[Ant]

I went through this saga, and basically couldnt find anything to totally suit my requirements, so I went to a new Jerico Five speed with ratios to suit, a bonus with this trans, or a G-force GF-5R race trans (not a T5 based G-force) is ratio selection, slick changing, low hp loss, and the Jerico has a magnesium case, the bellhousing and trans weigh approx 100Ibs!
I dont really recommend a race box for the street as both those trans really make the car a one driver vehicle and are expensive, plus my application uses a Nascar based engine which has 675bhp and 566ftIbs torque, so my idea was to do the job once......!

As $$$$$$$ can be a concern, and your engine size etc, a good super duty T5 would do but they can be just as expensive as a race box if you get a G-force gearset etc. I would shoot for a wide ratio Toploader and gear the car to suit, but if your car is a cruiser then a T5 might be the answer but dont be rough on it as they arent tough like the Toploader. There is another option that might be slicker changing Richmond make a nice T10 trans which I think is based on the Borg Warner T10 (original 289 trans) these are used in Nascar and allsorts they are 4 speed and if you get the HD version still with syncros they are a slick strong unit.

I dont want to bag a trans like the TKO-600 but they dont last in competiton, which I know for sure!!!! Have unusual ratio gaps, and if you read the CC posts have shifting issues, which hopefully Tremec are working on. I guess in the US the highways are a pain if you have a low geared car, and thats why the OD is so popular, as mentioned there is nothing worse than a high revving engine when cruising. I have a friend who has a ZF 5 speed in his small block Cobra, that may be another option to look at MB/BMW, some of the english supercars use the Tremec T56 trans to good effect but it is heavy.

If you wish look up Richmond Gear and their range of T10 stuff.
Richmond Super T10, P/N1304000070 S Ratio 2.43, 1.61, 1.23, 1.00, 2.35 rev 375 torque, and other gearsets available like the "YY Ratio" 2.88 first etc etc.

Good luck with the Transmission, I think this is the hardest decision with the mechanicals!