Just bought the vehicle not but a few months back. True, it needs some body work but I've always been one to perfect the inside before toying with the overall exterior of a car.

I also believe a real car is one with at least a 5 speed. This being something I plan on entirely doing on my own.

Any suggestions/tidbits you could put in on getting started?

Opinions are always appreciated.

 

My first suggestion would be to start with a outline of what your planned use is for the car. Then whatever performance upgrades you might make to the engine. After all that is written down, then you can decide what trans will best fit your application. Finally you'll need to decide what your budget is for the trans and the project car.
If you don't start out with a good guideline, you'll end up chasing your tail, and buying things you don't need, or can't use. If you pencil it all out you'll find it will go smoother, and cost you less in the end.
Your costs could be fairly high from the get go, just because of your original statement, "at least a 5 speed". Unless you go with a T5 5 speed, any other 5 spd or 6 spd will cost you over $1,000 alone, and then there's clutch, bellhousing, pressure plate, mounts, linkage, pedal assemblies, Z bar, or hydraulics, etc.....
I sure understand your wanting a stick, as many people don't consider a car a hotrod if it isn't manually shifted. Just be sure what you get is what you thought you wanted before you started.

 

A 6 speed would be my first choice but I completely agree on outlining the project first. As I would and have done with my more minor fix ups on it. Do you have a preferred way to go referring to the 6 speed? My knowledge on the transmission is fairly new.

 

Only one way to go in my opinion, and that's the T56 5 or 6 speed.

 

Right on. I'll have to look into that then, thanks.

 

A T56 is only a 6 speed. T5 is a 5 speed. If you want a reliable 5 speed, which is lighter than a 6. Go with a TKO500 or 600. Hurst Driveline Conversions, your NUMBER ONE source for 5 speed and 6 speed Tremec Transmission conversion kits! The tranny starts 2295. It goes all the way to 5Gs for everything needed plus top end clutch and shifter.



The T56 they offer is no joke. Rated at 700hp/700ft lbs. Its my dream tranny and I'll be sell in my four speed stuff to get it.

 

Sorry, you're right of course Damon. He'll have to go Tremec for a 5 speed, unless he's going lower HP and then the T5 would work in a std. low performance engine.

 

The factory T56s are rated lower and priced lower accordingly. As for being right, I'm not counting.

 

This looks a lot like Keislers trans kit. If you haven't, check out HomePage

 

I'll just look into both ideas. No hurry here seeing as that this is a project car for me. In saying that I would most likely go for a 6 speed. My top choice in a shifter should be put in so that I don't regret or reconsider an already expensive and time consuming job later on in life.

After consulting in my friend about the T56 6 speed, he said something about that coming originally from the Trans Am? Is he correct there?