Whats a good manual tranny?
 

Hi, i was wondering whats a good manual tranny to drop into my pontiac firbird. Its a 79 firebird with a 75 400 block with ram air 4 specs built by a machnist. The engine puts out about 425hp at 500FPT. The car is automatice with a short shaft Th350. Ive been wanting to swap a manual in it since the day i bought it cause im not a big fan of auto. My question is whats a good stock tranny you can swap on these cars. Ive been wanting to put a modern day manual in it from the camaros and the firebirds with the 6spd. But everyone says its a lot of work. what do you guys think?

Joey

RE: Whats a good manual tranny?
 

Well if you want a 6 speed the best thing to go with is a Richmond 5+1, but depending on your gear ratio I would go with a M22 except thats only a 4 speed, but it will bolt right up and is the same style transmission they put in most Trans Ams and Camaros in the 70's.

RE: Whats a good manual tranny?
 

You can put ANYTHING in depending on how much money you throw at it. The easy answer, as was suggested above, is to put in an M22 4 speed. I had one in my 72 GTO and it was indestructable! There are kits out there to put the Richmond in it. If your gear ratio is in the 3.90 or numerically higher I would go with the 6 speed to make the engine a little more comfortable. With the torque you have you should be able to go with a numerically lower ratio and go with the 4 speed. This gives you a higher top speed and ease of installation and off the shelf parts selection. My 455 HO GTO with 3.90 gears was able to pull a hill in 4th at a little over 1100 RPM with no problems. It was a torque monster. Good luck to you and enjoy your car.

RE: Whats a good manual tranny?
 

I'm in the same boat as you- 400/ TH350 combo. Those TH350 slushboxes aren't worth a $hit- I went through three of them and decided it's time for stick. I picked up a M21 Muncie cheap, had it rebuilt, and am planning to pop it in this spring. It's no Tremec TKO, but I'm sure it will make a big difference.

Geno