5 speed quote for 1970 satty from Keisler

[Acworld34]

I got a a quote from Keisler which seems pretty high. I just picked up a 1970 satellite with a automatic column shifter and was thinking about putting a 5 speed in it. But after this quote i will be rethinking this because of how expensive this is.

Does anyone know why? Or is there anyway i can get a cheaper 5 speed or is this on the money for what i am trying to do? $6K seems

 

[Budnicks]

yep they are pricey, maybe try over @ either Brewers Performance or Passon Performance, they will have an O/D trans in 4 speed in complete kits for $3500 or so & soon a 833 5 speed O/D supposedly @ Brewers, someday maybe, they've been saying it for years now... there's also Borg Warner, Hurst, Richmond & Doug Nash too... more than one way to skin a cat

- - - Updated - - -

even Jerico Racing Transmissions they ain't cheap thou, like $3200 for a USED Roush/Yates version or there is a Jerico 5 speed road race version too

 

[Acworld34]

Yeah i was thinking more on the lines of $2,500 to $3,500 but this is ridicoulous.... I don't have any experience with transmissions but is there a way i can some of these parts cheaper?

They have the nerve to charge shipping also?!?! for that price it should be free... that is almost close to what i paid for my car... I can probably get a used modern 5.7 or 6.1 engine and tranny for that that price

yep they are pricey, maybe try over @ either Brewers Performance or Passon Performance, they will have an O/D trans in 4 speed in complete kits for $3500 or so & soon a 833 5 speed O/D supposedly @ Brewers, someday maybe, they've been saying it for years now... there's also Borg Warner, Hurst, Richmond & Doug Nash too... more than one way to skin a cat

- - - Updated - - -

even Jerico Racing Transmissions they ain't cheap thou, like $3200 for a USED Roush/Yates version or there is a Jerico 5 speed road race version too

 

[rebel513r]

I have been looking for the same thing, and they are pricey. Even a 4 speed conversion is 4K to start if you want a rebuilt trans. You can find used kits on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310563724458?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I've considered this option as well

 

[moparmarks]

Try www.americanpowertrain.com
They have TKO and Tremic setups for our Mopars.

 

[Canadian1968CoronetR/T]

I have thinking of turning mine back to a 4 speed , got as far as buying a rebuilt 18 spline for $1200 cnd, local.
I too tried Brewers etc way to pricey.
Now I have been considering selling my car and buying a car with 4 speed already in it.
I too have never did this conversion, but to have someone else do it, is going to be way to expensive.
Plus if I put between $5000 and $6000 into the car, it is money I cannot get back and would put the car in the price range of $36,000 and my car would still need a paint job, now we are getting really up there. I think this hobby is getting way out of hand.

 

[tallhair]

Well from a quick read through the quote that is literally every-thing or pretty damn close to it. You are going from an auto/column car to a full manual trans and need everything it looks like. If you get it all from them it's gonna cost more than going from a 4 speed to a 5 speed in an existing manual car. You even have hydraulic clutch set-up sourced there at $629, plus pedals, flywheel, flywheel bolts, clutch, shifter, shifter ball, shifter ball nut, shifter boot, shifter boot chrome hold down, and on and on, literally everything including many parts you would be replacing in the resto if you had a 4 speed car and were just restoring it as is.

If a 4 speed guy were just replacing all his 4 speed stuff that typically needs done on this list it would be pushing $1.5-$2K so it's not really that bad when you think of it that way. And the manual trans experience if you keep it is gonna be priceless. So you could look at it that way or like you said, sell this car and buy one that's already a 4 speed but needing most stuff refurbed and speed a good deal of money too and still have a 4 speed car. Of course having an actual 4 speed car is a plus and you could have fun with that while you are thinking about spending $4K to upgrade to a 5 speed.

 

[Speedbird]

Somewhere I got the idea that it was about half that for a complete conversion.
Yes, I am going to rethink it too.
If somone is going to keep the car, that is about the only way it seems to make sense to do it to me from an investment standpoint.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Well from a quick read through the quote that is literally every-thing or pretty damn close to it. You are going from an auto/column car to a full manual trans and need everything it looks like. If you get it all from them it's gonna cost more than going from a 4 speed to a 5 speed in an existing manual car. You even have hydraulic clutch set-up sourced there at $629, plus pedals, flywheel, flywheel bolts, clutch, shifter, shifter ball, shifter ball nut, shifter boot, shifter boot chrome hold down, and on and on, literally everything including many parts you would be replacing in the resto if you had a 4 speed car and were just restoring it as is.

