Manual swap...

[Zman86]

Just trying to get some ideas. I've never actually seen one of these truck stick before. What transmissions can be swapped in/what other vehicles can the come out of? How would one go about rigging up a pedal assembly if a truck one could not be found? Hydraulic or cable actuated clutch? Does a specific driveshaft have to be used?

I'm thinking of just ditching the TH350, I much prefer driving something with a manual transmission, plus I hate working on automatics...

[swb85]

GM put plenty of heavy duty sm465 4 speeds in these trucks. You can grab the pedal and z-bar/linkage assemblies from one and it all bolts right up. Some (myself included) have swapped in car style transmissions as well, I have a m21 muncie in mine.

[smashingchuck]

Yep hit the junk yard for the pedals/ z bar and use what ever trans you want (car transmissions can be a Saginaw, Borg-Warner t-10, or a Muncie). If it is 2wd I don't see any advantage to using a truck transmission.

[Driveway Dreams]

A straight forward truck tranny to look for would be the NV3500. They are 5 speed that came in the 90s body GM trucks. They also had a NV4500 that was a little more heavy duty. Or you can go with the stock type heavy duty 4 speed SM465s. Just depends on your goals. Try the search function and you will find more info too.

[Keith Seymore]

Here's what mine came with:



It's a four speed manual, 4th gear is an overdrive, complete with Hurst/Mr Gasket shifter and stick.

K

[smashingchuck]

Keith-
Isn't the trans in your truck kind of a "rare bird"?

[4x4s4allie]

my 1978 has the sw465 in it ... fairly easy swap to do ... find a truck that was originally a stick to pull a hump pan out of that has the bolts for easy access for clutch changes and the whatnot, and a pedal assembly (i picked one up at a junk yard, about 45 bucks) ... really not that hard to find either ...

i like the 4 speed tranny ... but i've got a 4 wheel drive ... i had the 4 speed in a 2 wheel drive and liked it too ... i've got an nv4500 that needs to be rebuilt, but the adapter kit for it runs about 900-1000 bucks ... depends on how much money you want to spend, and what kind of driving you'll be doing with the truck ... (highway driving where you'll be wanting overdrive, regular intown driving where it won't matter much, etc.)

hope some of this helps

[Zman86]

Thanks for all the replies, and yes, I did try the search function, but couldnt really get the answers I was looking for.

How will I be driving it? Well, I plan on taking it anywhere I want to go, whether that be up north for the weekend, downtown to grab food, daily drive to work, etc. It will be used as a DD. I'd really like to have OD. Does the NV3500 require amy type of adapter? If so, what exactly does this adapter consist of? Finding a pedal assembly is proving quite difficult, I've yet to see a stick 73-87 up here in any of the junkyards.

[smashingchuck]

There was a pedal assemply for sale in the parts forum not long ago. If you are using the truck for a DD a would definatley recomend the 5 speed, but I don't know what all the swap entails.

[pokethesmot]

man i with ya on this one i want a manual transmissio so bad

[metalgod]

i have a 74 it was a three on the tree convered to a floor shifter.........any trans the adapts to the 350 will work.......and as stated get a junk yard petal ass. its the best way to go try to get a hydrolic z- bar sucks ive had both!! its an easy swap i got a muncie 4-speed m21 trans in my 74 c-10 i love it but the 5 speed it good for a daily driver just take what you can get and make it work..................were alll herre to help you out

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by pokethesmot

man i with ya on this one i want a manual transmissio so bad

me too.
but i make the noises and the hand movements in the mean time

[Driveway Dreams]

From what I have found in my research and talking to a GM tech at work. The NV3500 is hydraulic clutch system and will bolt right up to the SBC. (That is after all what it comes from). Be careful though. Dodge offered the same NV3500 too, but it has different bolt pattern. You may need to move a cross member, and get a driveshaft to fit, but not too bad a swap I am told. Hopefully soon I will do a whole write up on the swap I plan to do...as soon as I can buy the tranny.

[SBTork]

Don't forget, the '85-'87 trucks used a hydraulic clutch set-up from the factory, therefor, in my mind at least, making them more desirable if you looking for conversion parts. I would like to put an NV3500 behind a 5.3 LS engine some day. I think it would be a good combo for a DD but have yet to see it done.

[Zman86]

After reading a bit here, I've not seen many good words about the NV3500 and its power handling capability. The first gear ratio on the SM465 is horrid, Muncie M21 is out of my budget range along with any type of Tremec or TKO. I dont really plan on ever putting too hot of an engine in this truck, my eventual goal is a 300hp smallblock, its mainly going to be just to drive and cruise in, with the occasional burnout of course. The NV3500 seemed perfect until I started reading what some people had to say about it...

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Dude forget the first gear ratio on the 465, if you want a street truck, that's the least of your problems with that tranny.... LOL. I love it but It has a super long stroke and is gapped like a MOFO and still a 1:1 top gear. Not to mention the fact I have trouble shifting it half as fast as a muncie M22....

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Depending on your tires, an old saganaw will not like burnouts from a 300HP motor, nor will an NV3500 without building it up. An M21 muncie is worth it.... it will handle 300HP for a lot of hard miles.

[Zman86]

Well, there is a completely rebuilt Muncie M21 listed on the local Kijiji for $1300 canadian, says its out of a 68 Camaro. Wish I could pick it up, I just dont have that kind of cash to throw around at the moment. I'm not a big fan of having to do things twice though i.e blowing up some weak transmission, so it looks like its time to start saving...

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Yeah. If you HAD to do it cheaply, maybe the SM465 could work, but like I said, it would be seriously dissapointing in a street truck.... You will love a muncie. Short stroke and damn you can just bang the gears so quick, and if its a close ratio the gears aren't gapped very much. F-U-N.

[smashingchuck]

I would look for a B-W T-10. They are much cheaper and just about the same thing.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Had a Borg Warner T10 WAY back when, behind a 310hp 327. It was a dream come true! Pulled off 4000rpm clutch drops in that totally modified '53 Stude' Commander,...even spiralled a driveshaft in front of my buddy's house. Ruled ALL the small blocks in Fort Collins, CO with my 4.55:1 rear gears and engine/tranny combo. Tranny never complained, and I never lost a race!
It would handle the 300hp and the weight of the truck.
Todd.