4- Speed Transmission - 53

[Slinger53]

Looking to bring a 53- 5 window back to life. Anyone know where I can find a working/rebuildable 4-speed with the granny gear? I know a lot of resto-mod folks are pulling these out and replacing. Thought maybe someone had one sitting in their shop gathering dust. Thanks
Gerry

 

[vwnate1]

Muncie SM420 Tranny

Is yours so far gone it's un rebuildable ? .

parts abound for these fine old trannies .

Look in the classified section or better yet , cruise the Task Force pages of this forum as those are popular Hot Rods and the used tranny wieghs roughly a double hernia so they're REALLY cheap , like $50.00 in VGC takout condition

Look at all the older posts from years ago , the 6 Banger engine and tranny is still sitting behind the garage and can usually be picked up for $150.00 complete fan to tailshaft .

often cheaper .

Dodges used this tranny too , all the way up to 1967 , Gamma Goats (military vehicle from the Vietnam War) used this tranny and they pop up on surplus truck parts places for $350.00 brandy new once or twice a year...

Google " SM420 " and " M420 " , you'll be amazed at what pops up for parts , gaskets , bearings etc.

 

[Slinger53]

When you say it's gone, it's gone! . No tranny what-so-ever. Thanks for the information.

 

[vwnate1]

Best Bet

In that case is to buy some entire driveline or a crusty old chassis after the body has been taken away for an S-10 conversion , this way you'll get all the correct , " Just So " hardware that will make your '53 a good old truck instead of a problemaic piece of junk you come to hate in a few years...

ALL the high mile drivers , are stock or nearly so , largely for this reason .

 

[2tons of fun]

go to the junk yard, they used the 420 from 47-69.

 

[vwnate1]

Good Point !

If you go to the Task Force section , there's always lots of takeouts as those are being Hot Rodded these days and NO ONE wants the 300 # greasy cast iron
lump .

If you have a Torque Tube , you'll need to buy at least a dead one from an AD and swap over the tail housing , not terribly difficult .

 

[vegaskenn]

I just removed it from my truck and replaced with a 700r4.

 

[willardgreen]

Why not get the newer T5? It has overdrive and is light weight. Do you have your clutch & bell housing? If you do I think a Vega/Monza will fit. They came with the Saganaw 4 speed. Used to get the whole car for $75 and that was low mileage. Seems the engine never made a high mileage car.