The "Get the Frick'n truck ready for Vacaville" thread....

[ChiefRocka]

Well as some of you know...a while back I decided to pull out the stock 3-speed in favor of the ever-so-cool 700R4. I got the tranny up there, and then things got busy, other cars rolled in and the project was put on hold.

Then one day, my wife Holli asked me "So why and you going automatic....isn't a manual more fun for smoking the tires ??"

I was like "Huh ??" I was like...."I knew there was a reason I married you!!!"

(BTW...yesterday marks my 10 YEARS OF MARRIAGE)

I also got the same responces from my buddys....So this being said...out came the 700 and in goes the Muncie I was saving for the Nova....
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I wish I would of thought this out in the begining...just realized the Munice is the EXACT SAME LENGTH as the stock 3-speed !!!

This would of been so easy...slide the 3-speed out of the bell-housing and slide in the 4-speed...no need to chisel rivets and remove the bell-housing crossmember...no rear member needed, etc. Only a shifter and thats it !!

Anyway, enough of the dwelling......Better get up some pics !!!! (just remembered how big Joe is....)
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Here's the 3-speed and it's clutch I will be reusing (no extra money for a nice one just yet...). Cleaned up the flywheel and check the disc fit...

[ChiefRocka]

When I purchased the Muncie from CL....it came with a scatter shield, so might as well use it (you never know...the clutch might blow with those skinny white walls....)

Got the tranny in......

[ChiefRocka]

I cleaned up the yoke and found a broken zerk fitting....

[ChiefRocka]

For the life of me I couldn't find the u-bolts for the rear u-joint....I was frickin pissed...."Where the F#ck are those u-bolts!!!"

Throwing crap around....

Then I was like..."...oh here they are, in my magnetic tray (The "so I wouldn't loose them tray")

[ChiefRocka]

...

[ChiefRocka]

The only thing left to do is a rear crossmember and set-up the shifter...

I think I'm gonna throw the original E-brake crossmember back in, and build off of that...That'll get the e-brake back in check and support the tranny.

I searched Summit and found that a Hurst shifter designed for an Early Nova uses the furthest forward most holes on the Muncies tail-shaft. The pic show the reverse rod to be super short. This might be the ticket.

Not sure what my current shifter was for...probably a 'Maro or F-bird..

I will try to mod my current one (shorten it, rethread the rods) to see if I can keep the cost down....

Stay tuned...

We are off to the lake for some camping and boating.....

[joe231]

that is some funny sheite right there, gotta love when you put stuff up so you won't loose it and can't ever find it again




that trans looks NICE in there

you wanna send me the 700?

[Hilandr451]

I need to get one of those trays!!!!

[62 Bowtie]

This is a good motivator for guys like me who are so close and want to attend se ya I'll be in my garage wrenchin

[the lights]

truck is coming along nicely, congrats on 10 years of marriage. sounds like a milestone to me.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by joe231

that is some funny sheite right there, gotta love when you put stuff up so you won't loose it and can't ever find it again




that trans looks NICE in there

you wanna send me the 700?

I wish I could, but I think it will eventually find it's way into Holli's wagon or the '63 Impala

Originally Posted by Hilandr451

I need to get one of those trays!!!!

I purchased those from Sears...I have four of then...one on either side of the carlift. Makes it really handy (to lose stuff)

Originally Posted by 62 Bowtie

This is a good motivator for guys like me who are so close and want to attend se ya I'll be in my garage wrenchin

Nice truck man..looks clean !!!

Originally Posted by the lights

truck is coming along nicely, congrats on 10 years of marriage. sounds like a milestone to me.

The truck or the marriage ??

Ten years and going....I've heard that if you make it thru one year your doing good.....

[shortbed70]

Congrats on the 10 yr mark I just hit that myself,nice truck too.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by shortbed70

Congrats on the 10 yr mark I just hit that myself,nice truck too.

Thanks shortbed, hows your truck coming ??

