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3 speed to 4 or 5 speed swap?
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purple72Gremlin View Drop Down
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Points: 16611 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote purple72Gremlin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep/29/2022 at 9:13pm
Originally posted by Sonic Silver Sonic Silver wrote:

Wikipedia says you are right about the 304 and T-14, and that the T-15 came in engines larger than 304. TSM says otherwise in 70 and 71. So, who knows? If I'm wrong about the 304, so be it. I'm not about the 360, which was the point of the thread to begin with. I was just trying to make the point that the T-15 was strong enough for AMC to make it standard with the 360-4 barrel in 1971 SC/360 and Javelin 360. The V8 Gremlin is a great car. Enjoy!
I had a worn 360 in front of my T14. I was care ful.   It was fun and I drove it to the 2002 Rambler show. (450 miles one way)
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tomj View Drop Down
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40, 50 years is a long time. Any owner, dealer or repair shop could have switched transmissions. It's done all the time. 
1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5
http://www.ramblerLore.com
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Some Borg Warner 3-speeds were very strong. 

My question is: why would you want to swap on a 4-speed T10? You gain practically nothing over your current 3-speed. It will have about the same low gear so it will still suck off the line and it will have the very same high gear so it will still suck on the highway. All you gain with the 4-speed is another gear in between where you don't really need it. 

I do not like revving my engine to 1200 rpm and slipping clutch up to 10 mph to get my car rolling and STILL running 3500 rpm at 75 mph. It sucks at both ends. Manual transmission gearing of that whole era really aggravates me. 

5-speed is the only way to go as far as I am concerned, or perhaps a wide ratio 4-speed, but no T10 was ever wide enough. The best 1st gear they ever had was like 2.50:1. 

I really like the wide ratio transmissions that AMC came out with around 1976. They were little transmissions that couldn't take big V8 power, but they had nice low gears. 
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What is the total cost to put in a 5 speed transmission?
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Originally posted by FSJunkie FSJunkie wrote:

5-speed is the only way to go as far as I am concerned, or perhaps a wide ratio 4-speed, but no T10 was ever wide enough. The best 1st gear they ever had was like 2.50:1. 

Actually, it was 2.64 in an AMC. But point taken.
Buzzman72...void where prohibited, your mileage may vary, objects in mirror may be closer than they appear, and alcohol may intensify any side effects.
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The cost of a T5 swap is pretty much the difference between the cost of a T10 vs the T5 transmission. Most all other costs for bearings, springs, transmission mounts ... are very close if not exactly the same.
An AMC T10 of the late 60's to 74 is the same as the GM T10 Power Brute and many parts interchange.
There are lots of T5 donors and Fords up to 1991 being the best for a bolt up. You can even get more expensive gear sets to take more torque, added cost of course. 

Believe, though have not done this myself, that the 3 speed bellhousing you have is 6.5" just like the late 80's Jeep bellhousing most use for the T5 swap. You can possibly use your 3 speed bellhousing for this swap. Others please chime in if this is correct.
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Originally posted by Buzzman72 Buzzman72 wrote:

Originally posted by FSJunkie FSJunkie wrote:

5-speed is the only way to go as far as I am concerned, or perhaps a wide ratio 4-speed, but no T10 was ever wide enough. The best 1st gear they ever had was like 2.50:1. 

Actually, it was 2.64 in an AMC. But point taken.
I think you are right. My T-10 is a 2.43 first and it's adequate with a 3.54 axle, but I'd be happier with at least 3.15.  
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I recently got a quote from Silver Sports Transmission for a Tremec TKX 5 speed for my 390 AMX. It was just under $4500 for everything; bellhousing, hydraulic clutch, ... The trans itself was $2800. You would not likely need the TKX for your application so it would probably be less.

I swaped a T-10 into my 1968 three on the tree 290 Javelin. That was nearly 40 years ago but my recollection is it was a direct swap. The hardest part was moving the shifter to the floor. I put in a new clutch but I did it because the old one was worn out. I can't remember if it would have worked for the T-10. I probably replaced the pilot bushing too. Everything else stayed the same; flywheel, bell housing, clutch linkage, driveline... The crossmember stayed the same but I'm pretty sure the T-10 trans mount was different. I was 18 at the time and not much of a mechanic. It was an easy swap.

I'm not necessarily advocating the T-10. It is a great transmission but I want a bit of an overdrive. Your decision may also be influenced by your differential ratio. I don't know that an overdrive gains you a lot if you have highway gears. 
Mike
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Points: 6884 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trader Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct/06/2022 at 11:10am
You should really look at this site and do your own calculations on what you want and what you have:
Your desired goals for driving will dictate a lot.
For a street car, you want a total 9:1 to 10:1 first ratio.
For a drag car you want 12:1 to 14:1 first ratio.
The calculator will give you your final cruise RPM based on the choices of transmission and differential ratio. Most like 2100 to 2500 RPM at their cruise speed.
FSJunkie, you may not want that 3.15:1 differential if living in an area with hills as a 7.65:1 first would be hard to launch and a lot of clutch riding. Nicer with a T10 on the open highway though. 
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Edited by amxron - Oct/16/2022 at 1:51am
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