Richmond five speed

[Ant]

ERA, Bob:

Regarding your website you fit all different types of transmissions, probably pending application and customer, either from personal preference etc 'how do you find the Richmond 5 speed for general use and a bit of racing, or do most of your cars use the Toploader - being FE BB?

What I am thinking is sometimes the five speeds with 1.1 top gear, are not really any different than a four speed due to a tractor ratio first gear, but the street ratio Richmond appears to have filled the gaps that the toploaders have!

Ant

[Bob Putnam]

Ant,

Lately it seems if there isn't a "typical" ERA. The cars that we finish here are a fairly even mix of Toploader, Tremec TKO and Richmond.

Frankly, when I drive a car, I drive it very gently. No slamming of gears, etc. (More interested in listening for things that might be awry, and getting a feel for how the car handles on the road.)

They all seem to shift OK to me. I'm told that the Richmond Gear needs some miles to break in the shifting. For a street and track combo, the R.G. is probably the best, but the TKO II with the .83 fifth would be a slightly wider-ratio alternative.

The basic prices are similar, but the R.G. also requires $300+ of shift linkage.

[Jack21]

If I had 400+ CI for a mostly street, and sometimes race car and was inclined to light the tires regularly, I'd go with the Richmond Gear 5 speed box with the 1:1 5th, and 3.08 rear gears for cruising. The RG gears are more evenly spaced so all are useable.

Tremec does not have close ratio gearset. .83 OD is a bit more practical, but "Tractor" 1st gear is too low.

Like Bob, I tend to drive somewhat gently, and am not likely to tear up the trans smoking the tires. Am using what seems to be underrated T5Z. It was blueprinted by Liberty transmissions, and fitted with the .80 OD. Liberty advised I would be happier with the T5Z on the street (over the Tremec), and they were right. Thing shifts like a Honda, and the 2.95 1st is just right. And anything over about 40MPH I'm in 5th. The car is street only, and with street tires, the tires will smoke before the trans sustains any damage.

[Ant]

Thanks Bob, Jack

Will go for a Richmond, dont know who the agent is here for them, any suggestions on resellers in the US, ignore that question if its going to show bias!

The next thing is, would it be worth going for the road race five speed, I wouldn't want to alter the ratios of the street transmission as they appear to have a good compromise, I assume the road race has better syncos and they mention steel front bearing retainer, but having said that there maybe nothing wrong with the street syncros etc.

Ant

[Bob Putnam]

Ant,

I had the impression that the road race transmissions used dog-type engagement - no synchros at all. Could be wrong, of course.

[Anthony]

Actually, I think the richmond 1st - 2nd gear spread is kind of large, 3.27 to 2.13. I think the richmond was initially designed for 4000 lb muscle cars, so instead of changing the supplied 3.55 gears or whatever, with a close ratio muncie or what ever, the owner could simply change the tranny to a Doug Nash. With the 3.27 1st gear ratio and the 3.55 gears, the car would launch as if it had 4.88's with the original 2.20 1st gear muncie, and the owner would still be able to cruise in 5th with the 3.55's that he never changed.

With a cobra, being so light, I don't think you need 1st gear to be as "deep" as a 4000 lb car, nor do you need as wide of spread between the 1st and 2nd. I almost bought a richmond, but I would have got the 3.04 first instead of the 3.27, as you could specially order this change, and it would make the 1st to 2nd transition alittle closer. I would also run 3.07 rear gears, so your overall 1st gear multiplication (3.04 X 3.07) would be 9.3, I think just right.

[sshurts]

Hi Bob,

On a slight tangent to the question. Are there any changes to the transmission mount/cross member/frame that ERA makes that are necessary when choosing the richmond over the toploader?

thanks in advance

Scott

[Ant]

Bob,

I used a seanz five speed dog type box and its nice hearing the whine of the gears, but on the road not brilliant, and when it comes on a trip and I am a bit tired so the wife drives - graunch................!!!!!

On the Richmond website they state: This transmission features NASCAR proven road race style brass and a steel billet front bearing retainer for strength. Available in a wide variety or ratios, this transmission has tremendous torque multiplication and easy serviceability. Fully synchronized for smooth shifting, this five speed meets the challenge of demanding shifting of the road racer!

Due to my budget I will shoot for the street version, over here I think the Richmond was known as Doug Nash 4+1.

Ant

[Bob Putnam]

Ant,

Thanks for the Richmond info. I guess I was too groggy to find the site at the time. (6:20 am on Sunday morning...)

Scott,

We use a removable adapter so that we can use both transmissions without welding. The R.G. mounting holes fall 3+" behind the Toploader's.

[Ant]

Anthony, that sounds about right to me with the higher first gear and a light car, will do some calculations!

Bob,
You mention the RG mounting holes are 3+" back from the toploader, approx where would the Richmonds shifter be in relation to an original 427, or do they require a special shifter!

[Bob Putnam]

Ant,

To get the same shifter location as the Toploader, we make a new mounting plate and modify the top to accept a "stock" lever.

[Ant]

Thanks Bob,

A picture is worth a thousand words!


Ant