New 64 Stepside. Where to start!? Help me spend my money

[tyler texas ranger]

Recently purchased a 64 and I'm mostly in love. Working on making it a daily driver/traveler with around $3000 immediate budget.


Specs:
Chevy 350
Muncie 4-speed /mechanical clutch
4.1 rear gears

The bad:
Transmission is bad (pops out of 3rd, grinds into 4th), no overdrive
8-10mpg
2600+ rpm on highway

The good:
Old tires and **** trans = burnouts all day.

Limitations:
I don't have a garage to do major swaps for engine/trans.
Know anyone someone in/around Austin, TX?

Prospects:
TKO-600 $2400

-price

LS engine $1000 +/- w/ trans $$$?

+reliability
+fuel efficiency

T5 Frankenstein transmission (camaro box/s10 tailhousing)

-time tracking parts
-durability

Any advice? I feel like a finless dolphin in a kiddie pool.

[markeb01]

I don't know the best solution to your situation, but wanted to welcome you to the forum. Good luck!

[tyler texas ranger]

Thank you! Currently trying to get images to work.

[NEWFISHER]

You can do a 700r4 on jackstands. Cpp crosmember , tv cable, carb bracket and wire up 4th gear lock up yourself. Swap the entire housing with a 3:73 on jackstands and now you can still do low 1st gear burnouts and 80 mph hwy. 15 mpg with it properly tuned.

With the $2000 you have left you can order dropped spindles, air ride with manual valves,tank,plates,blocks etc from Borris aka way2lo2 and have enough left over to get 4 235/75/15s to run at 29" tall and get the decent milage and still look good. Its a proven combo for me.

[tyler texas ranger]

Thanks for the input! Sounds like a nice setup.
Unfortunately I'm a stubborn manual-tranny-for-lifer.

Is air-ride really that glorious? I've never driven a vehicle with bags.

[Clyde65]

Ride is real smooth.

My suggestion is to get it safe, driveable and never take it off the street other than for a weekend of parts updating. The more you drive her, the more you will love her.

Run the SBC, get you a Camaro 5 speed, rebuild your brakes, then start saving $ for more updates!!!

Good luck and welcome to our madness...

[TJ's Chevy]

I agree on the camaro 5 speed. And welcome aboard!

[tyler texas ranger]

Thanks Cylde.

First thing I did was the brakes, man were they sketchy. Swapped all shocks and coils. Old ones were heat treated :/ I have a power brake booster lying around too, but I gotten quite used to the manual brakes.

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

I agree that a T5 would be the easiest upgrade, but they do have their limitations. If you have plans of an engine with more than 300-330 ftlbs, then you might consider a stronger trans now rather than buying a trans now and then another later.

[Pappyx3!]

Cool looking stepside! I'm with clyde65 on this one, get it safe and drive it while you figure out the build plan YOU want to follow. Dream your dream and then work toward.

Welcome to the forum!

[terbronco7]

New chrome all over then, give it a nice patina paint job.

[AcampoDave]

Hi and welcome. One of the things I like to do to a new old ride is install quality seatbelts. I like 3 point retractable style myself and have them in my trucks. They now come in a rainbow of colors with a multitude of buckle styles to choose from. Got mine from Julianos Interior Products and the plate they use to bolt under the floor is far better than some big ol' washer.

[66Submarine]

You sure you have 4.10 gears? I'd bet 3.73's (that's what 99.9% of these trucks had). My one ton with 32" tall tires has 4.10 gears, and @ 2,600RPM I'm going a touch less than 60MPH (@ 70MPH I'm turning almost 3,100RPM). A truck with 4.10's and those short tires would be petering along at about 50MPH @ 2,600.

Also check out your carb and ignition; probably quite a bit left on the table if you're only getting 8-10MPG! That's just awful.

You can get a few $$$ for the Muncie (as long as it's not the HD truck trans with the really low first gear) to fund your potential trans swap, so keep that in mind.

Another potentially cheap(er) option to keep a four speed and reduce highway RPM would be a set of 3.07 gears (and maybe some taller rear tires). Your 60' time will obviously suffer, but for a daily driver that might not be that big of a deal.

I wouldn't worry a bit about the 350 not being reliable. You can also get MPG into the upper teens with one that's running nice in a half ton. The late model LS stuff is really nice, but the old 350 still does a fine job.

Personally, I'd be really tempted to drop a TKO in there if I had the money (especially if I wanted to act kind of stupid)...

[donthekawguy]

I would deal with the trans first. Then move on to power disc brakes. Rebuild the whole front suspension and steering. Drive it like you stole it.

[66LSx]

LSx Swap! (HA.. you asked for it... no one said we had to tell you how to smartly spend your money)

5.3L Vortec / 4L60e