Re: [AMC-list] Concord 5 Speed

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

1982 TSM states that T-5 Concord/Spirit I-6 got 2.35 gears stock, 2.53 if a CA car, 2.73 with tow packag (Concord only -- no Spirit tow package). Since it's a Twin-Grip you're looking for a double stamped letter code -- LL = 2.35, JJ = 2.73. The I-4 models got 3.08 in all. The lower first gear in the five speed would help a bit, but pulling fifth at anything under 60 mph would mean a good bit of shifting down to fourth for hills with the 2.35 gears. At 60 the engine would be turning only 1432 rpm with the larger stock tires (205/70R14, standard was 195/70R14), and from my experience the best economical rpm on AMC sixes is 2000 rpm (best compromise between power and economy). They don't struggle at 1400-1500, but you can definitely tell they have a higher load on them than at 1900-2000 rpm. No way I'd cruise at less than 1800 -- and that's a minimum! It would take a 3.08 gear to get 1865 rpm @ 60, so the four cylinder gear would actually be close to ideal for the six cylinder 
Concord. In the early 80s they did everything they could to get that high highway mileage rating, even if it hurt a bit! Back then the rating was measured on a long FLAT road, just like most of the highways across the US, right? The testing procedure was corrected quite a few years ago to more closely reflect actual driving conditions.

As for using the T-5 in a 67 Rebel... as long as it's just a cruiser you should be okay. The T-5 was used in J-trucks with the six, but I'd suspect it was marginal as far as towing or anything more than a rough trail. For normal street driving you should be okay. The overall weight of the vehicle means more load on the trans as well as power input. According to my 82 Jeep TSM the J-truck and Wagoneer six cylinder models used the same T-5 ratios as the Concord. Interestingly, the T-5 wasn't offered in the CJ-7 with six, only the four speed. Only four cylinder CJs used the T-5 -- probably because they were expected to receive more abuse than the Wagoneer and pickup. But with moderate driving you should be fine -- the Waggie/J-truck was. I still see an occasional J-truck with a T-5 on the road, but it's obvious they weren't used hard. If expected to be used hard the T-176 four speed was used behind the six, like mine.

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Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 12:00:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jesse<j2sax@xxxxxxxxx>

Should've made it more clear... I am KEEPING this 5 speed trans and it has a POSI rear with the 11" drums!? Don't know the gears yet, however, with the 5 spd I would suspect they are 3.31 or 3.54.? I was going to use this all in my son's AMX, but since he wants to stick with the 88 Eagle Wagon, I have actually toyed with the idea of putting this trans in the 67 Rebel SW I have, which currently has 3 on the tree... but I will probably end up selling that one.?

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars"
Magazine (AMC)
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