1965 3 speed manual questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**l79m20** · 12-14-2021, 07:29 PM

Hello all
My 65 has been whining real bad and popping out of gear very often while driving. So I have been on the lookout for a rebuilt trans for it. I found one within reasonable distance for a couple hundred bucks that came out of a restored 1965 pickup with less than 1000 miles on it since rebuild. I went and got it and have been looking it over and it turns out that it is a Saginaw 3 speed with a longer tailshaft than the Muncie that is in mine. It looks like the linkage might be difficult to make work. Also I've been reading posts on here and seeing things about a 3 speed Saginaw with overdrive. Pictures of what I bought have been attached. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

ray_mcavoy · 12-14-2021, 09:19 PM

Yes, to swap that transmission into your 65 you'll have to have the driveshaft shortened and make some changes to the shift linkage.

A few years ago, we swapped a Saginaw with overdrive into Dad's 66. On his, the driveshaft needed to be about 5-1/2" shorter ... I think yours (even though it doesn't have overdrive) might be the same, but measure to be sure. We also had to swap the slip yoke ... old one was coarse 16 spine, newer trans needed fine 27 spline.

On the shift linkage, we were able to use the existing 2nd/3rd rod without any modifications. But the 1st/reverse rod had to be lengthened about 3-1/4" like Sizemore 65 did here --> http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...hp?t=711857%22

We also had to do a little bit of trial & error re-bending of the 1st/rev linkage rod to avoid interference with the outer end of the clutch fork when shifting into reverse.

**65truckowner** · 12-14-2021, 10:12 PM

Just a question why not rebuild the one in your truck that was making noise?

**l79m20** · 12-15-2021, 02:33 PM

I was going to rebuild it but then this one popped up and I made a mistake thinking it was the same transmission that was in my truck. I will go ahead and just rebuild the original now. Where is the best place to buy the bearings and seals, or the gears of they turn out to be worn?

geezer#99 · 12-15-2021, 04:48 PM

These guys have stuff.

http://www.garagemotorsports.com/muncie.htm

**65truckowner** · 12-15-2021, 08:52 PM

If it were me I would do gears and all. I rebuilt a ford 4 speed with bearings and synchronizers and after a little bit it started jumping out of 4th gear. Then bought all new gears and bearings and synchronizers. No more problems Lesson learned I had to pull it twice.

**MT65** · 12-15-2021, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geezer#99

These guys have stuff.

http://www.garagemotorsports.com/muncie.htm

Scott is a great guy and a transmission guru, I was in his shop, got a transmission for a client, more transmissions than you can imagine…fixed a T-5 for me , ford on input, chevy on output, he knows his stuff….

**G8rN@te61** · 12-18-2021, 08:48 AM

I just went through all of this on my old muncie 318. Lots of rebuild kits if you have the tools and know how. I had it done by a local pro who does them for the racers. Be careful not to over tighten the bearing retainer. Mine has a hairline crack and leaks a bit. Guy who rebuilt mine said it was already like that but I had no choice. Extremely hard to find. I finally found one after I installed it so now waiting to do my clutch and will have it done then. I found some parts guys if you need help.

**l79m20** · 01-24-2022, 09:22 PM

So far no luck finding anyone that has the synchros. Any other recommendations for parts suppliers. I feel like I've done an exhaustive search and struck out everywhere. Any help would be appreciated 👍👍

**G8rN@te61** · 01-24-2022, 09:49 PM

these may help:

https://www.transmissionpartsdistrib...uncie-318-319/

https://www.drivetrain.com/parts-cat...d-overhaul-kit

http://www.garagemotorsports.com

https://mmerlinn.com/catalog/makeridx.htm

https://www.thegearbox.org/home.html

**cwcarpenter98** · 01-24-2022, 09:54 PM

Looks like you need PN 3774720 for the 2nd-3rd syncro assembly. Maybe you can find a NOS one out there?

maxwoof · 02-01-2022, 08:40 AM

Hi, one piece of advice, if you haven’t checked it already - be sure that the pilot bearing in the crank is good. I had a 66 three speed years ago. I went through a bunch if transmissions before I checked the pilot bearing, which had a lot of wear. Once I replaced it, problem solved. Good luck with it.

