5 or 6 speed manual tranny?

[closer9]

Hey, all...

I'm thinking about buying a '69 SWB from a friend. I've always wanted this style of truck in a short bed, and now have an opportunity to pick up a pretty clean truck.

I don't really need another project or vehicle, but I like the idea of having a vehicle where if I want something for it, its just a matter of which one, and how do I want to pay. My other two vehicles are a '67 Belvedere convertible (nearly finished with a restomod?), and a '77 El Camino (not fully restored, but not original either), which aren't exactly easy to find parts for. and I want a manual transmission again, but the Camino is going to be a bit of a challenge to get a manual OD tranny in, and I just don't think the Belvedere needs one (although, Keisler makes it easy)...

So, long story short, anyone here put a 5 or 6 speed manual in their truck? If so, did you piece it together or buy a kit, and what tranny did you use? Hydraulic clutch? What rear gears?

thanks! just looking for options, and trying to find out as much about these trucks as I can before I make a decision...

[Tom Vogel]

I put a TKO600 in mine. Its behind a BB with a McCleod street twin clutch. I used a stock mechanical linkage beacause a I had a nos bb setup. McCleod makes a killer hydraulic unit though. A friend of mine has one of the hydraulic units and loves it. If your going with a small block a six speed might be best. I have a stout BB, so I dont need the 6 speeds... I have a broad torque curve.
Oh yeah, I have 3:50 gears with a detroit locker nine inch. 26" tall rear tires.

[retselgerg]

T5, NV3500, NV4500 those are some of the popular 5 speeds used, the six speeds are t56's and few other the General of Motors has used...im in the same process and its not hard to do, just gotta find the tranny....
(with a 6speed sifter location can be a problem

[special-K]

The truck NV 5spds are really just 3spds with an under and overdrive.The car 5 and 6 spds are 4+o/d and 5+o/d.

[closer9]

Sounds like this might not be too bad. I'm sure if I buy the truck I'll give it a shot with the auto, but I know I'll want to get rid of it before long...

[retselgerg]

yea im not much on auto's either

[closer9]

retselgerg,
where did you get your parts?

[rscam]

I put an NV3500 in mine just in the last few weeks. I haven't driven it yet but the install was easy. It fit under a low tunnel. I used the original crossmember without drilling any new holes. The driveshaft from a shortbed Silverado was the perfect length so no driveshaft cutting. I had to buy a conversion U joint and mount the slave and master cylinder were the only out of ordinary things I had to do. If you want alot of HP this wouldn't be the right trans. Its considered a Medium duty. Good for about 320 ft./lbs of torque.

[Huck]

I put in a NV3500 which is not an underdrive trans but a "car like" 4speed with a 5th overdrive. Excellent setup with nice balance performance ----hooked up to a 308 posi and normal tires/wheels. The NV4500 is a little stronger but also a lot more expensive and difficult to find as a bolt up. A 6th gear if like a double overdrive will be a total waste of time as the wind resistance will prevent a higher crusing capability at low rpm unless the power is geared for it. My 97 corvette with 6speed would cruse at 75 in 6th and give me 28-30mpg. A truck will not do that. Pick out the application ie % of crusing, towing, acceleration fun etc then work your way backwards to the design of your power, trans, rear gears, tires/wheels. Huck

[airdale94]

The NV4500 are heavy truck 5-speeds 3/4 1 ton etc. The NV3500 are 1/2 ton trans. And the T56 are F-Body/Corvette trans. If your going to boost the horse power and go for street/drag I would go with the T56. If you're just going to cruise I would go with the NV3500 1/2 ton.