I'm tired of being a shiftless SOB

[bonehead]

I'm sure some of you guys are going to say that I'm crazy as a loon, but I have an almost unresistable urge to change my already converted V8 turbo 400 1966 C-10 back to a 3 or 4 speed manual shift. The PO striped out all of the manual stuff including the bell housing frame cross member. I would have to locate and replace everything to accomplish this retro-fit into my truck. Am I nuts?

I would like to find a parts truck where I could get everything in one package, or buy a fellow forum members cast-off conversion standard shift parts from their automatic conversion.

Opinions please, should I convert my truck back to manual, or resist the urge??

This would be a winter project, I don't want to be without my truck during the summer driving season. Anyone want to trade transmission setups?

Let me watch the chips fly...

[Dubnova]

I have a T56 Magnum in a 67 nova and it's the BOMB! I would at the very least try to find a 5 speed or something with a overdrive but, yes shifting gears is cool. Go for it.

[Softpatch]

shifting GEARS.are you crazy..??
autotragic is the only way to roll
.
Charlotte, NC sounds very hilly with lots of stops
.
Shifting gears GEEEZE (eye roll emoticon)
good (1) you had me at first there for a second you thurd.! forth score and fifth gear
.
Actually my DD is a 5spd and yes I live near Seattle so the terrain can be challenging....
I average about 3 clutch jobs a year not bad considering I owne 7 running manual trans
6 auto trans cars 6 non runner

My first car(truck) had a Hydromatic...Now that's was a Transmission

[siggyfreud]

I love a good manual transmission. I'd take one over an auto almost any day. That said, I'm tall enough that working a clutch in the rather shallow cab that is the 60-66 would be very tiresome I imagine.

[66Gilbert]

I like the sound of a good sounding V-8 exhaust system when shifting a manual transmission. Also when towing you are in control of the RPM and gear selection. I don't think you are crazy. I say go for it.

[davbowen]

well it's a half past 4 and I'm shifting gears.........do it!

[markeb01]

Well you may or may not be crazy, but I did the same thing 9 years ago. I was 57 years old with a bad back and bad knees, but I really missed having a side shifting 4 speed. After 13 years of flawless performance I removed my TH350 and replaced it with a brand new Richmond (Borg Warner) Super T10 4 speed.

I knew at the time my days of driving a 4 speed were limited by health issues, but figured if I had fun for 5 years it was worth the swap. If I get to where I just can’t drive a stick any longer, I’ll swap back. Although I’m 66 now and hobble around most of the time because my knees continue to deteriorate, I can still manage to have fun with a manual box and have no thought of going back to an automatic anytime soon.

I say go for it while you’re still young enough to enjoy it!

[LT1 Burb]

I feel your pain, I felt that way too so I went and bought a 65 chevelle SS 4 SPD car to bang gears in.

[LostMy65]

I couldn't imagine anyone thinking you're crazy anymore than anyone should think someone is crazy to prefer an Auto.
I surely enjoy the feel of manual tranny.
As I get order, my legs and hips hurt with all the shifting.
I live in a rather hilly area. Lots of up shifting and down shifting. I'm converting to Auto once I get concrete poured in my pole barn this summer.

['63GENIII]

I went from a t400 to an Nv 4500. No looking back. Love the Od! Maybe a nv 3500 ?

[66Submarine]

I say go for it!

BTW, I could probably part with a clutch setup from a parts truck (all my stuff is already manual trans, and I keep collecting it!) if you can't find anything locally.

[AcampoDave]

I did a frame swap to go from long bed to short bed and as a side effect went form auto to manual....I actually believe the tranny change is cooler than the short bed...and I'm not crazy. The glass packs sound so sweet banging thru the gears. I've never even thought about a stereo system.

[bonehead]

Thanks for all the input. When I bought my truck I thought it was cool because a lot of updates were already done. But I find myself retro fitting a lot of the original features; gas tank, seat, fan shroud, etc. So now...maybe..., back to a manual shift.

I have a 4:11 rear gear so a O.D. trans of some type would be best. Keep the opinions coming, and all future transmission suggestions would be helpful. Has anyone replaced the bell housing frame cross member, is that a hard job? I have a MIG if needed.

