Which transmission to use?
 

I recently bought my first truck project, a '60 GMC. I will be taking the 235 3 speed out and putting in a 292 but am not sure what trans to put in. I am thinking maybe a car 4 speed but not sure. Is a chev bellhousing a chev bellhousing? Or do i need to match one with the trans? The truck will more or less be used as a daily driver with minimal pulling and hopefully a bit of highway use. Not sure if it matters but I will be changing it to 5 bolt from a 80 chev truck with I think 3.08 gears.
Hopefully I have given enough info here, I am pretty green at this and have a lot to learn.
Thanks

Re: Which transmission to use?
 

The trans from the 235 will not work with the 292. 230's, 250's and 292's have the same bellhousing pattern as SBC's and BBC's. A four speed or an automatic will work.

Re: Which transmission to use?
 

Here's the way I'm going

Re: Which transmission to use?
 

Thanks for the help dudes.
Bowtie: that is some great detail
Thanks again

Re: Which transmission to use?
 

I've got a 292 in my daily driver '66 Burb, and an sm420 behind it. Currently running a stock 411 rear, though as soon as shop space clears up, I'll be swapping in a '71 307 rear.

From what I hear, you wind up using granny a lot with this set-up, and giving your clutch hell when you take off in second.

Once I cook my clutch, I'll probably go to muncie, given the better match in first and second gear ratios. If you go that route, there's a thread somewhere about it, and several members who've done similar conversions.

Re: Which transmission to use?
 

Putting a newer engine or newer transmission in the older truck will require fabricating, since the 292 was not around in 1960. The easiest thing to do is rebuild a good 235 and add a period correct transmission. The original truck 4 speed SM 420 will bolt right up to your bellhousing. Only mod would be a longer driveshaft. The simplist automatic conversion would be to a 1962 and older powerglide which bolts right up to the 235.I would go to a 3.55 ring and pinion change (available in aftermarket)to the original rear axle. Newer 3.08 axle change would be alot of work and too high for a small 235.

Re: Which transmission to use?
 

Thanks guys
I appreciate the help

Re: Which transmission to use?
 

I put a small block in my 61 apache many moons ago .I was totaly green and had no clue what I was getting into.As you may have figured out or not the bell is diffrent .When you change the bell you lose the hydrylic clutch.The good news is the linkage and petals from a 63 and up to 66 will swap right in.The motor mounts will change to.A 235 has that crazy front mount.You will need ones that go on the frame rails and the cross member or K frame whatever you want to call it. 292's have offset mounts so I'm not sure what happens with that,but 250's would mount up pretty much the same as a SBC. I had to work out a ton of stuff so when you get into it if you need some advice you could pm me and I'll try to answer any questions I can.Good luck and welcome to the sight!

Re: Which transmission to use?
 

Thanks for the help. I will keep you in mind when I start everything.
Still looking for a trans that will work, now thinking of a T5 more and more cause around here Muncie's and Saginaw's are hard to find. Seems like a lot of people put T5's in and sounds like they work well.