I'm slowly updating a 60 Apache,built 327 with some addons and the orig. trans and rear chunk.Looking to replace 3 spd with a 5 or 6 speed late model trans so that 3.90 rear gear wont't eat my gas mileage.Anybody done this?Alternatives?downsides?I would like to replace un-sync low gear trans. anyway.It is the 21 in long version so I think will interchange with late model.Not have to alter drive shaft.Some early trans were 17 in.(thereabouts)Will have to change the shaft yoke to fine thread.Any advice appreciated.Also any lead on a 5 spd from a 2wd blazer or s-10 with the 4.3l engine or even Camaro 6 spd.
the camaro six speed would work best,with a double overdrive,but you'd have to shorten the driveshaft and make a custom crossmember.
If you can find one @ a swap meet or on E Bay, think about a Saginaw 3 or 4 speed with an overdrive, it would be very cool & look pretty stock. This would allow you to use a standard flywheel & starter w/ your 327 & the lenghth might not be too bad. you can pick thru a scrapyard to find a driveshaft that is real close. (Look @ large RW GM's cars , vans, trucks) The T-56 requires a special flywheel (Findaza ) that costs $350 +.
Greg Pate I have a 66 half ton and just installed a New process 4 speed overdrive from a mid 80's chevy pickup. It drops my RPMs 29% in fourth gear. I found the tranny on ebay. It bolts up to the stock bell housing. You do have to machine the input shaft cover to fit the bellhousing center. That cost me $10. I also shortened my driveshaft and changed the front yoke. It really helped my gas mileage and looks pretty stock. It will handle the 327 just fine.
I had a simualar problem. I installed a 350 with a turbo 400 trans. It was killing me on gas and winding the motor out. So I killed 2 birds with 1 stone. I found a 77 lincoln rear end with disk brakes. At the same time I converted it from four wheel drums to four wheel disks. Now I get alot better performance out of the motor and better gas mileage at the same time. And made it safer to drive. I dont know if that will help. In my case my drive shaft fit perfict without cutting it. and the rearend was like it belonged there. just have to grind off the shock mounts and other brackes that are not needed. If you dont have four wheel disk brakes yet and you want to know a cheaper way of getting them ask I give you a parts list. I got most of my high end parts from the bone yard.
