So tonight I pulled the tranny in what appears to be yet another step in my frame off restoration (I never thought it would come to that). So my next question is, now what???? And what I mean by that is I really want to get rid of the whole granny gear thing because I want to be able to drive the truck on the freeway without having to be in the right lane the whole time. I have looked through various threads on here looking for a transmission that I could just swap it out with and from what I can tell there doesn't appear to be one that can do just a straight swap. I have looked at another page that gives great detail about putting in an S-10 tranny but that is not a straight swap. It requires quite a bit of modification to make it work - the shifter is not in the right spot, extending the grooves in the shaft, etc. My truck already has an open drive line with U joints and I realize that I most likely will have to have it shortened which isn't a problem cause I have a good shop for that but will any and all tranny's require quite a bit of modification to make work??? I know the bolt patterns work on most so I get that part of it. I am really just talking about having to make tons of modifications all the way around to make this thing work. I am not a mechanic by trade so swaps are really easy for me - modifications are not. I have attached some photos for your viewing pleasure of the removed tranny. I was able to get it out with just a floor jack and the help of the wife lowering it while I held it steady - that was interesting.....
One Solution : You said it's easy for you butI think you meant the reverse.... Gear Vendors sells an overdriveunit that'll bolt to the back of your Muncie SM420 tranny , then you'll have the driveline shop shorten the driveshaft & install new U-Joints , easy-peasy .
The Saginaw 3 Spd. Trans. makes a nice conversion. It bolts right in and you can use a column shift which is very nice or you can put in a floor shifter. Just make sure you use a good floor shifter cause the cheaper ones like to bind. The Saginaw or Munci 4 Spd. trans. is also a good choice and you want to choose a good shifter for those too. Both of these Tranny's are simple to install and will make your truck much more enjoyable to drive....Big Tim
I used a 5 speed overdrive from these guys in my 59 http://www.keislerauto.com/ Not all that cheap, but boy is it fun to drive now. Still plenty of low gear power for smoking the tires and when I'm rolling down the freeway I can throw it into 5th and roll along at freeway speeds at 1700 rpm. They take Tremec transmissions and rework the cases to fit about anything. Stan
Thanks for the suggestions......more questions though.... Thanks everyone for your suggestions up to now. I have looked into a few of them and made some phone calls and WOW this transmission thing looks like it could be expensive. There was a suggestion for a Saginaw 3 speed and I found the following on Craigslist which just happens to be very close to my house: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/pts/2344779375.html Any thoughts as to whether or not this would be a good purchase to throw in the truck? With it only being a 3 speed manual would this allow me to get to 60 to 70 mph on the freeway? Also, will this require major modifications or could I just bolt this up, shorten the drive shaft, modify the shifter and be on my way. Any input would be greatly appreciated
This doesn't look too bad if it is as good and the clutch is as new as he says it is. I don't remember what your rear end gearing is, but while you will lose the granny gear, your freeway rpm is going to depend on your rear end gearing. I put a Patrick's 3.55:1 ring and pinion in my original pumpkin to get me down the highway.
What you are looking at there is a 50's 3 spd that is non synchronized in 1st gear. What you want is a mid 60's to 70's 3 spd. that is fully synchronized. you can get these for about the same price as the one you posted and you will be much happier. As far as cruising at 70 go's that all depends on your gearing and tire size. And yes you can put this in with a minimum amount of work. Good luck....Big Tim
Warning Steve ! That's NOT going to change the top speed ! ALL old stock trannies are the same ration in top gear ! so , this '57 Chevy Sedan tranny will be the same ratio in third gear that your old Muncie was in , when it's in fourth . No way 'round it , you have to bite the bullet & Spend the lolly to get where you want to go . The 5 speed option is what you want , anything else will be slow & ungainly . I don't mind this on my '49 but you seem to be in a hurry on the freeway .
Yes, the 3sp will bolt right in and change nothing since the top gear in both the 3sp and 4sp trans is 1:1. The cheap (<> $250) and easy to find BorgWarner 3sp OD trans will bolt right in and change your final drive from the present 4.11 to 1 into 2.88 to 1; a HUGE difference. Your engine will loaf at 70mph but it does nothing for your brakes so update them before making it go faster. As stated, you will need a 3sp column shifter but every hotrodder is throwing them in the scrap since 90% of them go automatic so there should be plenty around.
Saginaw/patricks conversion 4 speed. Hey Steve Look at my posts about the subject. Good luck Martinius.
Thanks for the replies - still more questions I am thinking I will go with either the Saginaw swap with the Patricks conversion or the S-10 T-5 Swap. Any thoughts as to which will be the better way to go? Also, I have a later model rear end on the truck already which it came with. I assume that just because it has an open drive line. What would be the best way to identify where the rear end came from (year and model of truck)? And will that tell me what the gearing is in the rear end of the truck or will I need to pull the diff. cover? Once and if I pull the cover, how will I tell or where will I look to find out the gearing? Thanks for everyone's knowledge. I am slowly figuring this thing out and taking notes along the way.
If you pull the cover off of the rear end, the number of teeth on the gears will be stamped on the ring gear. If you can't find it then count the teeth on the ring and pinion gears and divide the lower number in to the higher one and this will give you the gear ratio. http://www.csgnetwork.com/gearratcalc.html You can use this link to calculate your speed with your tire size and gears. I still prefer the Saginaw fully synchronized 3spd over the rest of the other Trans. because it is the easiest and fastest way to convert to. Good luck....Big Tim
