kstyer said: The idea a 6th gear from the factories was fuel mileage and lower emissions, not acelleration. Top end in the C5 is in 5th, not 6th. Just more food for thought.

I should clarify.. im not looking to drag race any body in 6th.. but if I want to accelerate from 70 to 80 out on the highway i dont want it to take all day.. i thought the c5 was a little sluggish in 6th (with the .5 gear) until you got up around 85-95

and from what ive gathered so far... the 0.50 gears looks out of my reach.. this is only available in the viper/ls1 model t-56 which requires permanent modification to the car which I am not willing to do.

so the top end gear is settled, so the chooices left really just boil down to 2.66/2.97 first.. and then 3.55/3.70/4.11/4.56 gears...

and of course all of this depends on whether i can get a factory location shifter..

apparently the viper/ls1 has more shifter locations..

I stillhavent heard anything from keisler about whether they have a 19.5" 2" offset shitter for the aftermarket t56

Ben that info was more for the benefit of others rather than you. Just throwing it out there.
You do present some interesting combinations. No easy answers. It comes down to an informed and personal decision. That's why I'm not making a recommendation. Gather all the info, you have done that, and then decide what you want that suits you best.
I have suffered through custom setup, design, paint, etc choices before as well. Some for me, some for others. Never easy.
If you're happy when done, you did it right.

Suffer through and enjoy the process my friend.

kstyer said: Ben that info was more for the benefit of others rather than you. Just throwing it out there. You do present some interesting combinations. No easy answers. It comes down to an informed and personal decision. That's why I'm not making a recommendation. Gather all the info, you have done that, and then decide what you want that suits you best. I have suffered through custom setup, design, paint, etc choices before as well. Some for me, some for others. Never easy. If you're happy when done, you did it right. Suffer through and enjoy the process my friend.

im just trying to avoid the suffering that comes with spending 3k$ and not being happy... I really dont have any frame of reference as to what makes a good highway driver.. as ive never really built one.. ive suped up dozens of cars for myself and others but mostly for street/strip or stop-light to stop-light apps. I would like this car to be enjoyable both high and low.. maybe even get it where I could drive it to a show. Looks and sound are important.. but Ive gotten to the point where I dont want a one trick pony... and thats all Ive really ever built.

I am especially green on this BB vette... I've only had it for 5 months and most of that time it has been disassembled.. My BB's were always in land yachts like galaxie's and impala's.

hopefully this will work out for me and ill be posting some instructions and pitfalls this winter..

I do value everyones opinion, even if/when I dont agree it makes me think it over more and perhaps be more resolved in my decision. If youd like to share your opinion I'd be pleased to hear it.. if not im cool with that too. thanks

Hey I wanted to let you know that chevy High Peformance Magazine has been performing a tKO swap from keisler, not on a Corvette, but it may be good reading and give another opinion and some install info that might be handy. The issue I just got is the August issue and it says part 2, so you will probably want to located part 1 and its most likely in the july issue.

keisler replied to my emails today and didnt answer a single question to my satisfaction..

they told me that i would not need any floor pan/tunnel mods to bolt in a viper t56 and sent me a link and a flyer on the same email that said i did.

I also asked them about correct shifter location for the aftermarket market t56 and they told me no and then referred me to an article where they do have to move the shifter.

they did tell me that they have a viper/ls1 t56 that has 2.87 -> 0.64 ratios now..

maybe i need to ask my questions in a language other than english ??

Ben in short, I would go with a gear combination that would give me about 2000 rpm at 70 with the overdrive. That will give good fuel mileage and nice cruising. The down shifts will still give pleanty of acelleration.
If you want more off the line I would go up to 3000 at 70. Above that I would find a bit annoying with an overdrive. That would put the low end down where you would have great launches. With your engine going much lower would just spin the tires a lot more. Even shifting gears. Don't get the ratios too far apart, or you will lose a bit by getting out of the torque range. The wider range that could drop the low end could be a waste and not be made up for with the wide ratios.

But As I said this is the rough decision that you need to make for yourself. What I want may not be what you want. That's why my comment. But if you compare everyone's preference it may help, but it may help to confuse. You do your homework and understand more than most. I respect that.

As to the actual hardware, I would have to research that as well.

My restricted opinion

|UPDATED|6/16/2004 5:34:17 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

You really have to want, not need, a tranny from Kiester, sorry keisler. As far as I'm concerned they have one of the poorest customer service I've run across. I've been on ignore since April. In my opinion, I would not even consider purchasing anything from a company who can't or won't help you on the front end. I could only imagine what a nightmare it would be after the purchase.

kstyer said: Ben in short, I would go with a gear combination that would give me about 2000 rpm at 70 with the overdrive.

my thought as well... thanks...

i think 1500 -1800 would be just too low..
3000 rpm at 70 is way too high (that where I am now..)

if I can get a launch ratio of 10 or so and 6th gear 70mph@2K RPM id be happier than a pig in s$^t...

dont worry the final choice is mine and if i screw it up I wont be mad at anyone whose recommendation happens to coincide with my final choice..

btw after you mentioned gear range i took a look at the 2.97 -> 0.62 ratios.. and i think the 2.97 1st 2.07 2nd
is a bit too wide ....

im very strongly leaning towards the 2.66->0.62 now..

|UPDATED|6/16/2004 11:12:48 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

I agree 1500 to 1800 is too low. It's good for economy, but the respose under 2000 will suffer. You don't always want to down shift for limited acelleration and climbing hills. It's different for and automatic.
The ratios you are looking at seem in line. I haven't put a pencil to it. But I do like that gear range. Sounds like we agree.

Ben, I seem to remember a long thread with problems from Kiesler. Be wary.

Scot