40plyrod Posted November 3, 2012 Report Posted November 3, 2012 I'm making progress on the frame of my 40 plymouth sedan, the new shock mounts are in as is the master cylinder. The next step is to finish painting the frame and to start painting and detailing the motor. I've always known that I was keeping the six but waffle back and fourth between keeping the R7 overdrive and installing a T5. Lately I was leaning towards the R7 and had seemed to have made up my mind but on the weekend a neighbor stopped by to see how I was comming along and asked what drivetrain I was going to use expecting that it was going to be a sbc. I told him that I was keeping the six and probably the original transmission but told him about how others had used the T5. He told my that when he had bought his fiat topo it had come with a bunch of parts and a couple of transmissions and maybe one would work. I never thought much more about it but later that day he dropped off a S-10 T5 and told me I could have it he was just glad he wouldn't have to sweep around it anymore. The code on it is 1352-146 which seems to be out of a 85 v6 s-10 but with the low 4.03 first gear. So my question is, is this the T5 I want for a swap and is it worth doing when I already have an overdrive. I have changed the rear axle so keeping the original transmission requires putting a new yoke on the trans. My thoughts are: 1) I have never driven my plymouth so I don't know what the overdrive would be like to use. 2) I plan on driving this thing across Canada and back and the original transmission is old and maybe hard to get parts for and repair if it were to break while on the road 3) I have a special place in my heart for the column shift (I learned to drive and took my drivers test with one) but 5-speed shifting is easy and more modern feeling. What's your opinion please and thank you. Quote
james curl Posted November 3, 2012 Report Posted November 3, 2012 I think that T-5 may have a .70 5th gear and your overdrive is a 30% overdrive or the same as the .70 5th gear T-5. So what would be the advantage of using the T-5 if you already have an overdrive transmission. The standard three speed first gear pulls my 3.55:1 rear drive from a dead stop with ease. Starting in second gear is not that hard with the 3.55:1 finial drive so why would you want a shorter first gear? First gear in the standard is too short to build any kind of speed before shifting to second. Quote
Don Coatney Posted November 3, 2012 Report Posted November 3, 2012 What's your opinion please and thank you. My opinion is questioning why you want my opinion? Why dont you make up your own mind and go for what you want to do? No point in making anyone happy other than yourself! Clime an unclimbed ladder, go where no man has gone before. Who cares besides yourself? Do the math yourself and enjoy the fruits of success. Just keep in mind that failure is not an option. Quote
murfman1967 Posted November 3, 2012 Report Posted November 3, 2012 If you go with the T5 you can sell the R7 to recoup some money. Would you be buying or building the adapter? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted November 3, 2012 Report Posted November 3, 2012 you have the truck wide ratio tranny...1st and 2nd will be rather short pull range then 3rd and 4th is the same as the car and of course 5th as OD..so the above comment about first being close to not needed if you stay with the stock rear gear is true. However with the wide ratio you have the actual advantage of being able to go to a higher rear gear and still have all the pull power off the line you need and will bump you right up to a comfortable speed/rpm to utilize the 3rd and 4th gear normal ratio to all the T5's and then you have the OD..now with the higher rear gear and if you are in hilly country..you may have to downshift to 4th..small trade off for the economy you can realized at a sustained higher interstate speed..another thing to keep in mind when thinking in terms of rear gears, for every .2 ratio you go higher you will see approx 8 mph increase in speed at same rpm.. see this thread as these ratio have been discussed before..I have a few entries with the numbers crunched if you are interested.. http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=32477&highlight=wide+ratio+transmission Quote
oldodge41 Posted November 3, 2012 Report Posted November 3, 2012 I have a 230, original fluid drive tranny and a 3.27 rear. I am considering going T5 in the future. Not for the lower first or higher 5th but for the variety in between. My low and high are fine. I just feel I could use another between 2nd and 3rd at times. A four speed would be great I think. Having said that, I too am fond of the column shift and that has kept me from making the swap. A friend put a 318 and auto in his 50 Plymouth last winter. When I asked how he likes it now he replied." I love the 318 but I really miss the old car feel of the column mount three speed." The floor shifted 5 speed may give more of that original feeling than the auto though. Like Don said, only you can know what you want. Quote
40plyrod Posted November 3, 2012 Author Report Posted November 3, 2012 Thanks for all the replies. Around here the maximum speed limit is around 60mph and I've used the formula for rpm/speed ratio before when I changed the rear in my chevy, but what would be a desired rpm for a mainly stock flat six at around 55-60mph? 2000 rpm or is that too low. Where are they comfortable running? I've never driven the car so I don't have much of a base line to go by. Quote
40plyrod Posted November 3, 2012 Author Report Posted November 3, 2012 Oops Sorry Tim just saw your link. You've already answered that. Quote
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