I know this question came up recently, but to the folks that did the auto to 5 speed swap, did you use the Keisler set up, or did you use a different company, or did you piece meal the set up yourselves?  And what were you thoughts with the set up you did?

gurtz,



5speedtransmissions


(made link clickable)Adams' Apple2007-09-17 10:20:31

I piece milled my t56. I bought some pedals from a 69, a hyd. clutch from a 95 camaro, flywheel made to connect early engines to late model trans, hurst top load shifter, and a Abbott cable x to convert the speedo. The tranny was longer than the th350 so I had to modify the crossmember, and shorten the driveshaft a little. I cut the trans tunnel to allow the shifter to be installed, and though the shifter is in the general area it needs to be modified to end up where it should be to look correct. I enjoyed the whole project and having a mig welder, cut off wheels, die grinder,etc is a big plus. My tranny was given to me and I took it apart and found only the 3rd /4th synchonizers were bad, so it cost only $30 bucks to fix. Other cost for the things mentioned plus a clutch/pressure plate came to around $1300.

Try Keislerauto.com, thats where I bought mine.  They have everything you need, from bellhousing to peddle assembly.

  I intalled a TKO 600 in my 80. It was originaly an Turbo 350 wich I swapped for a 700-R4 a long Time ago. It would be pretty Hard to beat the Keisler and or Chevy 5 Speeds Kits. However You can Save Some $$$ if You are willing to Piece it Part by Part. I bought a New TKO 600 on ebay from somebody who had lost Intrest in His Project. If You are going from an Auto to a TKO You don't have a Hole in the Trans Tunnel so Your going to Need to Cut one. But You don't need the Offset Shifter that they Machine into the Tailhousing. However You will need the Offset Shifter offered by Tremec and or Chevy 5 Speed that bolts on Top. The Later Cars have the Console Lower requiring the Offset but the Earlier Cars You might be able to do it with just an offset Shift Lever???  If You have a 82 or a 700R4 Trans then the Driveshaft is the Correct Lenght and dose not need to be replaced. You should Use the Tailshaft Yoke that they sell where You can Unbolt the Caps but You could  get by with out it and assemble the Needles in Place but what a Pain. As and Auto Car has a Removable Crossmember its Mount can be Modified to Work. I Replaced mine as I wanted Dual Exhaust anyway. I bought My Brake Clutch Peddles on e-bay and somebody had allready rebiult them. Keep in mind that the Early Cars have a bit bigger Brake Pad and  when You replave the Rubber Pads with Latter Ones You will to trim the Metal a Bit. I used a Hyd Clutch but there is no advantage it would be easyer to Weld a Mount on the Frame for the Linkage. Unless Your Block dosn't have a Proviision that is. Richard.....

Hey... i also converted my 78 to a 5 speed, but it was a 4 speed car originally.  I had gotten the Keisler unit, supposedly a direct bolt-in installation... Not... ended up cutting the crossmember, doing a little welding modification to re-install the crossmemeber... which, was really the only problem i ran into with it.  Not to knock Keisler's product, at the time it was made for a C3, they modified it with an offset shifter of their own design with a little cut and weld on the tranny... but as my luck goes, about a year afterward, i too came across the 5SpeedTransmission website, and they were offering the same transmission, now with a bolt on offset shifter needed for C3's .... for a lot less money.  Dont get me wrong, i'd do it again, but, if i could save myself about a thousand dollars, for the same transmission(they are both Tremec tranny's).. well, you do the math.. :)