transmission identification - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

B13B3R · 08-26-2009, 12:41 AM

Is it possible to identify what transmission is in my 87 by the VIN number? I tried to find a VIN identifier online but none were very helpful with the tranny.

It is a 3 speed manual in an 87 with 4wd and a 350 if anyone has a guess at what it may be.

flamingbig10 · 08-26-2009, 12:49 AM

Prong · 08-26-2009, 06:48 AM

Should be a SM465 by the sounds of it...

68 TT · 08-26-2009, 09:02 AM

Are you sure it's a 3-speed manual and not a 4-speed with a granny low? The shifter on my SM465 says L-1-2-3 so I can see how that could be confusing.

The only 3-speed manual I know of is the old Saginaw one from the late 60's & early 70's cars and I thought they quit using it long before the 80's.

Keith Seymore · 08-26-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68 TT

Are you sure it's a 3-speed manual and not a 4-speed with a granny low? The shifter on my SM465 says L-1-2-3 so I can see how that could be confusing.

The only 3-speed manual I know of is the old Saginaw one from the late 60's & early 70's cars and I thought they quit using it long before the 80's.

Ditto, except you could get the 3 speed Saginaw all the way up to '87. I want to say there were two versions, like an RPO "M62" and an "M64" (the same three speed case but with different first gear ratios), both column shifted.

K

68 TT · 08-26-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Ditto, except you could get the 3 speed Saginaw all the way up to '87. I want to say there were two versions, like an RPO "M62" and an "M64" (the same three speed case but with different first gear ratios), both column shifted.

K

I forgot about the three on the tree. Those sucked to drive. Mine always bound up half way between first & second.

James McClure · 08-26-2009, 09:01 AM

I'm with prong, it's a rock crusher 465. Some had a shift patern that said 1-2-3-4 and later were marked, L-2-3-4. It's the same trans, all they changed was the knob.jim

TwoFiftyShifter · 08-26-2009, 09:26 AM

If it's manual and its a big long stick, its an SM465.

Keith Seymore · 08-26-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

If it's manual and its a big long stick, its an SM465.

...and "ditto" again...

If you can take a pic (either from underneath or maybe from in the cab with the shift boot removed) I'm sure somebody here can identify it. You can tell if it's a SM465 from a mile away.

K

B13B3R · 08-26-2009, 03:27 PM

it has the L and then 1 2 and 3. here is the best pic i have of it right now.

Keith Seymore · 08-26-2009, 03:39 PM

The pic is perfect. That's the SM465 with the "granny" low gear (what I call the M20 trans).

K

PS - more trivia: I am reminded that those were available with either a chrome or a black stick, FWIW...

68 TT · 08-26-2009, 04:08 PM

Same one I have. Very tough and reliable.

TwoFiftyShifter · 08-26-2009, 08:41 PM

Chrome stick baby!

TwoFiftyShifter · 08-26-2009, 08:46 PM

Wait is that an automatic column shift??? Manual conversion?

68 TT · 08-27-2009, 10:18 AM

Or like my old 81, a manual trans truck with a better column snagged out of an automatic truck.

Sniper X · 08-27-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68 TT

Or like my old 81, a manual trans truck with a better column snagged out of an automatic truck.

I'd love to see a car theif jump into that thing and go WHAT! Ill bet he would jump right out and RUNNOFT!

TwoFiftyShifter · 08-27-2009, 12:21 PM

So you couldn't get a tilt column on a manual truck?

Sniper X · 08-27-2009, 12:24 PM

To this day, and I am older, I have never heard one of the granny low 4 speeds refered to as a three speed! That is like calling a 700R4 a three speed overdrive transmission right?

TwoFiftyShifter · 08-28-2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sniper X

To this day, and I am older, I have never heard one of the granny low 4 speeds refered to as a three speed! That is like calling a 700R4 a three speed overdrive transmission right?

No... when you drive down the road you only use 3 gears.... creeper gear never comes into play, so i call it a 3 on the floor.... becuase anyone watching you drive it would think that.

68 TT · 08-28-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

No... when you drive down the road you only use 3 gears.... creeper gear never comes into play, so i call it a 3 on the floor.... becuase anyone watching you drive it would think that.

So since I never get a chance to go fast enough in town to get into fifth or sixth gear in my Camaro that I should call it a 4-speed and not a six-speed?

Just because you don't use the gear doesn't mean the transmission doesn't have it.

The SM465 is a four speed with a granny low first gear not a true three speed manual transmission like the Saginaw that has no granny low.

68 TT · 08-27-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

So you couldn't get a tilt column on a manual truck?

My 78 has tilt and the SM465 stock.

