Muncie-3 on the tree with over 500K, needs help...

[thewrai6th]

It's getting time to replace or rebuild this transmission, keeping the 3 on the tree. It could probably go another 100K like this easy, but 1st gear makes some wierd "loose spinning metal" noises and 3rd gear sounds crunchy when under load. 3rd is silent when decellerating. I'd like to rebuild it myself, if I can. I've rebuilt newer 5 speeds, so an old 3 speed shouldn't bee too hard, I hope.

Does anyone have any links to FAQs on rebuilding this beast?
Good links to rebuild kits?

I'd also like to change the final drive, 3rd on the freeway is just too low. Being a newbie to rwd mechanics, I'm not sure if I should change this in the transmission or the rear diff.

Thanks,
Jason

[thewrai6th]

Anyone?

[hotrod100]

drivetrain.com is a good place to find parts. Unlike front wheel drive vehicles that have the final drive (ring and pinion) in the transmission, our trucks need a ring and pinion swap in the rear differential to change the final drive ratio. I would suggest picking up a shop manual as this will give you the exploded views, torque settings and clearances among other things. Hope this helped.

[thewrai6th]

Originally Posted by hotrod100

drivetrain.com is a good place to find parts. Unlike front wheel drive vehicles that have the final drive (ring and pinion) in the transmission, our trucks need a ring and pinion swap in the rear differential to change the final drive ratio. I would suggest picking up a shop manual as this will give you the exploded views, torque settings and clearances among other things. Hope this helped.

Yes it did. Thanks for the link! That site is great and has the transmission rebuild kit that I need.
I realized I just need to change out the diff for the final drive issue. First thing is to see what diff I have in there now. It could probably use an oil change anyway.
Thanks again for the help,
Jason

[frog trucker]

Originally Posted by thewrai6th

Yes it did. Thanks for the link! That site is great and has the transmission rebuild kit that I need.
I realized I just need to change out the diff for the final drive issue. First thing is to see what diff I have in there now. It could probably use an oil change anyway.
Thanks again for the help,
Jason

Check-out the 19th reply in this thread . . . http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=2971397

[frog trucker]

Originally Posted by thewrai6th

Does anyone have any links to FAQs on rebuilding this beast?
Good links to rebuild kits?


Thanks,
Jason

I just had a VERY good experience with these folks.
http://www.garagemotorsports.com/

I needed a new bearing retainer for my Saginaw 3ott. Their price on the part was ten bucks less than the cheapest I found locally (and the local shop would have to order it for me, have me pay in advance, and charge me $18 shipping too!). I was able to talk with Scott, the owner, who cheerfully answered all my questions. I ordered the retainer, a complete gasket set, input and output shaft seals, and “O”rings for the shift rods. He charged only $7.50 for U.S.P.S. Priorty Mail and I had my parts in LESS than 36 hours. I got all those parts for less than I would have paid for just the retainer alone from my local transmission specialist. I think Garage Motorsports went WAY above and beyond with their service . . . I didn’t even have to ask and Scott installed the seal in the new retainer for me! I will definitely call Scott if I ever need any manual transmission stuff again!

[thewrai6th]

Thank you! I just figured out I have a 3.73 non posi without having to open it up. Found the TQ code on the front of the passenger axle tube.

I was hoping it was the 3.73, so that I would have the option to go with the 3.07 for gearing, but I would also like to get better traction for pulling boats out of water.

Is it possible to get a 3.07 diff in posi and install it in the current case?

Looks like I'm going to spend about $250 on the transmission rebuild kit with synchros. Not bad at all.