Conversion/New car

Well when I turn 18 next august I get roughly $10-12,000 dollars from my inheritance. Now don't get me wrong I'm a fairly bright human and I want to reinvest as much as I can (it's currently in investments until I'm 18) into some stocks with higher yeild to them. When I turn 18 it's my last year of highschool, and I'll be starting work at FujiFilms Arch Chemical Department plant where my mom works. But I'm going to need a more reliable vehicle. We bought the El Camino Just so I could have something to drive and learn a little bit about cars on.

Well I've been debating on putting a 5 speed manual transmission in the El Camino. Appose to the stock rebuilt Turbo 350. If I put this transmission in it would boost my fuel economy slightly. Nothing huge but a decently noticable amount especially since I do alot of Freeway traveling. Heres the tranny that would fit my El Camino the best when we put it in. For $3,800 some I get everything I need to convert it except for the housing (they sell one for $100 bucks and the pedals and linkage which I could take from a junkyard for a hundred or so.)

http://www.classicchevy5speed.cm/Eli...wo_Xmember.htm

On the other hand I could take $5,000 and buy my friend Ford Probe. Currently he bought a barly used tranny and engine from this guy that wrecked his probe. And he is rebuilding both of them and going to put them in his Probe so he can sell it for more.
It's a 4 cylinder Mazda engine with a 5 speed tranny and gets Really good gas mileage. He filled it up once, me him and a buncha friends all rode in it. For a good 300 miles then he dropped us all off at our houses.

Anyways my question is what would be the best to do? I like driving the El Camino, but I have driving an automatic...
thankz, weylin-

Ford probe's arn't very good in economy, and there not the greatest ither. put a 5 speed in it. A super T10 4spd would be ok too, as long as you had a fairly high gear ratio which you probably have anyway.

The 350 I have right now sucks 3rd gear is only 1.00. at 2,500rpms I'm doing about 70mph. With the 5 speed 5th gear would be .64 and and 2,000 rpms would be 75mph. (those are just kinda rough estimates) I wanted to put a Muncie 4 speed, but again the final gear is only at 1.00....

If you do the math, you'll find out that you'll never save enough in gas mileage to pay for the transmission swap.

Easiest thing would be to replace the T350 with a 700R4. If you look around some, you can find one the same length as the 350, and not have to mess with collecting all of the clutch linkage, pedals, new bell housing, flywheel and clutch. The auto-auto swap would get you some better mileage, and save some money on the swap, as well. Converting to a stick may not be too hard, if you can round up the right parts, but by 1973, most cars were automatics - finding the correct parts to convert your car will be a serious challenge.

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Originally posted by weylinthedirty
The 350 I have right now sucks 3rd gear is only 1.00. at 2,500rpms I'm doing about 70mph. With the 5 speed 5th gear would be .64 and and 2,000 rpms would be 75mph. (those are just kinda rough estimates) I wanted to put a Muncie 4 speed, but again the final gear is only at 1.00....

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your not figuring your rear end raito in, shure a 3.73 gear with a 4spd would suck gas but a 2.73 gear with a 4spd wouldn't be too bad at all. in the same token, you might want a lower gear with an overdrive trans, so you don't lug the motor from too low of rpm.

Don't take this wrong, but don't be a fool. Take your inheritance and go back to school. Get yourself a college degree or attend a trade school. Don't waste it on some stupid car parts. Your measley $10 to $15k will earn you a couple million if you listen to me. Never "invest" in a car. You'll always lose. Invest in your future.

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Originally posted by Matt167
your not figuring your rear end raito in, shure a 3.73 gear with a 4spd would suck gas but a 2.73 gear with a 4spd wouldn't be too bad at all. in the same token, you might want a lower gear with an overdrive trans, so you don't lug the motor from too low of rpm.

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I've already got my schooling paid for. My family IS POOR, but we aren't stupid by anymeans. I've already got a full tuition to any minor college I want... I excelled on every part of the AIMS (Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards) Testing my first try. Top score on each area is 1,000 I got 825+ on all 3 area's :)

Anyways... My Dad has a 700R4 in his Suburban. But when I called the transmission shop the gentleman told me he would still have to costomize some things because the 700R4 is so much bigger than a T350...???? I did ask him if it was possible to put an overdrive gear in the T350 he said no. What about a T400? I know they are basically the same transmisison except the T400 is more heavy duty, still not possible to put an overdrive in one? Because I'm sure they would fit the same....