Richmond 6-Speed Installation Update

**larry bud** · 08-06-03, 05:35 PM

Folks, I'm installed the 6-speed into my '86 and documenting it on my website:

http://www.areddy.net/vettetrans

My paint project:

http://www.areddy.net/vettepaint

I just updated today as I have now removed the old tranmission, bell housing, and clutch. I'm going to replace the clutch and release bearing before installation.

FourAndAHalf · 08-06-03, 09:35 PM

dude this is great, im so happy i found this post, im thinking about installing the richmond in my 85, have you already installed the richmond, if not are you going to do a tutorial on the istallation as you did for the dissasembly, that would be great

**Ken** · 08-06-03, 10:22 PM

I saw your other post abpout the torque arm Larry, and didn't realize at the time that you were installing a ROD 6-speed. You'll love it! Just make sure everything is aligned properly; I've heard from people complaining about the thing being hard to shift, and how it was prone to jumpng out of gear, etc. before I bought mine. All I can say is that they must not have installed the thing correctly, or they can't shift worth a damn, because I have had absolutely no problems with mine.

Well, ok one problem...

You mentioned on your web site about worrying whether you'd be able to drive it with the new trans; it does take some getting used to, but the hardest thing (which I have yet to learn) is not to push too hard when shifting from second to third gear, or when downshifting from fifth to fourth gears.

The gate is a pretty natural gate, but it is touchy, so don't excert too much effort when banging gears, or you'll do as I and miss a couple. It's not too bad when you miss third and hit fourth, because all you do is lose power, but if you are powershifting as I was, and going from third for fourth and accidently pull a little too hard to the left, you'll drag it back into second gear and that gets kinda scary at full throttle! ...And there ain't no rev limiter in the world designed to prevent over-revs when the rear wheels are causing the over-revs. Damage can come quickly.

Not to worry though, you'll love it. Congratulations!

**larry bud** · 08-07-03, 07:39 AM

Originally posted by FourAndAHalf
dude this is great, im so happy i found this post, im thinking about installing the richmond in my 85, have you already installed the richmond, if not are you going to do a tutorial on the istallation as you did for the dissasembly, that would be great

I haven't installed it yet, just pulled the old one out yesterday. I'm replacing the clutch and release bearing, so I need to buy that today. Hopefully this weekend I'll have time for reassembly.

**larry bud** · 08-07-03, 07:40 AM

Originally posted by Ken
I saw your other post abpout the torque arm Larry, and didn't realize at the time that you were installing a ROD 6-speed. You'll love it! Just make sure everything is aligned properly; I've heard from people complaining about the thing being hard to shift, and how it was prone to jumpng out of gear, etc. before I bought mine. All I can say is that they must not have installed the thing correctly, or they can't shift worth a damn, because I have had absolutely no problems with mine.

Ken, what alignment issues do I have to deal with in the installation? I've never touched a trans before, so this is new to me!

**Ken** · 08-07-03, 02:50 PM

Just the usual; although Richmond is quite specific about making sure the transmission is dead-center in alignment with the back of the block and the crankshaft. The booklet has all of the instructions on what to watch for.

_ken

FourAndAHalf · 08-07-03, 10:42 PM

larry,

how long did it take for you take the transmission, from the point of jacking the car up to the point of wheeling it out? how long, thanks

**69MyWay** · 08-08-03, 04:18 AM

This is exciting to read.

I just got my ROD six the other day. It will be going in my 69. I am months out from getting started on it. I am anxious to see how you feel about yours.

I drove Ken's car, and can tell you that the trans feels good and tight.

I am curious about your thought process that caused you to select the ROD. I have seen people using the T56 in the older C4s, as well as the five speed tremec...with, mods to the tail shaft for the torque arm.

I realize that the ROD is set up for a "bolt in" application with the torque arm, and the shifter is already in the right spot. That may be explanation enough.

**larry bud** · 08-08-03, 07:30 AM

I am curious about your thought process that caused you to select the ROD. I have seen people using the T56 in the older C4s, as well as the five speed tremec...with, mods to the tail shaft for the torque arm.

I realize that the ROD is set up for a "bolt in" application with the torque arm, and the shifter is already in the right spot. That may be explanation enough.

That was the reason. I don't have any welding experience or the tools, and this is the first time I've EVER touched a transmission, so I wanted it as easy as possible. I ordered a corvette fever mag that Ken recommended where they did this installation, and although the article was a bit sparse, there didn't seem to be too much to it.

**larry bud** · 08-08-03, 07:30 AM

Originally posted by FourAndAHalf
larry,

how long did it take for you take the transmission, from the point of jacking the car up to the point of wheeling it out? how long, thanks

Please see my website, I have everything documented as well as the amount of time it took.

**larry bud** · 08-10-03, 07:02 PM

Thought I'd bump this up, as I've made major progress in the installation. Please see my website

http://www.areddy.net/vettetrans

**69MyWay** · 08-10-03, 09:25 PM

Thanks!

I enjoyed seeing your progress.

I am really getting excited about mine now!

It will be a bit more work to get the ROD in the C3..but I am sure well worth it!

**larry bud** · 08-13-03, 08:22 PM

Finally! Got it all back together tonight. Installation turned out to be much easier than taking it apart. Always seems to be the case...

I did have one BIG scare. When I first turned the motor over (in neutral), I heard a huge BANG from under the hood. thought I destroyed both the motor and trans.... well, not quite. Just turned out to be that I forgot to reattach the EGR Pipe! It was as if the exhaust manifold wasn't attached (I had to remove it to get a broken stud out).

So far I like how it drives, and it's very responsive. You get more vibration through the shifter, presumably due to the fact that it's bolted directly to the trans, but it's not as if the shifter is shaking. The gear whine is a bit loud in 1-4 gears, but I suspect that will diminish as a few miles are put on it (only about 10 so far). I haven't really opened it up yet, as I probably think some break-in time should be allowed.

I was worried about whether or not I could tell what gear it was in, but not to worry! You can easily tell. I know Ken had mentioned that some people experienced the shifter popping out of gear, but I haven't had that happen.

The final price tag was a couple of bucks under $4k. $3250 of that was in the trans, and I DID put in a new clutch (about $200) , so I probably saved $400 in labor

See my site for more info
http://www.areddy.net/vettetrans