3spd OD?

[1968CHEVYC10]

I was reading in my lmc catalog for 67-72 in the year descriptions and I noticed it said a manual 3spd OD tranny was available, I'd never heard this, and never new a OD tranny was even available for these trucks. does anybody have anymore info on this transmission?

[trapper68gmc]

It was an option. I have heard of them more common in early 60's models. My 68 GMC has a 3 speed with over drive from a 63 chev impala. The original trans was a 3 speed direct drive but the bolt patterns are the same and could be swapped between some models and years.

This is how mine works. First gear doesnt have any OD but when you let off the gas the gear disingages, hit the gas again and the gear re-engages. Second gear, you speed up to about 30 and let off the gas and OD kicks in and you can go up to about 50. Third gear im not sure about because I have a 250 straight six and can only do about 70 in third. It could be that I dont have enough engine.

Anyway, it makes driving on the highway a lot easier.

-Trapper

[Longhorn Man]

as mentioned, it was more common in 50s and 60s cars and light duty trucks. It is also a very weak item and most of them are broken, with little to no support in replacement parts.

[54blackhornet]

Quoted from the 1968 Price & Facts Book 2nd edition dated Feb 1968

Overdrive, not available with 327 or 396 v8
Opt # M10
list price $110.00
factory D&H $8.40
mfgr's Sgt'd Retail Delvr'd $118.40

Hope That helps Out !

[usmcchevy]

So if I can get one of these for $150 or less, would it be worth it?

[northerngmc]

Originally Posted by usmcchevy

So if I can get one of these for $150 or less, would it be worth it?

I think so. A good one that is complete is probably worth twice that.

[capev86]

they come available on ebay, craigslist (if you look nationally), etc every so often. the one you need/want is a 1966+ unit so you can keep the synchro first gear. earlier versions didn't have this feature and can be identified by 4 bolts on the side cover instead of the 7 we are used to. all you need is the OD tail section, main shaft and all the external mechanical and electrical controls to convert over but it is probably easier to find a complete unit to rebuid or use for parts. i suggest you put the lowest first gear available in the trans while you have it apart.......better for towing. they shouldn't be expensive because they are used and there isn't a ton of demand for them with so many people going to auto or modern manual transmissions but those who know what they are still demand high prices because they are now rare....i saw 300 for a core on ebay awhile back and 400 for a complete drop in unit with all the controls on craigslist recently. it's like trying to get a good stock pair of mufflers for my 72 honda cb350 twin. sucks for guys like me 'cause they are traded like gold bars.

they were discontinued after '69 likely because gas was cheap and the gas crisis of '73 was still a few years off. also, people used their trucks back then for blue collar work (= mostly local driving) and did not use them for commuting to the office like we do now. today we drive trucks to show off our macho side and flaunt our wealth when we "should" all be driving old honda civics or ford escorts with 5 speeds and getting 40+ mpg. There sure are a lot of pickup driving commuters at my place of work. I take my 72 suburban to work only rarely.

as for durablity issues....perhaps to a degree. i say you can run it behind most reasonably powered engines provided you run good fluid (i use royal purple), don't abuse it and lock it out of OD when towing, hot rodding around, etc. i have heard of people drag racing with these and having good longevity. What usually broke first was the electric solenoid and the whole unit got junked many times because people didn't know they could be rebuilt. i heard the original manufacturer in massachusettes made a new (large order only) batch and sold them to different vendors accross the country....if you can find one of those sources.

My 72 burb 3/4 ton has the saginaw and i'm putting a 4.10 in place of the 4.57 rear and want to get the borg warner od on it eventually. i like having that column stick shift but if it had been a floor shift model i'd be all over ripping it out and swapping in a late model 6 speed with 5th AND 6th gear overdrives AND give me 4 regular gears. i do plan to put a mcleod ceramic hi-po clutch in my truck in a couple years when i put my 406sbc in.

[CG]

If you want to learn about these trans contact member botietruck. He did a really nice write up on this type of trans. Looks like some of his pics are missing but I bet he would be happy to share them with you.

I have one of these set ups in a 69 C10. No idea if the OD part works but the rest does. Since its a rare factory option, well not sure how rare they were when new, but tough to find now...I think that makes them worth some coin. Ill probably be yanking mine out for the Monroe swap meet and I'm going to price it at 350 bucks with all the correct brackets and pull handles etc. If it doesn't sell at that price Ill just keep it. Ive seen em go for more and Ive seen em go for less.

[capev86]

i believe they were pretty prevalent, especially since they were in both trucks and cars. i think even some ford's used a variation on the borg warner overdrive unit and you can beef up the chevy OD with the ford spec internals?

the fact that so many were ditched back in the day and made these units rare now really sucks for the few of us that are looking for one....often because we are not rolling in the cash and can not afford to go with a modern high dollar alternative. these are USED, OLD truck parts, not rare pieces for a Duesenburg and they should be priced accordingly. Make a few bucks yes, but bottom line is you want to clear out your garage and let someone else enjoy it. that's what owning an old chevy truck is supposed to be all about....

