed IRS, not a solid axle, as the driveshaft is only about three inches long. Six speed gearboxes are pretty long.

He patiently explained to me that in a high torque engine like mine, a Stroked Windsor, the extra gearing was not just a waste, but would actually be slower in my quarter mile drag times. He told me that in a small displacement, peaky power engine, something like a 289 motor, a six speed would be useful to keep the engine in the narrow power band, but in a car with a broad power band, i would be wasting time shifting. He told me that the six speed drivers tended to skip gears most of the time anyway, due to the close ratio gearing.

Unless you road race for money, it isn't worth the money. Better to spend that sum, probably about $3000 or more, for another upgrade. No wonder the small revvvy Japanese motors need the six speeds, but not cars like mine.

I am not getting a six speed, but staying with my five speed Tremec.