I checked into the T-5 swap, but I'm thinking that those may be too weak and the shifter too far back for my bench seat, but show me what you are running.

I'm still very open to suggestions.

[tincan1966]

Unless you are going to a bone-stock looking restoration, you really do not have to install the bell housing X member. Especially if you go with a later model trans, they will have a rear mount. Chances are your auto crossmember could be used, altho maybe relocated.

I am collecting parts to do a 4.3L V6/ NV3500 swap in a '65 we just purchased. It's a hydraulic setup- so a bit easier on the knees, and not too hard to retrofit.

[bonehead]

Originally Posted by tincan1966

Unless you are going to a bone-stock looking restoration, you really do not have to install the bell housing X member. Especially if you go with a later model trans, they will have a rear mount. Chances are your auto crossmember could be used, altho maybe relocated

Thanks, that is good input. I probably won't need the old bell housing cross member. I'm not going back to stock.

[morethanstock66]

I'm right there with you. I have a SBC TH400 from the PO. Your thread will be some help to people like you and I out there. I've looked into it also. If you're looking to shirft options are plenty. I say go for it, automatics are boring IMO.

[cArNaGe]

I'm collecting parts to do the exact same thing.

[Lugnutz65]

5 Speed . . . 5 Speed . . . 5 Speed . . . 5 Speed!

If you have a V8 and 4.11 diff then a World Class T5 from a V8 Camaro with a 0.63 OD will work nicely, just as long as you don't abuse it. Sure, it will break if you side step the pedal and burn rubber or abuse it. It has specs for 300 lb-ft of torque and will hold up to normal daily driving.

I happen to have an extra World Class T5 on hand. See more about the T5 by visiting the page in my signature.

[bonehead]

Originally Posted by Lugnutz65

5 Speed . . . 5 Speed . . . 5 Speed . . . 5 Speed!

If you have a V8 and 4.11 diff then a World Class T5 from a V8 Camaro with a 0.63 OD will work nicely, just as long as you don't abuse it. Sure, it will break if you side step the pedal and burn rubber or abuse it. It has specs for 300 lb-ft of torque and will hold up to normal daily driving.

I happen to have an extra World Class T5 on hand. See more about the T5 by visiting the page in my signature.

Lugnutz65, Where does the shifter end up located with a stock bench seat, do you have a picture? What about the speedo hookup, I would like to use my stock gauge cluster too? Any info would be helpful. I will go back and re-read your site.

I am trying to decide between the T-5 and the NP440, all input would be great.

[Lugnutz65]

Originally Posted by bonehead

Lugnutz65, Where does the shifter end up located with a stock bench seat, do you have a picture? What about the speedo hookup, I would like to use my stock gauge cluster too? Any info would be helpful. I will go back and re-read your site.

I am trying to decide between the T-5 and the NP440, all input would be great.

If you can find an S10 tail housing with a cable speedo hookup, then the factory cable speedo drive issue is pretty straight forward. They are not easy to find.

The first photo shows an S10 shifter location WITHOUT an adapter plate in a friend's C10. The V8 Camaro T5 does NOT need an adapter and will be in this position if you do the S10 tail housing swap (easy).

The second photo is very similar but has an adapter plate. The position is about 5/8" different.

[1963c-10]

i'm converting to a hydraulic clutch behind my big block, will have all the frame mounts for the clutch, rods, clutch fork, bellhousing & pressure plate and a bell housing mount crossmember in a few days if you need anything. im only a few hours from you in fayetteville. the flywheel and bellhousing pans are all that you'd need.

[1963c-10]

ive got an extra clutch pedal for the cab also....and the clutch rod, z bar

[slowcpe]

I'm in the same boat. I have a 3-sp on the floor now but my ls motor has a 4l80e currently bolted up to it. About decided that isn't going to go in and a tko/t56 will take its place.

[endlessearth]

TKO500 right here. Love rowing through the gears and having an OD is awesome. Did 20 miles of highway driving last night just cruising along at 80mph.

[B_Bob]

Totally agree about the manual trans. Nothing like rowing through the grears. I will be installing a T5 WC from a v8 camaro with the s10 tail. behind a 283. As I understand it, the T56 is a stronger option than the T5. You can also install a kit that moves the shifter forward. Good luck.