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Aug. 16, 2011 11:37 p.m. JohnyHachi6 Reader
Need to find a cheap manual transmission for a project on a challenge-ish budget. Here's the requirements:
- Aluminum case
- RWD compatible (for a longitudinal setup)
- At least 4 speed
- Capable of handling 400 lb-ft of torque, measured at the wheels
- Readily available flywheel & clutch assembly
- Dirt, dirt cheap ($250 max for entire trans and clutch/flywheel assembly)
- No granny gear
- Don't care what it bolts to (I'll fab up a bell housing and driveshaft, as long as the trans is cheap enough).
I think the best way to stay under the price limit is to find something at one of the Atlanta Pull-A-Parts, but I don't know if anything this beefy (and aluminum) is ever going to show up there.

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks!
Aug. 16, 2011 11:49 p.m. Ranger50 Dork

Good luck on that.... About the only thing is a Ford WC V8 T5. Although holding 400ft/# is going to be a challenge.
Aug. 17, 2011 12:26 a.m. JohnyHachi6 Reader

Yeah - if I ever found a WC T5 I'd probably give it a try. They're kind hard to come by in the yards though, and anyone who knows what they have will want more $ for one.
Aug. 17, 2011 12:32 a.m. fast_eddie_72 Dork

Well, I've read that a Toyota W58 will stand up to that kind of power. Not sure if that's the case or not. But they can be found in the yards and I know they are pretty beefy.
Aug. 17, 2011 12:51 a.m. fast_eddie_72 Dork

Hum. Some google work shows a lot of mystery in the Toyota boxes. Not sure that a W55 isn't just as good. Something for you to waste time looking up on the internet if nothing more.
Aug. 17, 2011 7:34 a.m. tuna55 SuperDork

A833 from Dodge or they called it MY6 from Chevy. four speed OD and cheap if you can find one. I have one, but it's not for sale.
Aug. 17, 2011 8:58 a.m. Autolex HalfDork

What about a basic T-5? or is that too weak?
Aug. 17, 2011 11:08 a.m. HiTempguy Dork

tuna55 wrote:

A833 from Dodge or they called it MY6 from Chevy. four speed OD and cheap if you can find one. I have one, but it's not for sale.

Any old skool chebby 4 speed should handle that kind of power... and they aren't very expensive if you go for the mainstream versions.
Aug. 17, 2011 11:19 a.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

fast_eddie_72 wrote:

Hum. Some google work shows a lot of mystery in the Toyota boxes. Not sure that a W55 isn't just as good. Something for you to waste time looking up on the internet if nothing more.

I was pretty sure that the differences between the W55/6/7/8 were all pretty minimal. W54 is still similar, though it's iron case, so out of the equation.

There's something tickling the back of my brain that says the W-series Toyota trannies and T5s are very closely related, too.
Aug. 17, 2011 11:56 a.m. tuna55 SuperDork

HiTempguy wrote:

tuna55 wrote:

A833 from Dodge or they called it MY6 from Chevy. four speed OD and cheap if you can find one. I have one, but it's not for sale.

Any old skool chebby 4 speed should handle that kind of power... and they aren't very expensive if you go for the mainstream versions.

Muncie, you mean? That could work
Aug. 17, 2011 12:00 p.m. fast_eddie_72 Dork

HiTempguy wrote:

Any old skool chebby 4 speed should handle that kind of power... and they aren't very expensive if you go for the mainstream versions.

Do they have aluminum cases?
Aug. 17, 2011 12:05 p.m. tuna55 SuperDork

fast_eddie_72 wrote:

HiTempguy wrote:

Any old skool chebby 4 speed should handle that kind of power... and they aren't very expensive if you go for the mainstream versions.

Do they have aluminum cases?

Right - I don't think they are, the ones I mentioned are aluminum.
Aug. 17, 2011 1:57 p.m. HiTempguy Dork

fast_eddie_72 wrote:

Do they have aluminum cases?

Doh. Even though I must question why? You are excluding a ton of transmissions (actually, probably the only ones that fit all your other criteria) because of the aluminum case.

Also, the A833 is an overdrive dodge 4 speed that is weak from what I understand, not nearly as strong as the regular dodge 4 speeds of that era.

And finally, yes, I meant basically any muncie, but a super t10 is CHEAP compared to a muncie IIRC, and will handle that powa!
Aug. 17, 2011 2:01 p.m. tuna55 SuperDork

HiTempguy wrote:

fast_eddie_72 wrote:

Do they have aluminum cases?

Doh. Even though I must question why? You are excluding a ton of transmissions (actually, probably the only ones that fit all your other criteria) because of the aluminum case.

Also, the A833 is an overdrive dodge 4 speed that is weak from what I understand, not nearly as strong as the regular dodge 4 speeds of that era.

And finally, yes, I meant basically any muncie, but a super t10 is CHEAP compared to a muncie IIRC, and will handle that powa!

A super T10 is indeed cheap, but $250 cheap? NO way! The A833 and chevy derivative are pretty nice, and I have not seen any broken ones, but certainly it all depends on the car and driver. Mine lived pretty nicely for a while before I took my truck off the road with somewhere around 300 ft lbs of torque. I am pretty sure 400 would be OK so long as we are not talking about hitting the dragstrip with the Yukon on slicks every weekend.
Aug. 17, 2011 2:03 p.m. tuna55 SuperDork

HiTempguy wrote:

fast_eddie_72 wrote:

Do they have aluminum cases?

Doh. Even though I must question why? You are excluding a ton of transmissions (actually, probably the only ones that fit all your other criteria) because of the aluminum case.

Also, the A833 is an overdrive dodge 4 speed that is weak from what I understand, not nearly as strong as the regular dodge 4 speeds of that era.

And finally, yes, I meant basically any muncie, but a super t10 is CHEAP compared to a muncie IIRC, and will handle that powa!

Also keep in mind that these transmissions were behind the 6.2 and 6.5 diesels, which made up to 330 ft lbs in military apps. Diesels are supposedly tougher on transmission anyways.
Aug. 17, 2011 2:13 p.m. HiTempguy Dork

tuna55 wrote:

A super T10 is indeed cheap, but $250 cheap?

You ain't lookin' in the right places, if I can find them in Canada for a bit more than that, you can find them in the states for $250
Aug. 17, 2011 11:59 p.m. JohnyHachi6 Reader

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated! I'll have to look into some of these older American 4 speeds. The Toyota W5x might work well too, though I've heard that 400 lb-ft is really pushing their limits.

The reason I'm interested in an aluminum case is simply the weight. This will be going into a car with a curb weight of 2000 lbs or less, and I really don't want to add a ton of weight for a steel transmission. Maybe it's worth considering though - I don't have a great feel for how much more a steel trans will weigh and if they're a lot cheaper...
Aug. 18, 2011 12:18 a.m. curtis73 Dork

AX15? It wouldn't hold 400 tq in a truck, but in a 2000 lb car it should last forever.

T176 is a 4-speed close ratio that might work.

Both are aluminum and only around 100-130 lbs.
Aug. 18, 2011 12:25 a.m. turboswede SuperDork

Toyota R-154?
Aug. 18, 2011 12:34 a.m. oldtin Dork

A T5 might be able to take it with a 2000 lb car. Porsche 944 transaxle? Seems like they survive v8s.