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Looking for some transmission help for a chevy straight 6

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Scott41chev, Jun 18, 2012.

  1. Scott41chev
    Joined: Jun 15, 2012
    Posts: 14

    Scott41chev
    Member
    from England

    Hey all, I have a 235ci chevy straight 6 in my truck and at the moment it has 4 on the floor box which sounds like a bag of dancing spanners, and the gearing isnt great. I know the gearing can be corrected for better speed with a later axle which I have got, but im looking for a smoother manual gearbox. Ive heard I can fit a later 6 cylinder camaro gearbox but I have no idea what they're called or where to find one :confused:. I'd like to find something that will fit straight up to my current egine if possible without to much ****ing around trying to match clutches up. Any help is seriously appreciated!
     
  2. Scott
    A saginaw 3 speed or 4 speed should bolt up just fine or maybe need some minor adjustments at the outside most. I'll bet your old 4 speed sounds like a bread truck doesn't it. :D

    A lot of the fellas are using T5 5 speeds out of an S-10 behind them as well. there is a spacer plate that needs to be made. You can get the dims from Raven here on the HAMB if you need to.
     
  3. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,934

    squirrel
    Member

    ***uming your truck is from 1955-62, there are a lot of different transmissions you can use. The T5 gives you an extra overdrive gear, most of the other transmissions have the same 1:1 high gear ratio as the trans you have now.

    You'll need to modify/replace the driveshaft to use a car type transmission.
     
  4. Use the S-10 ******. Trust me. I had a 235 in a 53 sedan and it was a really sweet cruiser. You won't regret it.
     
  5. Scott41chev
    Joined: Jun 15, 2012
    Posts: 14

    Scott41chev
    Member
    from England

    Thanks for the help guys, the truck is a 1941 chevy stepside pickup with a 1956 235 inline 6 fitted to it as the 215 died. is there a specific name for the S-10 ****** so I can try and search for one here in the UK. Is the Saginaw a crash box? as thats something I really want rid of. A nice smooth shift will be heaven compared to what im used to.
     
  6. Gromit
    Joined: Oct 13, 2011
    Posts: 726

    Gromit
    Member

    sounds like a bag of dancing spanners,

    You win. Best description of the year

    I believe it's a Borg Warner T 5

     
  7. Scott41chev
    Joined: Jun 15, 2012
    Posts: 14

    Scott41chev
    Member
    from England

    Does the T5 just literally bolt straight up to the 235 then without any further problems with the clutch or whatever?
     
  8. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,934

    squirrel
    Member

    Oh...it's an early truck. If the transmission is from 1941, then it is not synchronized, and also you won't be able to bolt up the later transmissions to your bellhousing because it has a smaller bolt pattern where it bolts to the bellhousing. You need to figure out which transmission you have, as they redesigned the transmission in the late 40s, and the newer one is easier to replace than the early one. Pictures would help.
     
  9. Scott41chev
    Joined: Jun 15, 2012
    Posts: 14

    Scott41chev
    Member
    from England

    Ill get some pictures up as soon as I can, thanks for the help so far guys!

    EDIT:The ****** is definitely not synchronised as I have to double clutch every gear to shift, so I would say its the original 1941 deal.
     
  10. Snarl
    Joined: Feb 16, 2007
    Posts: 1,639

    Snarl
    Member

    To use a more modern transmission with the wide bolt pattern, you will either need to buy an adapter plate, or switch out the bellhousing to '48-59 truck or '55-62 car. If you want to stay with the foot starter and need mounts on the sides of the bell, then the truck would be the way to go or use the adapter plate.
    If this is a 1/2 ton with the torque tube style rearend, you will need to convert that over to an open driveline as well. Depending on what you use for a rearend gear ratio and how you drive it, you may not need to go with the more expensive S10 T5 route. You could go with a '55-up 3 or 4 spd as well.
    Because of the size of the cab on those trucks, if you do go with a T5, look for one from an '83-92 S10 as it will have the more forward shifter location to clear the bench seat. Most of these use an electric speedo sender, so if you want to go with cable drive it will be easier to find one from '83-86. Or you can spend $350 on a CableX converter box. Or go without and use a GPS.... the adapter plate on your stock bell would be the best option if using an S10 T5 as that T5 has a longer input shaft.

    What to do for a clutch disc depends on what trans you end up using. 10, 14 or 26 splines depending on trans.

    Being in England, I'm not sure what kind of resources you have and what things cost for American parts, so I'm just trying to give you some options...
     

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