3 speed help on a 1970

[Rmax]

HI new to the site but could use some help.
I had just sold my 63 nova and was feeling stupid when I found this 1970 c10 with A 307 and 3 on the tree up the street for $500.I know its not cool as a long bed but got the little 307 to run and took it home. The 3 speed is done as it has no 3rd gear and sounds like a small war is breaking out inside but the clutch is good.I dont have a lots of money for a cool swap so I was thinking just put a 3 speed back in as I think 3rd is still a 1 to 1 .I found some on craigslist for cheap but wanted to make sure I did not get anything that would not fit. I guess what Iam asking is can I use a 3 speed out of a car? are there differences within the years that I may need to watch for?............... anything that may help
Thanks for your time
R

[capev86]

hey.....

you know they had the 3 speed w/ an overdrive tail housing....but tracking down one cheap is tough because they are rare (now). planning to upgrade the 3 speed in my 72 burb 3/4 ton w/ an od unit eventually.....it is a bolt in upgrade requiring no driveshaft mods. if this had been a floor shifted truck, i'd have gone with a 5 or 6 speed trans, but i think the 3 on the tree is fun and different with everyone in a rush to put an auto in their truck. i plan to ditch my 307 eventually in favor of a 406sbc sitting around and put in a mcleoud ceramic clutch. i already have royal purple fluid in the trans and it works slick!

[sanford66]

from Kansas! Could it be the throwout bearing? I'm not sure if the car and truck 3-speeds are the same though. I'm sure someone on her does! Joseph

[PanelDeland]

Year differences usually are just in the low syncro on the trucks.I don't think there is any difference in the truck/car 3 speeds but I'm not sure.Check tailshaft length to be sure you're not going to have to change driveshaft length since the cost of that may be more than a correct tranny.

[raycow]

You absolutely can use a car 3 speed. Just make sure it has a 7 bolt side cover. These were used 66-up in cars and all of them have the same length and splines. You will need to swap the front bearing retainer (the one on the truck transmission is larger). The bottom two mounting holes on the car transmissions do not have any threads, so you will need to use longer bolts with nuts in those holes.

Ray

[c1069]

I have 307 sbc 3 on the tree, maybe sell it in about 2 or 3 months

[Rmax]

thanks yea checked I agine and the gear is just blown out. I think I may go out to the Good Guys show in Pleasanton Ca maybe I can find something out there, I have a little B day money. If i get the same truck transmission do I need to pull the bell housing or is it ok just to change the transmission. done cars in the past never a truck and never manuals as I was scared but this should be a good chance to learn.

[raycow]

You don't have to pull the bellhousing, but you do have to remove the bottom cover. The bottom two transmission mounting bolts are installed from the inside.

Ray

[Rmax]

I found a man who had a 3 speed he said was out of a 75 c10. I picked it for 50 bucks but When i got home I realized I may have made a mistake. I checked for the 7 bolt cover like Saginaws have and it has this. There is a extra hole and tab on the cast up top as most I have seen only have 4 holes(makes more of a star then a square) and it dose not have the big retainer like a truck would have so now Iam thinking car.It dose have a 10 spline input with no groves .Dose anyone know what I have, or why the extra hole and will it fit.
Thank you for your time,

sorry the pic is so bad trying to get another one

[raycow]

Sorry, I can't see your pic, but I do know what kind you are talking about. I have seen that 5 hole transmission used on later trucks and it will bolt up to your bellhousing. Just swap the bearing retainer if it has the small one. The botttom mounting holes on that one won't be threaded, so get two 1/2" bolts long enough to go completely through the ear and let you put a nut on the outside. Swap the shift arms if yours are different.

Ray

[Rmax]

I pulled the trans today it came out in 2 as the front bearing retainer broke apart. The retainer on the new trans is the same size and I hope is correct and someone did not change it in the past and this is why it broke. I was wondering what is the best way to change the shift leavers as they are different. Can it be done with out takeing the cover off? Thought I would ask before I did.
thanks

o and oil is there a good gear oil to a bad gear oil and what should I run thanks

[LockDoc]

-
Make sure the arms are in neutral position on both trannys and note the position of the ones on the old trans and make sure they are in the same position when you put them on the new one. If you clean them up good and look at the arms you will see how they come off.

LockDoc

[raycow]

The bearing retainer is the right one if its locating shoulder is the same size as the center hole in the bellhousing. You will know if it is wrong just by looking, because the difference is about 7/16".

Ray