12-14-2021, 07:29 PM	#1
l79m20 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Reading, Kansas Posts: 628	1965 3 speed manual questions Hello all My 65 has been whining real bad and popping out of gear very often while driving. So I have been on the lookout for a rebuilt trans for it. I found one within reasonable distance for a couple hundred bucks that came out of a restored 1965 pickup with less than 1000 miles on it since rebuild. I went and got it and have been looking it over and it turns out that it is a Saginaw 3 speed with a longer tailshaft than the Muncie that is in mine. It looks like the linkage might be difficult to make work. Also I've been reading posts on here and seeing things about a 3 speed Saginaw with overdrive. Pictures of what I bought have been attached. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!! Attached Images

12-14-2021, 09:19 PM	#2
ray_mcavoy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sherman, ME Posts: 2,366	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions Yes, to swap that transmission into your 65 you'll have to have the driveshaft shortened and make some changes to the shift linkage. A few years ago, we swapped a Saginaw with overdrive into Dad's 66. On his, the driveshaft needed to be about 5-1/2" shorter ... I think yours (even though it doesn't have overdrive) might be the same, but measure to be sure. We also had to swap the slip yoke ... old one was coarse 16 spine, newer trans needed fine 27 spline. On the shift linkage, we were able to use the existing 2nd/3rd rod without any modifications. But the 1st/reverse rod had to be lengthened about 3-1/4" like Sizemore 65 did here --> http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...hp?t=711857%22 We also had to do a little bit of trial & error re-bending of the 1st/rev linkage rod to avoid interference with the outer end of the clutch fork when shifting into reverse.

12-14-2021, 10:12 PM	#3
65truckowner Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: mountain view arkansas Posts: 1,320	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions Just a question why not rebuild the one in your truck that was making noise? __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=548705

12-15-2021, 02:33 PM	#4
l79m20 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Reading, Kansas Posts: 628	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions I was going to rebuild it but then this one popped up and I made a mistake thinking it was the same transmission that was in my truck. I will go ahead and just rebuild the original now. Where is the best place to buy the bearings and seals, or the gears of they turn out to be worn?

12-15-2021, 04:48 PM	#5
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,750	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions These guys have stuff. http://www.garagemotorsports.com/muncie.htm

12-15-2021, 08:52 PM	#6
65truckowner Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: mountain view arkansas Posts: 1,320	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions If it were me I would do gears and all. I rebuilt a ford 4 speed with bearings and synchronizers and after a little bit it started jumping out of 4th gear. Then bought all new gears and bearings and synchronizers. No more problems Lesson learned I had to pull it twice. __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=548705

12-18-2021, 08:48 AM	#8
G8rN@te61 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Fort Mill, SC Posts: 203	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions I just went through all of this on my old muncie 318. Lots of rebuild kits if you have the tools and know how. I had it done by a local pro who does them for the racers. Be careful not to over tighten the bearing retainer. Mine has a hairline crack and leaks a bit. Guy who rebuilt mine said it was already like that but I had no choice. Extremely hard to find. I finally found one after I installed it so now waiting to do my clutch and will have it done then. I found some parts guys if you need help.

01-24-2022, 09:22 PM	#9
l79m20 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Reading, Kansas Posts: 628	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions So far no luck finding anyone that has the synchros. Any other recommendations for parts suppliers. I feel like I've done an exhaustive search and struck out everywhere. Any help would be appreciated 👍👍

01-24-2022, 09:49 PM	#10
G8rN@te61 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Fort Mill, SC Posts: 203	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions these may help: https://www.transmissionpartsdistrib...uncie-318-319/ https://www.drivetrain.com/parts-cat...d-overhaul-kit http://www.garagemotorsports.com https://mmerlinn.com/catalog/makeridx.htm https://www.thegearbox.org/home.html

01-24-2022, 09:54 PM	#11
cwcarpenter98 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Hickory Flat, GA Posts: 4,494	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions Looks like you need PN 3774720 for the 2nd-3rd syncro assembly. Maybe you can find a NOS one out there? __________________ Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here 1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson

02-01-2022, 08:40 AM	#12
maxwoof Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edgewater NJ Posts: 159	Re: 1965 3 speed manual questions Hi, one piece of advice, if you haven’t checked it already - be sure that the pilot bearing in the crank is good. I had a 66 three speed years ago. I went through a bunch if transmissions before I checked the pilot bearing, which had a lot of wear. Once I replaced it, problem solved. Good luck with it.



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