driveline change

[tttuba]

I have a 47 GMC 5 window. It is pretty much stock and was restored about 10 years ago. It is in need of some warming up. I plan to go through the whole body and do the repairs. Since it is totally stock except for the prior owner put front disc brakes on the car, I am hesitant to do much more in changes. However the drivability of the truck could be improved with a newer transmission. drive shaft and rear end, power steering and a tilt column. I am looking for an opinion first if I should do such changes and second what would be the suggestions of what to use if I take that on. It has to be without a lot of cutting and welding. I can do it but not a professional at welding.

[PurdueSD]

Stock trucks used to seem lame to me, but that has sort of changed the older i get. There really is something to be said to be able to drive a 60 year old vehicle.

That being said, i think you can maintain most of that with a few small tweaks. I have spent a bunch of time and effort reading and researching the same thing. The general consensus says late 80's s10 T5. It will bolt up to a Chevy bell housing (i assume gmc has the same bolt pattern). There are a couple mods like cutting down the input shaft/ extending the splines/ drilling out a hole/ etc. Then the use of a clutch disk and pressure plate from an astro van. You retain your stock clutch linkage. This will require you to convert over to open drive and replace your rear end. Gen 3 camaro rears are supposedly the best fit.

Hope this helps... its on my wishlist.

[Dan Bowles]

If you're running a Jimmy 6, you can find a ton of hop up parts to go with that T5 and Camaro rear end! You can buy PS kits. A tilt wheel is very over rated in my opinion. They look clunky and out of place and how often do you REALLY adjust them? Why not find a position you like and put it there with an adapter to a PS box using a CPP kit or something like that? Makes more sense to me and keeps the key where it belongs, on the dash. Or get a new Ididit tilt with a nice polish if you must tilt.

[tttuba]

Thanks for the help. I am really torn as to what I want to do. I am really a stock kind of person but my wife also has to be able to drive it and would like to go on the highway with it. Keep the suggestions coming. Thanks

[Dan Bowles]

Disc brake conversion isn't hard either. Underfloor boosters can be had but you have some work to do to make them work with a manual transmission. You can do that with a 5 lug or a 6 lug.

[tttuba]

luckily I do have power disc brakes up front already. They are more sensitive than my El Camino or my Suburban or my Cobalt. Think I am into GM a bit much???

[tmoble]

nope.