Swapping to a Manual Transmission

[Kilgore20]

Im wanting to swap my automatic for a manual. Im not looking for any performance out of it just the sheer pleasure of shifting gears. I grew up driving a manual for my first car. I drove it till the day i was able to buy my own vehicle. But since I bought my 74 barracuda i have been secretly been thinking of swapping it to a manual. My questions for this swap are.

Whats the best transmission for the swap? (Its a 318. I will be adding some horses to it but not wanting some power house.)
What are some of the consideration? ie. transmission hump, pedal assembly.
What are the major expenses?
Better for four speed or five speed? (will be driving this car long distances and cruising in it.)

Will have more questions as yall answer these.

[JoeGrapes]

I did it with my car maybe 10 years ago. It was an easy swap. I just used a stock A833 23 spline from a '72 Roadrunner. The tranny was the most expensive part. All the other parts, bell housing, tranny floor hump, peddle assembly, shifter and rods, clutch and linkage, fly wheel and drive shaft are all easy to get. Most of my parts I picked up at swap meets. You will have to attach the clutch linkage bracket to the frame but other than that it was all just bolt on parts. I don't drive mine as much as you do so the stock tranny is fine but you might was to consider an overdrive tranny depending on your rear end gears. I run 3.91 in my car but if I were doing a lot of highway driving I'd put the 3.23 back in. The car will defiantly have a higher wow factor with the pistol grip shifter.

[Chryco Psycho]

There is a thread in the archives on all the needed parts , figure on $3500 or so to do the swap ,  I would just use an A833 or A833 OD , simple bolt in , you will need a lot of parts , pedals& linkage , belhousing, clutch , driveshaft if you have a 904 now , floor hump & shifter
You can use the 80s Truck or van OD version with .71 OD in 4th , it is a simple bolt in with a few minor mods ,
 The only 5 speed I would look at is the new Passon one but there is a waiting list ! It is also not cheap .
 You can run the Viper T56 but it requires major floor surgery to fit it properly 

[Kilgore20]

Whats the best transmission with an overdrive? Im having a guy build my 318. We are hoping to get around 350 to 400 hp out of it. Fingers crossed. I live in central Alabama so I am four hours from the beach and four hours from the mountains. I plan on driving this car to both. So I want a transmission that will hold up to a few burn outs and long drives.

[Kilgore20]

Thanks Chryco. I am looking for those post in the archives. I have been contemplating this awhile and still nervous about it. I don't know if yall have seen my rebuild thread. But since I have tore this car down this far I might as well make it the way I want it. So with that being said I start collecting the parts needed. And will I need to change my console.

[Chryco Psycho]

The Best trans with OD Viper T56 Magnum , bullet proof , 6 speeds
 Next best Passons 855 , just bolts in .
 Next best A833 with a Gear Vendors overdrive unit .
 Next best A833 OD from a truck or van
 Any would hold up for you build .
 You need to trim the console housing & get a different top plate for the 4 spd

[dpcd67]

I have a Tremec 5 speed in my 340 Cuda and it works great; bear in mind I do not power nor speed shift; the overdrive really makes a difference. It shifts and runs very smoothy.

[Beekeeper]

I have the Tremec 5 spd in my 64 Vette and really like it but I too am not putting high horsepower through it or banging gears, just cruising.

Something to keep in mind if you do an overdrive, plan on having 3.73 gears. I did it with 3.55 and the rpms were just too low on the freeway unless you went 80. I was always going between 4th and 5th to keep the engine in a good cruising sweet spot. At 3.73, it's wonderful.

[brads70]

Something to keep in mind if you do an overdrive, plan on having 3.73 gears. I did it with 3.55 and the rpms were just too low on the freeway unless you went 80. I was always going between 4th and 5th to keep the engine in a good cruising sweet spot. At 3.73, it's wonderful.

  I have 3:55 and engine is not "happy" at 60 MPH