Looking for transmission knowledge

[TWKundrat]

2 speed manual
not an automatic

Well I suppose if 2 will do it, 6 is probably overkill

[Stan Back]

Years ago, Jack Kelly(ey?) had a beautiful record-setting rear engine belly tank lakester with, as I remember, a 4-speed cable-operated transmission.  I'd asked him if it was reliable and he said he'd never had any trouble with it.  That was not a big surprise after checking out his meticulous machine.

Land racing facilities seem short, even thru the 5-mile at Bonneville and especially the 1.3-mile at El Mirage.  Being able to keep the vehicle at the top of the HP curve for the entire distance seems like a good idea, too.

Not to argue with John as his car, no doubt, probably has a wide HP "peak".

[floydjer]

How about the GM/Ford 10 speed? Steep low gear to get rolling and somewhat even ratio spread from 2nd thru 7th...Which has a 1:1 ratio. About the same size/weight as the 6L80E.

[Rex Schimmer]

When "Jimmy Six" was running his roadster, I remember he and his sons knocked the lower gears out of their tranny when one of the sons set the class record, 200+, so the next day they pushed Jimmy off with high gear only and probably a good load of nitro, he broke the record going around 208. With the kind of torque that they(GMC sixes) make you really don't need lots of gears.
If you use a manual tranny us a Hurst style shifter and as John suggested link the shifter to the tranny with push/pull control cables. Lots of rear engine cars with this setup. And yes use a tranny with straight through top gear, less drag. You may be able to get a NASCAR surplus 4 speed and they will usually set the gearing up anyway you want.

Rex

[JimL]

Sometimes we forget that lower RPM means more traction.  I was taught a long time ago that Bonneville is a drag race, of sorts, with poor traction.  My best results were ALWAYS when I was "overgeared" according to my calculations.  I certainly broke less engines, that way.

Don Sliger told me, my first year, "Don't worry....you'll run out of money before you ever run out of revs".

[TWKundrat]

How about the GM/Ford 10 speed? Steep low gear to get rolling and somewhat even ratio spread from 2nd thru 7th...Which has a 1:1 ratio. About the same size/weight as the 6L80E.

I wonder if there are standalone controllers available for the 10 speeds. I'm also unclear on how much hp loss there is with an auto trans in 1:1 gear with a lock-up converter?
I'm definitely getting excited about getting back into this project. It's been on the shelf for the last two years and we're finally able to get back at it. I'm looking forward to learning a thing or two

[n49racer]

I ran a close ratio Muncie from 5speeds.com in a RMR. No reverse and I used push pul cables on a 3 speed shifter. It wasn?t hard to do. Got 3 records with it.

Ted

[SPARKY]

You beat me to it
close ratio Muncie 2.20 1.64 1.28 1.00

not cheap but a G Force  (where you get to chose gears)  with something like 1.90 1.50  ( 1.20> 1.10) 1.00 would be ideal

[ronnieroadster]

We have had great success with a three speed manually shifted Ford C-4 with a lock up converter setting many records currently three in the book at Speedweek.. We run flathead Fords for power. Vintage engines need a 1 to 1 ratio in high. Any over drive ratio needs a lot of HP to pull. Have one for sale in the for sale section transmission has gone over 200 with limited HP from a Ford flathead and 229 with ARDUN head conversion fastest LTA roadster record  Running a little vintage engine less than 300 cubes.
 Ronnieroadster

[Happy Pappy]

"We have had great success with a three speed manually shifted Ford C-4"
Same here. Our roadster does not have a converter it's bolted to a 351 Cleveland. Just push it and go!
A C4 makes for a small package it's light & doesn't require a bunch of H.P. to turn. If 3 speeds work for you this might be a good option + easy hook up.
At El Mirage I do wish I had another gear between 2nd.& 3rd. the RPM Drop there is significant which means I really have to run it up in 2nd. then shift.

[TWKundrat]

We'll probably be running at El Mirage more than Bonneville so a 4 speed might be preferable. I think a close ratio Muncie is sounding like a pretty good option.

[n49racer]

I'm pretty sure I have my shifter and cables around here somewhere.

ted

[TWKundrat]

Is the Muncie m21 preferred over a Borg Warner t10? Just curious what the differences are

[TWKundrat]

I'm pretty sure I have my shifter and cables around here somewhere.

ted

Is that meaning you'd be willing to sell them?

[n49racer]

Sure. Let me see if I have the brackets still. I know I have the shifter and cables

Ted