If a 4 speed guy were just replacing all his 4 speed stuff that typically needs done on this list it would be pushing $1.5-$2K so it's not really that bad when you think of it that way. And the manual trans experience if you keep it is gonna be priceless. So you could look at it that way or like you said, sell this car and buy one that's already a 4 speed but needing most stuff refurbed and speed a good deal of money too and still have a 4 speed car. Of course having an actual 4 speed car is a plus and you could have fun with that while you are thinking about spending $4K to upgrade to a 5 speed.

I agree. There are a lot of parts there for the price. Seems reasonable to me.

If you think this is a cheap hobby, you are in for a shock.

Can you get parts cheaper? Probably. Lots of crap comes from China. Cheaper to do it right the first time and spend money on quality parts.

 

[Sweet5ltr]

You know, a quick google search can be great for this kind of info. The 'a' body forum has members who have done the TKO500/600 and T56 swaps but they all say that it was not for the faint of heart and the prices would be near what you were quoted. You don't see many 4-speed cars anymore, which is sad, as everyone loves checking out my Hurst pistol grip shifter as it is nearly tall as the dash.. My RR wouldn't be the same without the 4-speed, I mean, it is what makes a 'muscle car' a 'muscle car'! Don't really care if it runs a little slower, or breaks a few more parts, it is nostalgic and pure.. I honestly don't consider a car a 'muscle car' or 'hot rod' without a manual! K'mon, if your granny can drive it, you should be ashamed!

- - - Updated - - -

I agree. There are a lot of parts there for the price. Seems reasonable to me.

If you think this is a cheap hobby, you are in for a shock.

Can you get parts cheaper? Probably. Lots of crap comes from China. Cheaper to do it right the first time and spend money on quality parts.

I agree, it is not a cheap hobby.. I have a few thousand just in disc brakes, I mean you have to be willing to spend money in the right places. It isn't a cheap hobby like firearms (my second hobby).. It is something that may take you years to complete, but when your done, you will have a car that 99.99% of the population doesn't!

 

[coloradodave]

Guess you never heard of the "Little Old Lady From Pasadena".... lol. What do you think grannys drove before there were automatics? Never thought I'd have to defend grannys on this site.....lol.

 

[tallhair]

Guess you never heard of the "Little Old Lady From Pasadena".... lol. What do you think grannys drove before there were automatics? Never thought I'd have to defend grannys on this site.....lol.

That gal is long gone I'm a fear'd

 

[NJRR]

I have been pondering this same situation for the last couple of years. I have a 70 RR, 383 auto. It is totally restored and has everything I want in a Mopar EXCEPT it's not a 4-speed. !!!!! I have examined an 833 conversion ($3-4k for parts), looked at the new overdrive conversions ($5-6k) and that's without labor, whether mine or someone else's !!!!! I then thought about selling my RR and buying a 4 speed but a) haven't been able to sell mine for enough to get a 4 speed that is equivalent shape and b) haven't been able to find a 4-speed 70 RR in as nice a shape as mine !!!! I also thought about buying a project car 70 RR and building it the way I want. It seems it will cost me more than what I can sell mine for + the conversion to make it anywhere near as nice as mine. So, I haven't rushed into anything and am just enjoying my RR even though it's an automatic. No, it's not a cheap hobby, but my car is already paid for and only cost's me $200 a year for insurance. I figure if the right deal or the right 4 speed comes along, I'll act then.

You don't see many 4-speed cars anymore, which is sad, as everyone loves checking out my Hurst pistol grip shifter as it is nearly tall as the dash.. My RR wouldn't be the same without the 4-speed, I mean, it is what makes a 'muscle car' a 'muscle car'! Don't really care if it runs a little slower, or breaks a few more parts, it is nostalgic and pure.. I honestly don't consider a car a 'muscle car' or 'hot rod' without a manual!
- - - Updated - - -



I agree, it is not a cheap hobby.. I have a few thousand just in disc brakes, I mean you have to be willing to spend money in the right places. It isn't a cheap hobby like firearms (my second hobby).. It is something that may take you years to complete, but when your done, you will have a car that 99.99% of the population doesn't!

