How can I make this transmission work on my 51?

[sickytwisted]

I have a 51, originally a three on the tree. I have this newer transmission but don't knower if the linkage will work. Does anyone have any experience with this? If its too much of a hassle, I'd just rather run a stock 4 speed floor shift. I'm going to be using the 235 straight 6.

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[sickytwisted]

Btw, I think the transmission is a saginaw. please correct me if I'm wrong.
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[Stephanie]

I can't help you to be honest, but we have a 1950 3100 with this same transmission and four on the floor. I know that my husband will know more about it and I'll get info from him for you tomorrow.
I would definitely try and do it! Good luck!

[sickytwisted]

I totally appreciate that. Thank you.
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[mr48chev]

Bolt it in. You will need an open drive rear axle and driveshaft.

It isn't quite that simple but it appears to be a full syncro 3 speed out of a 70 something pickup. If it has 7 bolts holding the side cover on that is what the info I find says it is.

You should be able to unbolt the shift arms and use the shift arms off the old transmission. If you can't make them work you will have to hunt down some that will work but that shouldn't be too difficult. The way it is set up now you wouldn't be able to shift between gears on the one with the long lever as your lever on the column wouldn't have enough travel.

I've got pretty much the same transmission in my 48 and have had it in there for 20 or so years with a floor shift.

Don't let that little box on the speedometer drive get away. That is the calibration box for the speedometer and by changing gears inside you can calibrate the speedometer without taking the trans apart or sending the speedometer off. Truck shops that sell semi truck parts or service semi trucks usually have a box with all the little gears in it to set one up.

[sickytwisted]

Ok. So just use the arms off of the old transmission and any modifications thereafter will be to the levers. Oh...and keep the little box. Got it
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[mr48chev]

See how the arms fasten to the trans that's in the truck now. if they fasten the same way they should work. You want them pointing in the same direction that they do on the original trans too.

And save the box. you can try the speedometer without it and then figure out if you need it to adjust the speedometer. These days I run down the road with a hand held GPS to read the actual speed and compare with the speed on the speedometer then calculate the percentage of difference and in which direction and you would need gears in the box to compensate and correct that difference.

[sickytwisted]

Ok. I guess I'll look into acquiring some pictures of the stock arms. Anyone have any?
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[63 & 64 Bowties]

If you're doing a trans swap anyway, why not go with a T5?
Lots of info here:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=438224

[sickytwisted]

Because I'm on a strict budget, because I'm broke. I'm trying to use the parts that I already have and then later, when I can afford to, build a more modified custom.
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[solidaxel]

What type drive shaft are you now running, open or closed?

[sickytwisted]

Open.
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[solidaxel]

I had the same transmission in my 55 BUT it was not a column shift. I used a Hurst conversion shifter on the floor and had the driveshaft cut to length

[sickytwisted]

I don't think that my transmission case has the proper holes for a hurst shifter. I could be wrong though. Do you know what model shifter? Oh, and yes, I will have the driveshaft cut to length. Thanks

[Coupeguy2001]

I had one of those in my 57. All I can say about it was it was reliable and was quiet.
I used a Hurst shifter I got off Ebay, and the shifter was $13 when I won the bid.
If you have one of the non synchro 55-60 transmissions in your truck now, the driveshaft will work with it with no modification.
I used the original trans, the 70 trans and the 4 speed all with the original drive shaft. no cutting or modifying anything.
Remember, GM uses the same dimensions for a lot of their lines so they have parts interchangeabiity.
That's why a camaro trans fits the truck, and the heads from a 283 bolt onto a 350. (not that you want to do that.)
Go as far as you can with what you have, and then mess around with other things you need on the truck while you figure out what to do next with your trans swap after you install it.

[sickytwisted]

Thank you. That's very encouraging.
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[mknittle]

Originally Posted by sickytwisted

Thank you. That's very encouraging.
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I have one of the 3 speed hurst shifters it mounts on a plate that has holes that uses the bolts from the main case to the tailhousing. I dont know what it is for though.

[sickytwisted]

I modified the linkage arms as well as the ones which are fastened to the tranny. Got it to work...no biggie. I'll post pics if you need me to. Pm me for that. Thanks everyone.

[Divine 59]

Contact Patricks. He makes a shifter to use for a Saginaw transmission for the Chevy truck. He is a good person to deal with. I don't know what your budget is for the shifter, but you can start looking here.
http://www.patricksantiquecars.com/chevy_parts.html

[solidaxel]

You will find everything you need at the PAMONA swap meet this weekend, the best in the west or west of the Mississippi !!

[JumboAMONGus]

i run a 4 speed on my 235 , use a hurst shifter for a 55 -57 chevy car just had to heat the shifter in the middle and straighten it a little so you can use stock bench seat , they make one like it in 3 speed , ,, or the universal 3 pseed shifters will work also , but they push it back farther so it sometimes comes out of floor right in front of the seat ,