....unless it supposed to be just another thing only the rich can enjoy like oceanfront property. there are some things i don't much care about modern society.

CG: I think your price is reasonable, especially if it has all the pieces and it was in working condition (or could be with very little help). But when I'm ready....I'll be spending that kind of money on a perfect example, otherwise it is find a guy that doesn't quite know what he has (or is generous) and i put the blood, sweat and tears into it......

[1968CHEVYC10]

Thanks for all the help yall. I was asking mostly to see if my 3spd manual was OD, from matching it to pictures in my repair manual a think its a muncie. originally the truck had a straight six in it.

[faribran]

i have 2 of these......... 1 is currently in use........ works very welll.
might part with the other one.

[BluTrukker]

A while back someone(maybe botie) posted a nice write up on how to re-wire the OD so you can bypass all of the little switches, and run it from a switch on the dash. Thats what I'm going to do. I have a factory OD unit, but at this point it does not work. So I'm going to rebuild the solenoid and activate it with a switch under the dash. I saved the wiring diagram somewhere, if I find it I'll post it. Otherwise check out some of the 50's forums, a lot of those guys know about them.

[Brad]

Mark, I had one that wasn't complete from a 64 Chevelle and recently sold it for $275. It was missing the cables and knobs. Your asking price is very reasonable.

Originally Posted by capev86

i believe they were pretty prevalent, especially since they were in both trucks and cars. i think even some ford's used a variation on the borg warner overdrive unit and you can beef up the chevy OD with the ford spec internals?

the fact that so many were ditched back in the day and made these units rare now really sucks for the few of us that are looking for one....often because we are not rolling in the cash and can not afford to go with a modern high dollar alternative. these are USED, OLD truck parts, not rare pieces for a Duesenburg and they should be priced accordingly. Make a few bucks yes, but bottom line is you want to clear out your garage and let someone else enjoy it. that's what owning an old chevy truck is supposed to be all about....

....unless it supposed to be just another thing only the rich can enjoy like oceanfront property. there are some things i don't much care about modern society.

CG: I think your price is reasonable, especially if it has all the pieces and it was in working condition (or could be with very little help). But when I'm ready....I'll be spending that kind of money on a perfect example, otherwise it is find a guy that doesn't quite know what he has (or is generous) and i put the blood, sweat and tears into it......

I could turn this political very quickly but I ain't gonna. While I understand where I think you're coming from, I don't really agree with it and there are a wide variety of reasons people drive these trucks. I could go on for a 1/2 hour and I think you're wrong but I'll leave it at that.
As for fuel economy, I built a '67 with a 250 and a T-5 transmission. I was doing pretty well for mpg's considering the mileage on the 250. I know I could have done even better with a 4.10 instead of the 3.73 out back. Here's a link to what I'd strongly recommend for your needs. I know it'll be WAY more fun to shift than any 3spd OD.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313954

[capev86]

i am speaking from personal experience about the oceanfront property. my family had a place at the southern end Old Orchard Beach (Saco, Maine) for 70 years. in less than 20 years after we sold it, the property values went up by 10 times. the house next door sold for 2 mil and all they wanted was the land......basically what happened to our civil war era victorian with porches on 3 sides.

even junkyard engineering isn't cheap anymore when a used part can cost hundreds of dollars and it is almost cheaper to just buy new replacement.

i do agree that a 5 or 6 speed is the way to go for fun and sportiness and you can shift it much faster. if my 72 burb had come that way, that is the route i would take without thinking. but i like the nostalgia of the 3 on the column....i just really want an overdrive too and GM had a way to have your cake and eat it too......just the cake is rare and expensive now like everything else worth doing. the borg warner OD route is a very different approach compared to all the other guys that just swap the saginaw out for a 700r4 (i have one of those i could use actually).

if you want political....i can go down the dark path of how slamming a truck is just copycatting everyone else.......

[Brad]

It sounds like you're frustrated about a lot in life. That's too bad and I hope things work out for you and your truck build, however you decide to do it.

[capev86]

yeah....i'm usually a pretty easy going guy. but it does seem like things are going downhill. just look at gas prices...which influences everything else we used to take for granted. at 30, i really am not old enough to remember the "good old days" but even i can see the downward slope of life in general. we do live in a time of dvd players, internet and other high tech and aftermarket support that is great for the auto hobby but it does come at a cost and i do grumble about that.

i keep making progress on my suburban. but it seems like EVERY time i try to do something a problem arises. i love working on my truck, but sometimes i think there is a higher power out to taunt me. it seems no one can have the rotten string of luck i have when i try to upgrade or just plain fix something. i can get very upset with myself very quickly when something gets screws up. and i do have my opinions and passions concerning the car modification market and i stick to them. i like old school to look old school and i prefer to keep mods hidden to keep the period charm of a vehicle (hence no body drops or other modern looking changes.....its all hidden under the hood) i am too stubborn to give up on my projects.....they work out.....eventually. i'm also impatience and well aware that i could do more quicker if things weren't so ridiculously expensive!

and that's all i have to say 'bout that......