muncie 4 speed install question?

[orange prostreet69]

I am still currently installing my M22 4 speed in my truck and I am using the original truck 3 speed bellhousing. Should I just use the original bellhousing crossmember and leave the trans hanging like original or should I use an actual crossmember on my new 4 speed trans?

[psuautotechstudent]

I'm curious about this one too. i would like to upgrade to a muncie as well in a couple of months.

[special-K]

I`m not saying what you plan is wrong,it worked for the 3spd.but,I`m using an aluminum car bellhousing and auto crossmember mounting to the tailshaft.That`s how I`ve been doing it.

[Green Machine]

Shouldn't be any problem hanging it like the original trans, just remember that the bottom trans mount holes in the muncie have no threads so you will need to use 2 grade 8 bolts, locks and nuts on the bottom.

Also make sure the bearing retainer on trans matches the hole in the bellhousing. There are 2 different sizes depending on the year of te trans and/or belhousing - 4 11/16 and 5 1/8 they must match, different retainers are available to do the swap.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

With the aluminum trans. I like to put a crossmember under the back of the trans.

[TCLARK]

I replaced my 3Speed with a Saginaw 4Speed without any problem !

[BCOWANWHEELS]

I think you,ll need a 67 tk bellhousing because the pilot hole in it is 4 11/16 same as a car. 68 up has 5 1/8" pilot hole

[airdale94]

I would get a car bell housing and a truck TH350 crossmember.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

problem with a car bellhsg is thenn you,ll have to fab clutch linkage and x-member

[special-K]

Why is that?Isn`t the clutch still in the same place?You just use an automatic crossmember.

[psuautotechstudent]

Could you just simply remove the clutch linkage and install a cable to disengage the clutch somehow? I was looking at it the other day for if I get a 350, I'm not sure if the clutch linkage will work anymore (not sure if that's true, but it sure looks like it)

[airdale94]

Just look up the part #'s for both apps. clutch fork, if they are the same, will work 100%. If different all you would need to do is shorten or lengthen the clutch pushrod.

Actually I know there different (car/truck). There is 2 different GM car. One exits the bell housing mostly parallel and the other is somewhat angled down.

[long69]

since the transmission will be alum. i don't know if it will be good enough to just hang there like the old 3 speed as it was iron cased? i would go with a cross member also just to make sure. just my 2 cents. but then people say i make no sense.

[LONGHAIR]

Gearing, gearing, gearing.......I am not a big fan of this swap. These transmissions were designed for high-reving muscle cars. They are lighter and had low rear end gears to take advantage of it, but they are not exactly highway friendly.
2.20-1 first gear is not so great in a pick-up truck.

[geezer#99]

Gearing, gearing, gearing. That statement is so true. I changed out the muncie in my 70 chevelle for a saginaw because of the gearing. 3.11 first gear in the saginaw was so much better to drive. Even ran one in my 56 belair with 3.73 rear gears. It's all about gear multipication.

[ts71281]

I have a M20 muncie in my 70 truck with a 454 - 1st gear is plenty low even if I wanted to pull a boat. It's the M21 and M22 that have too high of a 1st gear. Those are the road racing trannies. At any rate, I've had my muncie installed for 5 years now without and problems I am using a 67 3 speed bell housing and just letting the trans hang off the back of it. My engine has 540 ft lbs of torque and nothing has broken yet or is prematurely worn out. That being said, I don't think it's worth the effort of trying to support the rear end of the trans.

[airdale94]

A truck TH350 x-member in the stock location in the frame will get you within 1/2" of the tail housing mount. Use a latter model car trans. mount with the stud. Then elong gate the hole in the trans. x-member. Muncie's and B/W T-10's are within 1/2" from bellhousing to trans. mount compared to a TH350.

I wouldn't leave a car 4-speed unsupported in the rear. Especially a aluminum cased one. 3 and 4-speed saginaws are about 100 lbs. Aluminum Muncie's and Super T-10's are at least 125 lbs., and the iron case T-10's are pushing 150 lbs.

[ts71281]

The Muncie can't weigh anymore than 80 lbs, on the other hand the saginaw 3 speed was a testicle twitcher getting that out by hand. That has to weigh easily 150 lbs or so.

[geezer#99]

I just finished replacing the rear main seal and clutch and did the saginaw bench press this morning on my 67 gmc with 3 gear saginaw. Is indeed fairly heavy. Flat on my back under the truck. Lots of grunting and cursing of coarse. I've done several trannies this way and the 3 gear is lighter than the muncie I pulled several times on my chevelle. Feels like about 75 pounds to me. JMHO

[CSGAS]

Also consider that running dual exhaust without going below frame rails, is MUCH easier with the rear tranny crossmember than it is if you keep the rear engine crossmember in place.

[special-K]

^That`s one reason why I run the auto crossmember.The factory 3spd 1st gear ratio is taller than any of these 4spds and gets you by just fine,at least in a cruiser.I like how the run with these trans`.I bought a 3spd Blazer with 37s and wanted to swap an M22.I decided against it.It`s a whole different bird.I went with a swap to TH350 and stronger NP205.