Overdrive on a stock manual transmission?

[Harry's 71 C-10]

Did GM make a stock manual transmission with overdrive? I have a '71 C-10 with a new 350 engine, but with the old 3 on the tree. I want to replace the trans with something inexpensive from the salvage yard. All of the stock 4 speeds I've run across do not have an overdrive gear? Will any of the T5 trans work with 290hp/325 torque? Thanks

[68 Stepside]

An Fbody T5 might hold up to your engine, but for how long, nobody knows. GM did make a 3 speed with an overdrive gear in 67-72 era trucks, but the setup is very hard to come by. Maybe you could look for an NV3500 5 speed out of an 88-up truck? At any rate, good luck, I'll bump this post to the top of the board for you.

[Daubs]

I'd agree...look for the NV4500. I've seen them on ebay for around $1k refurbished. You might be able to find them in salvage yard for less. I'm told they are a pretty hot item. Not as hot as a few years ago now that the 6 speeds are out (NV5600).

I may be looking for a 5 speed in a year or so. Let us know what way you go.

[Harry's 71 C-10]

Was the NV3500/NV4500 standard on Chevy/GM? Looking online, most of what I am finding are on Dodge's. What type of clutch/bellhousing do they use? Thanks for the quick replys

[3 on the tree]

Don't know what it would take to hook up, but late 70s early 80s Mopar put an OD version of the 883 4 speed in quite a few pickups. Look for a Dodge PU with a /6 4 speed combo-alum tranny.

[gmc67swb]

try www.advanceadapters.com . They specialize in that stuff. Or you could always go with a new Tremec www.ttcautomotive.com . You can get those in 5 or 6 spd. They're pretty straight forward installs and can be had with different shift locations to accomodate your application.

[Harry's 71 C-10]

I thought about buying new trans, but the cost is more than I want to spend right now. I was hoping to find a stock trans from a junk yard to hold me over until I can afford another big purchase. I found a T-5 trans from G Force that seems to be a good deal and will accept 600hp, http://www.g-forcetransmissions.com/tran_t-5_price.asp. Has anybody installed the T5?

[Green Machine]

We used the chrysler\gm newprocess A833 that was built with gm bolt patternon our 1970 c10. The transmission was out of a 1981 1/2 ton chevy. We used thealuminum bellousing from that truck with our original cast iron cluth fork since we removed the original 6 banger crossmember and put an automatic cross member under rear of trans and v8 mounts in corecct postion.
Paid $400 for trans, bellhousing, cluth and shifter. Try to get the shifter as i don't know whar else might fit. Im sure someone make new that does fit. If you are reusing the stock cast bellhousing, that should fit great also. Just be sure to check the diameter of your bellhousing hole to that of the bearing retainer on the trans. It must be the same size. If not I think the mid 60's cast housings were different size or change bearing retainer, but I ampretty sure the new trans is a match.

you will not even have to chage your driveshaft as it is a match for spline and length and the cluth spline is correct also.
GM used these from around 81 to 84 I think, but be sure to check ratios as there are
non overdrive moodels that look the same also. It even has a factory Hurst shifter.
I think this same basic trans is the same as mopar used for years behind everthing including big blocks and hemis, it looks big but clears even the low hump style floor pan with ease. This one hase an alumium case, the older mopars were casr iron.

Forth gear is .73 overdrive so a 3.73.rear gear is like 2.73 for crusin. Note that now neither the trans or the housing has threads in the bottom holes if using the stock cast housing so some sort of bolt/nut will have to be used on the bottom. I think It was a perfect match for my truck. Hope this helps.
Had to make a small hole with saw approx 2 x 4 inches for shifter and it clears
the bench seat just file. Shifter location is perfect since is was from anoter truck. 4 USABLE gears on the floor, well 3 plus overdrive !!! Cool !!!