Quote: If a car has a 5 speed installed does that make it "not original"?
I do understand your point on the cutting the floor and trans/torsion bar mount cross member.
There has to be a point where an all original car is 100% original things like Detroit Air in the spare and so on.
My question should have probably been more specific like is it really necessary to have 6 speeds instead of 5 in a car that gets driven on the street to get to the track or high speed driving event .......not for a concourse show car.
Necessary... no. Beneficial, yes. I run a Keisler TKO 5 speed (and like it). The choice of OD ratio was a compromise. The .82 or "close" ratio was an ideal top speed gear with my setup. The steeper .64 (from memory) was a better cruise gear for best economy and least noise and wear. I went with the .82. It cruises at 75 mph/2700 RPM. No problem. That said, the 496 would be happy cruising in the lower 2000's and get better mileage with less noise and wear. A six speed could do both.
