What 5-Speeds really work???

[rcarson25]

I have been resto moding a '73 GT and have not been able to find a sound answer as to what 5speeds actually fit the GT without a ton of custom fabrication.

I know the 240 Opel Getrag is one route, but I am wondering if there is something a little more readily available out there that I might be able to use if say I had just the Getrag housing or even better something that bolts up.

I expect to do some modification to get anything to work, but I am not looking to basically build my own tranny. I have done a seach and heard things on the BW T-5 and something about some Toyota trannies.

Can anyone give me some help and let me know. Thanks

[BQS4]

rcarson;
The getrag 240 IS a bolt up trans, it's the shifter you modify and that can be done with hand tools and a welder, or you can have someone (local muffler shop) weld it for you. The other part is the drive shaft

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by rcarson25 ...I might be able to use if say I had just the Getrag housing or even better something that bolts up. Thanks

The Getrag is a one piece housing. It doesn't have a separate bellhousing like our 4 spd.

Harold

[opelnut_1]

The getrag is the single best improvement I have made to my GT. then the weber and then the header (one that doesnt leak).

[rcarson25]

Hmmmm, I have found what claims to be an aluminum housing for an opel GT. Has anyone ever seen/heard of these? Does this look like an Opel housing?

[Paul]

Yep that's an Opel bell housing.........

[rcarson25]

Can I use this housing with a more readily available tranny and make som slight modifications to make it work or woudl it be a true headache to try to get another tranny in there with this? If there is a tranny that works well, what is it, what car did it come from? Thanks for the quick responses guys.

[yellaopelgt]

You would need to make an adapter to use that bell-housing. And then you need to find a tranny that you can get the modified shifter to come out in the hole in the trans tunnel, Alot of ideas have been tossed around here on site,but the truest, and easiest is by far the Getrag.If you're looking for strength, the Getrag isnt much better than an Opel 4spd, and the gearing is just about the same as well. Its just the 5th gear that is nice for the rpm's when on the free-way. If there was a better mousetrap...someone here would have built it by now.
Joe

[bello]

Hey- That bellhousing is for a "big" Getrag transmission- nearly any 80's 6 cyl BMW Getrag 262 or 265 will bolt right up. BUT! the input shaft is a different spline (use BMW disc) and a bit too long (space trans away from bellhousing about 1/8") diameter of pilot shaft is smaller (now getting sticky: make a bushing/adapter) output shaft is totally different (make a special driveshaft- half BMW, half Opel) I have done all of these mods for racing- but it is a lot of work & expense. Unless you find a Opel Getrag 265 from a 3.0 or 3.9 Bitter and it is a perfect fit except the shifter tower still has to be relocated or relocate the hole in the tunnel... Save your money & time- put in a getrag 240 and deal only with the shifter issue- and the 240 is much lighter than the 265 and easier to spin- the 265 has massive gears compared to the 240! Where did you find that bellhousing, anyway? By the way, I have an Opel Getrag 4-speed to fit that bellhousing perfectly for sale. But then you already have a 4-speed! Regards, Ernie Bello

[lewdawg]

I haven't looked into this for an Opel but did do some research on this particular issue on another project that is sitting in the back of the shop. Many moons ago, I wanted to go to a 5 speed or 6 speed into a GM that came equiped with a 4 speed. There use to be a place in Australia called Advanced Adapters that built custom bell housings and adapters for just about anything you could dream up. I did contact them and they told me that if I sent them a pattern, they could build it. Like Joe said, the trick is to find a set up that will put the shifter in the right position. You also have to ensure that the clutch matches the tranny splines and that the clutch diameter and depth is compatible with the flywheel and bell housing. I am running the GM S-10 clutch with the Getrag but that required milling the flywheel flat and redrilling the flywheel to accept the S-10 pressure plate bolt pattern. Any good machine shop can do this for you. I highly reccommend the Getrag kit from Opel GT Source. Makes thing so easy. Just remember when mods like this get started you ussually hear CHA CHING!!!

[rcarson25]

Thanks for all the input guys I really appreciate it. I guess the next question would be who has a 5 speed getrag for a reasonable price?

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by rcarson25 Thanks for all the input guys I really appreciate it. I guess the next question would be who has a 5 speed getrag for a reasonable price?

Good luck finding one here in the US that someone will sell. You'd have better luck going to the German Ebay (eBay: Neue und gebrauchte Elektronikartikel, Autos, Kleidung, Sammlerstücke, Sportartikel und mehr – alles zu günstigen Preisen) and search "getrag getriebe"

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by rcarson25 Thanks for all the input guys I really appreciate it. I guess the next question would be who has a 5 speed getrag for a reasonable price?

