The 245 5 speed conversion ups the value -Yes or No?

[RobC]

On 3/16/2019 at 3:21 PM, halboyles said:

Here is a cheat sheet I put together for the 5-speed conversion in the early '80s at Simpson Motorsport.  Should have bought a dozen or so at the time.

Hal this is amazing. Is this for the Getrag 235/5? This saved me quite a lot of searching if so.

 

Thanks!

[halboyles]

Yes it is.  Happy to help.

[RobC]

Very interesting that the same throwout bearing is used when mating a 235/5 into an m10, and when mating a getrag 260 to an m50.

[Vicleonardo1]

Value: hmmm....

I really liked my 4 speed when it was mated to the 3.64 differential. 

I really like my five speed mated to my 3.91 LSD

 

After experiencing both, If given the choice I really dont know if I would pay more for one over the other.

 

To me the 5th gear is to helpful to compensate for the differential ratio change. 

 

I am having fun with the LSD, don't get me wrong, it is a tad more spritely.  But it wasn’t cheap ( 245 Getrags and LSD’s getting more expensive every day) and I’m really not sure after all the investment, if the  the dollar/grin ratio was worth it.  

 

A 245 (for me) will add more value only if it is mated to a 3.90/3.91 differential. 

 

But I ain’t no expert. 

 

Edited March 19, 2019 by Vicleonardo1

[Dug Nichols]

FWIW (and we've already determined that it's worth dick, so I'll just offer my own opinion/musings here  ) my '76 mintgrun got a DIY 5 speed swap four years ago after owning it since 2002, and that is definitely in the top 3 of upgrades I've done in terms of driving enjoyment: recaros, suspension upgrade, 5 speed. Worth noting that for the first twelve years I focused on cornering upgrades vs a 5 speed, and not a single regret as I love a spirited drive when I can find it. (but damn I love having the 5 speed for highway cruising)

 

Now, the '73 sahara I picked up this past Fall from the original owner (in the photo) is a numbers matching survivor. As will be with any vehicle that had limited driving for a while it's got a number of issues around oil and transmission leaks that still need to be addressed. In the Fall when changing the tranny fluid a metal piece came out that was bigger than a fleck, which has me a bit concerned for how long this original 4 speed will keep running, even after I replace all the seals on it this Spring.

 

I've been contemplating whether I would 5 speed upgrade if indeed the tranny goes bad, and I still don't know, but I'm a bit more compelled to try and keep it original on this one... Maybe it's because I already have one that I've done mods to and this is "the original" car I have, maybe it's because it's a number-matching roundie that's unmolested and almost all original and it seems like the "right" thing to do. Not sure. 

 

 

[Vicleonardo1]

Hey Otto, 

I think you did realize the benefit of a five speed for your 76, because if it was a 49 state car, the differential was a 3.90. That would make the RPM's at highway speeds a bit bothersome and the 5th gear certainly would help. 

 

For the 73 Sahara, not sure if the 5 speed swap would add much more to your driving experience unless you spend a lot of time on the highway. I am sorry, I cannot remember what the RPM drop would be at highway speeds when mated with a 3.64 differential. 

 

But if you find the Sahara annoying on the highway, then I would do the swap. For me it is much more fun to enjoy the car and drive it than to have than worry about future value. 

 

But what do I know?  I ain't no Toby......

[Guest_anonymous]