Sweet5- I'm a shooter too. That aint so cheap these days either. I'm sure you've seen the price of ammo these days !!!!!!!!! You can thank Mr Obama for that

 

[Deleted member 214]

Somewhere I got the idea that it was about half that for a complete conversion.
Yes, I am going to rethink it too.
If somone is going to keep the car, that is about the only way it seems to make sense to do it to me from an investment standpoint.

Half of that for conversion from 4-speed to five speed, yeah. That is what it cost me. The extra in this quote in the pedals, hydraulic clutch, bellhousing, clutch, flywheel, etc.

 

[Sweet5ltr]

Sweet5- I'm a shooter too. That aint so cheap these days either. I'm sure you've seen the price of ammo these days !!!!!!!!! You can thank Mr Obama for that

Lucky I stock piled ammunition for the past few years! Sold a few thousand rounds during the ammunition crisis locally last year, and also sold my FN FAL and mint Yugo M70B1, but they went to good homes. Still have 12,000 rounds so I am set for awhile and can wait out this madness.

Funny thing is my father actually converted our RR to a 727 auto in the 70's from a 4-speed thinking he would get better gas mileage.. Absolutely hated it, so put the A833 back in (luckily).. These A833's are nearly bullet proof... I mean, pro stock used em' for quite a few years in the 80's and 90's.. Let alone Super Stock in the 70's.. Ain't no love for em' anymore though..

 

[Dennis H]

Not worth it. Keep the automatic. Gear reduction if you are looking for highway gears.

 

[Kern Dog]

Yeah i was thinking more on the lines of $2,500 to $3,500 but this is ridicoulous.... I don't have any experience with transmissions but is there a way i can some of these parts cheaper?

They have the nerve to charge shipping also?!?! for that price it should be free... that is almost close to what i paid for my car... I can probably get a used modern 5.7 or 6.1 engine and tranny for that that price

Yeah.. EVERYthing should be free. After all, people that sell transmission kits don't need to eat or make house payments or anything.

What is your problem? You want it, YOU will have to pay for it. The quote I read includes a hydraylic clutch setup and a pedal kit. Those two items alone add over $1100 to the cost. Try finding all of these pieces at swap meets or online and you may save a few bucks. By buying a KIT, you are paying MORE for the convenience of having the VENDOR do all of the parts collecting.
If you want junkyard prices, go grab your tools and get to it. You can buy a B or E body 833 4 speed and use ALL factory parts to get it into the Plymouth. If it is an overdrive you want, Brewers sells a replacement gear set that fits inside the stock 4 speed case, but it has an overdriven 4th gear. It costs about $1900 for the gear kit.
No matter how you look at it, it is the OVERdrive that makes these conversions expensive. If you have average luck in scrounging, you could gather all the individual parts to swap in a stock 4 speed for less that $2000.

 

[2fuzy]

The cost of kiesler stuff has always made me shy away but mopars are not easy cars to change over I converted my 71 to a 4sp and considering I hade a lot of parts in the barn it still was over a 3k investment
To do a factory correct swap you will have the engine out the int out the plasma cutter welder etc some of this will be avoided with the five speed kit

 

[Dennis H]

I have an early Keisler TKO 5 speed. Replaced the A833 Hemi 4 speed. It gave me the road gears that allow me to run all over the West. Over 7 thousand miles a year on trips alone. That said, I saw Shafi apologizing for a Hemi Charger that had its lunch eaten due to a clutch problem on a televised show. Passon has nothing but excuses and a waiting list. Keep the automatic.

Get your wallet and don't complain, or just enjoy the point and stab pleasure of an automatic. Some of us are in our late 50's like me. How goddam long do we have to wait for an overdrive 5 or 6 speed that does not require cutting?

 

[Relax360]

You can always put a winters shifter and a manual valve body and have just as much fun.