German eBay as has been suggested. The reasonable priced ones are "pick up only" and you save some over OGTS. OGTS stands behind there stuff! I've been looking for a DEAL on German eBay for a few months and there aren't many to be had with the dollar to euro conversion being what it is. I've helped install a getrag with OGTS's kit, almost as easy as installing the original tranny. Most of that was my unfamiliarity with the shifter mechanism. If I had a waiting on a getrag to get it going I would buy from OGTS and be done with it. I'm gathering parts right now so I'm NOT in a hurry.

Harold

[Jonzo]

IMG_0047 - Opel Photo Gallery

Hate to be the cause of envy...
But I have a ZF five speed overdrive that I pulled out of a GT that I owned years ago. I'm saving it for my 2.4L engine. The ZF transmissions frequently appear on German E-Bay, though most of them seem to be the close ratio 5-speeds as opposed to overdrive 5-speeds.

BTW, I just received my 2.4L crank from Motor Mouth this morning, to go with my Bamotec 2.4L block Christmas present. Now I need to find rods & pistons that will still allow me to run on 93 octane gas.

Bit by bit, part by part my Opel dreams are becoming reality!

Jonzo

[opelnut_1]

I should recieve today a pacakge of opelbits from motor mouth from over the pond. nice to have a contact overseas to help us US chaps find and obtain those rare bits for our opels.

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by Jonzo [ZF transmissions frequently appear on German E-Bay, though most of them seem to be the close ratio 5-speeds as opposed to overdrive 5-speeds.

And don't they usually go for over $1000 and you still have to get them here. I've seen some really neat stuff but can't stand the price. Hopefully our dollars will grow stronger. Yeah, right.

Harold

[heimue]

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr And don't they usually go for over $1000 and you still have to get them here. I've seen some really neat stuff but can't stand the price. Hopefully our dollars will grow stronger. Yeah, right. Harold

95% of the ZF 5speeds you can find in Germany are the racing version, with a ratio of 1:1 in 5th gear, and straight gear teeth (opposed to the "regular" helical gears used in automotive shifter boxes), they are good for racing only, and they go for 1,000 to 1,500 Euro (currently US$ 1,500 to 2,250 with the current record high exchange rate).

Jonzo, your ZF is an absolute rarity, even in Europe. You ARE the cause of envy!

Dieter

[rcarson25]

Currently I am running a stock engine with the idea of building a little bit higher hp engine down the road. I know that the Getrag is not that much stronger than the normal 4-speed, but with more readily available parts can't I just beef up the internals when the time comes to handle the extra power?

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by rcarson25 but with more readily available parts can't I just beef up the internals when the time comes to handle the extra power?

I'm sure Metric Mechanic can help you since the internals of the BMW getrags are supposed to be the same.

Harold

[bear's GT]

I like the 240 from OGTS. They are much quieter then the 4 speed. I drive on the Interstate alot a like the OD. If you get the whole kit you can install it in half a day.

[BobCGT]

Getrag 240 from OGTS has been the best upgrade that I have done for my GT.
Much quieter than the 4-speed.

[tomking]

Metric Mechanic wont sell parts, but they will rebuild your tranny as long as its the Getrag.

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by tomking Metric Mechanic wont sell parts, but they will rebuild your tranny as long as its the Getrag.

And according to their website lighten your wallet by $2000 to $3000.

Harold

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr And according to their website lighten your wallet by $2000 to $3000. Harold

When your the only game in town, (how many Getrag rebuilder are there) you can charge what ever the traffic will bear. That's why I have an American Transmission (T-5) and and an American Carb.(holley) and an American rear end (10 bolt GM posi with disc brakes) in my GT. I don't want to be at the mercy of anyone that has a captive anything, I guess you can call me Capitolist and frugle (tight) but one thing I will never be accused of is falling off a turnip truck in the middle of the road in front of their place of business (MTCW)

[Nathan Acree]

Originally Posted by opelnut10 When your the only game in town, (how many Getrag rebuilder are there) you can charge what ever the traffic will bear. That's why I have an American Transmission (T-5) and and an American Carb.(holley) and an American rear end (10 bolt GM posi with disc brakes) in my GT. I don't want to be at the mercy of anyone that has a captive anything, I guess you can call me Capitolist and frugle (tight) but one thing I will never be accused of is falling off a turnip truck in the middle of the road in front of their place of business (MTCW)

Do you have any details of these mods? Would love to see how you integrated the T5.

-Nathan