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...big spline toploader with Hurst shifter?
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Hey I've got one of those sitting in my garage right now!
I to am running a 3.31 rear gear and wanted over drive. Brent (B2Motorsports) set me up nice with a TKO600 and a .82 OD. As my clutch was already hurting I went with a new unit there as well. I had to have my driveshaft lengthened, some will need it shortened. I had one bad u-joint replaced and of course a new input shaft on the drive as well. I think that ran about $125, had it done locally. You will need the short input shaft for the trans, which I replaced myself having bought that piece from Brent. BUT, you might consider having someone else do that swap before they ship the trans if your not real comfortable with working on the trans yourself.
I used my EXISITING top loader trans mount, which bolted directly to the new TKO. I then had to fabricate a new steel mount on the car's frame to bolt the trans mount too. In my case, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be, but I can see where it could get ugly. Depends on how your exisiting car trans mount works.
Put a spacer between the trans and the bell housing or not? I'm not real keen on using spacers so I went without one. However, not using one moves the new trans shifter slightly forward of the exisiting top loader shifter hole. So, I had to modify the hole for the new shifter. If I did it again, hmmmm, thats a tough one, I'm not sure if I'd use a spacer or not. You STILL might have to do some mods on the existing shifter hole anyway, for side clearance if nothing else.
Finally, I HATE missing that third gear shift when the pressure is on, in the excitement of a "race" it can happen real easy. Especially with a 5 speed. So I went with the Steeda Tri Ax shifter to replace the stock one. GOOD CALL! The Steeda is rock solid on the third gear shift even at high rpm, I never miss. Don't "force it" or try to "shift it", just slam it forward with an open palm and it WILL find the gate.
The .82 dropped the rpm by about 600 or so. That may not sound like a lot, but it's night and day difference in the cockpit sound and exhaust tone. Perfect for me! .6 OD? No way, that will be to low an rpm for sure with a 3.31.
I was already getting 13 to 14 mpg with DUAL carbs, the top loader and the 3.31. BUT, I was also running toward the lean side on my carb jets and power valve. To lean for the track, drag strip and when the motor was cold, but OK for cruising. I had a pretty good "bog" out of the hole unless the motor was up to full temp with the lean jetting and it was hell getting it to warm up and idle right when cold. I changed jetting and PV's when I changed the trans and haven't been able to check mpg since. I'm running way toward the rich side now, plugs load up at idle, a bit of black smoke if I idle to long. BUT, no problem with a cold motor and more important NO BOG off the line at the drag strip. Actually mpg seems to be about the same, must be the OD doing it's thing? I need two sets of carbs, one for the street (lean) and another set for the track (rich). I may do that!