Transmission Identification

[Groyd]

Any help is appreciated.

These are only numbers I could find closest to the engine on the passenger side. Upside down, not sure if they are (988935)

Same pic from further away.

I believe the tailhousing from the passenger side. Possibly (352254)

The linkage from underneath.

[OrrieG]

My guess is an old iron Saginaw 4 speed (cast iron, seven bolt side cover, reverse lever on cover), not original to the truck they only came with three speed column shift or 4 speed top shift manual transmissions. Swapping in the car trannings was popular, I had a Muncie in my first 57 truck in 1969. If you look close you should find a date code like D138 which indicates the month (D would be april), day (13 in my case) and last number of year (58). That might narrow down the application.

[Groyd]

That's bad news. I was wanting to put the original three on the tree back in it. I'll try to get a better look at it this weekend when it warms up.

[OrrieG]

Pretty sure you can trade it for a three speed! If I was closer I'd get one of numberous ones around here and trade you.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Groyd

That's bad news. I was wanting to put the original three on the tree back in it. I'll try to get a better look at it this weekend when it warms up.

Someone will no doubt offer to swap you an original 3 speed but my guess is that once you have it in the truck you won't be happy with it if you actually drive the truck. If I was going column shift 4 speed i'd go to a mid 70's full syncro 3 speed and use the stock column linkage. That unless you intend to put the whole truck right back to 100% right off the showroom floor stock and then go with the old style 3 speed. myself I'd keep the 4 speed if I intended to make a few mods on the truck.

If you were closer I'd trade you the full syncro 3 speed out of my 48 straight across and include resealing it in the deal.

[1project2many]

Yep... looks like an old 4 speed.

Keep in mind there are two different versions of three speed available. One version uses a bellcrank to reverse the linkage for 2-3 (IIRC). Without the bellcrank, 2nd and 3rd gear positions (IIRC) are swapped.

[solidaxel]

? why do you want to downgrade to a three speed?

[Groyd]

I don't necessarily want to downgrade. I just wanted the column shift because my dad used to have one. Sentimental I guess. The shifter that the PO mounted in the floor is right in front of the accelerator and is held on pretty poorly. It only feels like a 3spd in an H pattern but it's hard to tell. It's been to cold to get out and mess with it with the trams cover off. It's definitely not going back to stock, so I'm not worried about getting a three speed. Just need to figure out what I'm working with so I can use the old googlebox and get a gameplan together.

[solidaxel]

..................... held on poorly ?
Can you send a pic?
With that 4 spd the shifter should be all the way back to the front of the seat, or further,
Did you say the floor cover was removed?

[Groyd]

I failed to mention that this is on a '57 3200 that I just bought.

[Groyd]

You are correct that it's closer to the seat, but in line with the accelerator pedal. Seems like it should be over to the right, but it is over the linkage where I assume it should be. It just felt weird trying to put it in reverse and having to move my leg over to get it in reverse. I'll try to get pics this weekend.

[solidaxel]

Does your truck have all of the stock column shift linkage all the way down to the transmission?

[Groyd]

No it doesn't have any of the stock shifter or linkage. I found a '59 apache that someone was parting out and it had all the original column,linkage, gauges, etc. and I was apparently pipe dreaming about going back to a column shift for cheap. After doing some reading, apparently the column shift is pretty tough to get hooked up?

[solidaxel]

Maybe a removal of your linkage and a bit of maintenance and with some heat you could bend the stick to the right to make it a bit more comfortable to shift.

[Groyd]

It's a little shifter for a car console. I'll probably get a taller shifter. That's a good idea to heat and bend though. I'm definitely gonna steal that idea.

[solidaxel]

Nothing too steal here, everything is FREE here

[OrrieG]

That is about where they come out if the shifter is for a car and not a truck. Mine had a Hurst car shifter, we modified the handle to move it forward, to the right and longer. Girls always thought I was getting fresh with them when I shifted into second and fourth... Reverse should be hard left and forward.

[Groyd]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Reverse should be hard left and forward.

Dead on! I came home from work and jiggled it pretty rough a few times towards the left and I was able to get it to come over and up for reverse. Wow, I feel like an idiot. I just assumed the h pattern I felt was a 3 speed. Then when I thought 4 speed I kept trying further to the right for reverse.

Thank you everyone for the help.