19doug90

Well im converting my auto to a manual and i have some issues.
Just background info its a 90 5.7L iroc with some mods so prolly pushing around 400 ft pounds

First of all a used t-56 is basically out of the question, they are impossible to find up here in ontario and the only place that can get one wants 2700 canadian for trans alone and im pretty sure that i can buy a new one for around 3000.

With that being said i have been looking into a richmond 5 speed and think that might be my best way to go. Its about 500-700 dollars cheaper then the t-56 and money is definitly an issue because i am just barely going to be able to afford this swap. I just wanted some background information as to where can i get a bellhousing that will fit the tranny, what hydraulics/linkages/pedals can i use with it? I was really hoping to do the swap myself but i have no way of fabricating a crossmember at home so i will probably get it done at a shop, which i guess is almost enough reason to get the 6 speed hmm i guess it wouldnt cost more. Would still like peoples opinions on the richmond 5 and what i will need to do to make it work.

PLEASE DO NOT SAY THE RICHMOND IS CRAP BECAUSE ITS A 5 SPEED AND HAS NO OVERDRIVE, I DONT CARE

RB83L69

IIRC all you need is the stock T-5 stuff, if you use the one that's designed as a bolt-in T-5 replacement; pedals, flywheel, hydraulics, bell housing, console. Basically, just strip a junk 84-92 V8/T-5 Camaro or Firebird. Seems to me there was one thing that was different, like the crossmember or something; a visit to www.richmondgear.com might answer more of that sort of question.

Also IIRC it has REAL LOW gears 1-4; it's set up to work best with 2.73 and 3.08 type gears. It gives you gears 1-4 that are about like 1-4 in a 4-speed/3.73 or /4.10 setup. With those rear gears, direct (which is what 5th in the Richmond is, or 4th in a T-5) might as well be an overdrive anyway.

19doug90

so what can and cant i use? Does anyone know for sure?

I didnt expect that the crossmember would work, and i read something about the tq arm needing to be shortened?

RB83L69

What does the installation guide that you downloaded off of www.richmondgear.com say?