I couldn't find a decent manual trans column for my old 81 so I ended up with a column shift auto trans column in there. I pulled the shift lever off right away by knocking out the roll pin holding it in and eventually ground off the boss and filled the void left so it looked like a manual trans column.

You have to secure the shifter sleeve in place in the park position as it can rotate while you are driving and keep you from turning the ignition lock far enough to get the key out.

TwoFiftyShifter · 08-28-2009, 07:23 PM

It has 4 forward gears, so it is no doubt a 4-speed, but when non-old truck people ask about the tranny, I tell them its a 3 on the floor.

3r!c84 · 08-28-2009, 08:39 PM

ahahah has 3 gear shifters and 3 pedels lmao
that would be fun to drive

08-26-2009, 12:41 AM	#1
B13B3R Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 28	transmission identification Is it possible to identify what transmission is in my 87 by the VIN number? I tried to find a VIN identifier online but none were very helpful with the tranny. It is a 3 speed manual in an 87 with 4wd and a 350 if anyone has a guess at what it may be.

08-26-2009, 12:49 AM	#2
flamingbig10 6.0 powered square Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mesquite texas Posts: 3,459	Re: transmission identification __________________ Aaron 1980 c-10 short bed lowered, cammed 6.0, 4l80e 3600 stall, smp tune, wilwoods, and flames best time so far best et 7.86 @87 on motor 7.57 90 on a 75 shot Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=283326

08-26-2009, 06:48 AM	#3
Prong Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: CO Posts: 474	Re: transmission identification Should be a SM465 by the sounds of it...

08-26-2009, 09:02 AM	#4
68 TT Still plays with trucks Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,556	Re: transmission identification Are you sure it's a 3-speed manual and not a 4-speed with a granny low? The shifter on my SM465 says L-1-2-3 so I can see how that could be confusing. The only 3-speed manual I know of is the old Saginaw one from the late 60's & early 70's cars and I thought they quit using it long before the 80's.

08-26-2009, 09:01 AM	#7
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: transmission identification I'm with prong, it's a rock crusher 465. Some had a shift patern that said 1-2-3-4 and later were marked, L-2-3-4. It's the same trans, all they changed was the knob.jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

08-26-2009, 09:26 AM	#8
TwoFiftyShifter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gwinnett GA Posts: 1,803	Re: transmission identification If it's manual and its a big long stick, its an SM465. __________________ 1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh!

08-26-2009, 03:27 PM	#10
B13B3R Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 28	Re: transmission identification it has the L and then 1 2 and 3. here is the best pic i have of it right now.

08-26-2009, 03:39 PM	#11
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,213	Re: transmission identification The pic is perfect. That's the SM465 with the "granny" low gear (what I call the M20 trans). K PS - more trivia: I am reminded that those were available with either a chrome or a black stick, FWIW... __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ Last edited by Keith Seymore; 08-26-2009 at 03:41 PM.

08-26-2009, 04:08 PM	#12
68 TT Still plays with trucks Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,556	Re: transmission identification Same one I have. Very tough and reliable.

08-26-2009, 08:41 PM	#13
TwoFiftyShifter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gwinnett GA Posts: 1,803	Re: transmission identification Chrome stick baby! __________________ 1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh!

08-26-2009, 08:46 PM	#14
TwoFiftyShifter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gwinnett GA Posts: 1,803	Re: transmission identification Wait is that an automatic column shift??? Manual conversion? __________________ 1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh!

08-27-2009, 10:18 AM	#15
68 TT Still plays with trucks Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,556	Re: transmission identification Or like my old 81, a manual trans truck with a better column snagged out of an automatic truck.

08-27-2009, 12:21 PM	#17
TwoFiftyShifter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gwinnett GA Posts: 1,803	Re: transmission identification So you couldn't get a tilt column on a manual truck? __________________ 1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh!

08-27-2009, 12:24 PM	#18
Sniper X Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Albuquerque New mexico Posts: 169	Re: transmission identification To this day, and I am older, I have never heard one of the granny low 4 speeds refered to as a three speed! That is like calling a 700R4 a three speed overdrive transmission right?

08-28-2009, 07:23 PM	#22
TwoFiftyShifter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gwinnett GA Posts: 1,803	Re: transmission identification It has 4 forward gears, so it is no doubt a 4-speed, but when non-old truck people ask about the tranny, I tell them its a 3 on the floor. __________________ 1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh!



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08-28-2009, 08:39 PM	#23
3r!c84 Badass Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: lox. fl Posts: 4,586	Re: transmission identification ahahah has 3 gear shifters and 3 pedels lmao that would be fun to drive __________________ Think outside the box? -84c10 (1stcar)→My Build← -00 Saturn 5spd drop a gear and disappear! 1/4:13:90

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