Im wanting to buy the richmond 5 speed tranny for my 91 firebird. I was wondering if anyone has tackled this task and if so what was invovled. What was done with shifter position, clutch, ect, ect.

 

I have just installed a richmond 5 speed trans in my 84. I fits nicely with out any modifications. You will need to get a shifter manufactured by "long" and it will come up in the console in the stock location. I"ve been working on my project for about 2 years now, Unfortunatley I have not driven the car as I am having clutch disengagemanet problems. I am currently looking for an 82 or 83 with the manual linkage to switch it over to get enough travel for disengagement.

 

I kept bypassing this post because I have nothing nice to say about the Richmond gear transmission or their support. However I'd be guilty if I didn't warn others. I recommend that you buy anything else beside a Richmond Gear transmssion.

Factory support is non-existant. I had to disassemble my brand new I-broke-the-seals-on-the-box transmission to replace one of the synchronizers. Yep, it was built with the wrong one on second gear. Ground endlessly. Factory support was 'its your problem.' Brand new transmission, factory built with the wrong synco and I was told it was my problem.

Then I find the trans still has the assembly grease on everything. Was plugging the lube holes, stuck on the bearings. Oh, come to find out it was good that I disassembled the trans. Why you ask?

Because the transmission was built with the wrong assembly grease. It does not dissolve in the oil and would have caused severe internal damage to the transmission. Oh, real good. The support tech actually told me that it was good I found this as they had a lot of mad customers, what, having to buy all new parts and all. Huh, why would the customers have to pay?

While it was apart I was able to discover design flaws. Like the fact that the roller bearing cages drag on the mainshafts. No wonder this thing shifts like crap. Everytime I talked to the factory (which was a lot) they recommended a different lube.

Seems nobody can get the trans to shift properly. Mine doesn't shift right. And I've spent a small foutune trying different lubes. Hell, the old beatup Muncie I took out shifted better.

Then the Hurst shifter. Kept leaving the trans in first gear while the shifter entered the neutral gate. Only thing I could do was craw under the car and knock it out of gear. Then I could drive it again. Usually happened while parking, the first to reverse shift is what did it 99% of the time.

Call up Hurst. They actually told me that they knew the shifter had problems. Why? Because they were given the wrong specs by the transmission manufacturer. For some reason I believe them.

Took the shifter apart, did some welding and machining. Now the trans comes out of first when it is supposed to.

Nope, wouldn't install another Richmond Gear product if it was given to me.

And don't even get me going about the Hooker headers. . .

RBob.

 

sorry to hear about all the trouble that you've had. I know the Hi perf industry is full of suprises like that and quite frankly is annoying as hell especially as much as this stuff costs. I'm currently still in a bind because of the people at lakewood and hayes. I now have a clutch that won't disengage!! Any how if your looking for a shifter ..."long" is the way to go, its nice. The company is in phila.

 

I sometimes wonder how some of these companies stay in business. Matt King the editor of Car Craft brought this exact argument up. He was asking about why folks just modify and deal with the BS of most aftermarket parts.

I wrote him an email that started with "I'd never get a chance to drive my car if I had to send everything that didn't work properly back." My knickname is "Mr. Modify (from way back)." Can't figure out why

Appreciate the input on the Long shifter. My understanding is that they work very well. Maybe why the 6-spd Richmond comes with one. LOL.

RBob.

P.S. Nice clutch linkage can be made from 1/2" cold rolled round stock and 3/8" Heim ends.

 

ttt