Tranny 4-speed or 5-speed Hmmmmm!

[Sizzler]

Originally posted by cobrashoch


Sizzler- a gear venders costs about 1700 beans plus setup costs,
As does a TKO. If you are using a close ratio toploader a gear venders only practical use is as a overdrive. The very best usable combo I've ever seen with a gear venders stick verson was with a very wide ratio Gerico (3) three speed. Don't know if Gerico still make that thing though. That combo seemed to give the best of both worlds ratio wise, street and race, but switching drives in a G.V. really does seem to become a pain in the ass over the long haul. I'm thinking of using a G.V. behind my Coan glide though, so I can run some really tall gears next season. Remember too that you are adding 12 inches to the trannys tailshaft. This shortens the driveshaft that much on a all ready short Cobra driveshaft. On allmost all short wheelbase Cobras this would mean that you can't use a live axle, only a independent rear. (maybe)
In imho only, if you know or even think you are going to need a overdrive it's best to bite the bullet and go with a overdrive tranny right off. In a Cobra a two speed rear end makes more sense to me than a overdrive does. My vote is a TKOII unless you are going past 500lbs of engine torque and plan on really using it.
cobrashock

That's sort of where I am. The torque is such that 1st gear is pretty much of a waste, and 1700 is a lot of beans, but spending them on a weak-sister 5-speed up front only to watch it fall to pieces in the rear-view mirror just didn't seem the wise thing to do. And so far, I'm not missing an OD, not enough driving really. But as I said, I like to keep the option open. And it helped having an easy bolt-in trans considering all the other pain encountered in front of it.