Marks69BB

Currently have M20 4sp with 3.08s with a 454 which will be getting a bigger cam. Should I keep the 3.08s and go with a new richmond 5 spd or swap them and keep the M20? If you recommend a gear swap, to what ratio: 3.36s,3.54s, or 3.70s? I plan to hit the drags 4 or 5 times a year and to go on cruises of ~300 miles. Appreciate your replies! :cheers:

jkmhb

I'm putting in a Richmond 5-speed right now. From my research, it appears to be the easiest manual trans. swap. Since 5th in this tranny is 1:1, top gear cruising RPM will be the same as what you have now, but with a 3.27 first gear (as opposed to an m20 2.52 1st gear). It should be great out of the hole. to look at it another way, it will be like having 3.90 gears in first with your current m20.

Larry B.

If you are going on cruise's here is some input. I have a M-20 with 3.55 rear and the correct 27.4 inch diameter tires. At 70mph I tach 2950rpm. Anything lower and you will be revvin' pretty high. if the richmond 5 speed has an O.D then that of course would help. :jester

tsw71

Get the five speed. When you consider the cost of the gear swap and the time it takes to pull the 3rd member, the cost of the five speed seems a little less significant. I think you would be miserable with 3.70's when you hit the highway, and the 3.36 or 3.55 would not make enough of a difference to justify the cost. Also, consider that the 3.28 first gear of the Richmond will be the equivilent of your current tranny and 4.31 in the rear. That ratio in first may sound too low, but it really is alot of fun.

Tom :cheers:

Noel Carboni

That would be the Richmond 6 speed. :cool:

-Noel