[Bazooka]

In highschool I had a 67 Firebird with a 350 and 4 spd. We pulled out the 350/4 spd and put in a 455/400TH combo. It was fun at first but after awhile I missed the 4 speed!!

[ChiefRocka]

Yesterday, I worked on my truck a little more. I decided to modify the original "e-brake" crossmember to be used as the tranny crossmember as well...this continuing my original thought of a 'low-budget' build....Was actually pretty easy....
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After checking clearance...I decided the crossmember had to be slid back some....I used the very next hole and drilled two more:
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Picked up a $5 mount at Kragens....
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....and started off with the bottom plate, out of scrap 1/4" plate:
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Quick templates (using mount box)
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and were off...
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[ChiefRocka]

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E-brake clearance were in check:
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After a quick weight check...there was a little flex, so I 'Rein4st' the crossmember with some 1" tubing I had laying around....both top sides:
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[ChiefRocka]

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Now that the x-member was slid back (2 3/4") I extended this arm with a piece of 1"x1/4" flat stock:
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Which meant now the rear cables had to be shortened.....Well I could of cut them and recrimped some nipples of them, but decided just to redrill the trailing arms and move the sleeves back....
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In order to remove these rusty bolts, I just used my impact on 'forward' and snapped those suckers right off:
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Using the block as a template....marked the measurement and drilled the new 3/8" hole and reinstalled with new bolts/nuts:
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More pics soon....Had to repair a Funked up FoRD....might post in Alt Tinkering...

[71'tahoe]

Looking good..

[padresag]

it does look like that frt yoke could go in a little further
ron

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

Yesterday, I worked on my truck a little more. I decided to modify the original "e-brake" crossmember to be used as the tranny crossmember as well...this continuing my original thought of a 'low-budget' build....Was actually pretty easy....
-
-
After checking clearance...I decided the crossmember had to be slid back some....I used the very next hole and drilled two more:
-
-

-

-

-

-

-
Picked up a $5 mount at Kragens....
-

-
....and started off with the bottom plate, out of scrap 1/4" plate:
-

-
Quick templates (using mount box)
-

-
and were off...
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[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by padresag

it does look like that frt yoke could go in a little further
ron

You are right there.....however thats how it was with the stock 3-speed, as they are the same length.

My disappointment lies in the driveability.

Turns out, this Muncie is a close-ratio unit....combine that with the low rear-end gears I have (never even checked them yet) and you got a truck that'll barely go on the freeway.....AAAARRRRRR !!!!

But let me tell you...IT CAN SURE LAY SOME RUBBER !!

I think the 700r4 might find its way in there...someday...but for now it's cool.

Now, I am willing to tach this thing out for 1 1/2 to 2 hours on the freeway to Vacaville ??

[slepysal]

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

You are right there.....however thats how it was with the stock 3-speed, as they are the same length.

My disappointment lies in the driveability.

Turns out, this Muncie is a close-ratio unit....combine that with the low rear-end gears I have (never even checked them yet) and you got a truck that'll barely go on the freeway.....AAAARRRRRR !!!!

But let me tell you...IT CAN SURE LAY SOME RUBBER !!

I am willing to tach this thing out for 1 1/2 to 2 hours on the freeway to Vacaville ??

I hear yo on that bro !!
To bad you , did an outstanding job on the swap ... maybe a rear end swap ?

[allen57]

oh nvm i thought that was thinking the car was on the ground, and thought "damn, if his suspension unloads, it could fall out." didnt realize it was on a rack. i think i had a driveshaft from my stock 3 speed and since u were close, seeing about trading u. but it looks ok now. my current driveshaft stick out that far when unloaded.

[joe231]

Nice work John!
I like it!

[4dranch]

I agree John, super work. and thanks for the pictures, there really helpfull.
And congrats on the 10 years...It will be 25 for me in two weeks.

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by 4dranch

I agree John, super work. and thanks for the pictures, there really helpfull.
And congrats on the 10 years...