5-speed manual options

[hotrodchev]

Looking for some advice & comments. I have a '70 Nova SS that I'm preparing to restore and I plan to run a big block 454 with approx. 500 H.P. and a 12-bolt 4:11 posi rearend. What I'm hoping to achieve is to build a stock appearing, streetable car that will cruise up and down the freeway at 75-80 MPH, but will also handle the torque of the big block if I decide to take it down the 1/4 mile every now and then. The question is, what are my options for replacing the existing M-21 4-speed with? Can anyone tell me the pro's and con's of switching to a Doug Nash 5-speed transmission? Any other manual options I should consider?

Thanks in advance.
Tim
"Hotrodchev"

[Charley Lillard]

Check out these Guys.. http://www.keislerauto.com/

[Salvatore]

Check out Jerico Transmissions. They have a 4 or 5 speed that they will put synchros in for you. You can't beat it! (704)782-4343 Concord, NC

[JoeG]

There is also G/V--GEAR VENDORS OVERDRIVES-in CA.-800-999-9555--They've been around for awhile

Also American Overdrive--Art Carr was a distributor--Going back 10 or so years on this one-

They both seemed like reliable units--at the time I was looking to save wear and tear on my Hone-o-Drive unit, but installation required a little extra modifying to my floorpan in addition to what had already been modified by Motion------------So the bottom line is I never tried one of these units,but they are altrnatives---JoeG

[Fhakya]

Tim, I'd also suggest picking up the latest issue of Chevy High Performance (dark red 66/67 Nova on the cover...possibly the July issue?).

There's an excellent article on selecting the right transmission from the link that Charley listed above. There's some great charts in the article which show the RPM's the engine will be turning in each gear w/ different rear gears for each of their transmissions.

The same issue also has an article on shift point theories which, when referenced to the above article should help you hone in on the perfect trans for your application.


-Mark Holman

[Late BrakeU2]

T56 W/Lou Salzano shifter

[hotrodchev]

I just want to say thanks to everyone who replied to my post and I'll be looking into each and everyone of these leads. Don't know how many times I've wished I had one more gear just so I could stay out ahead of these modern-day Vette owners a bit longer.


Tim
"Hotrodchev"