ok first question for the forum... 1954 cheiftain three speed muncie makes raw grinding sound and howls in first and second but not in third. also not much noise in neutral with clutch in but some noise in neutral with clutch out. what do you think it could be?
In 1st and 2nd the cluster gear is loaded. In 3rd it is not. That narrows it down. As to what's actually wrong, it could be countershaft bearings, a bad thrust washer, a bad gear, or ?
reverse is kind of noisy too. maybe just overhaul another one and do a transplant? that little crashbox was used in tons of different stuff wasnt it?
With something that old, not a bad idea to have extra parts around. Hopefully between the 2 you can make a good 1 out of it. Bob
yeah i figure ill print off a list of all the vehicles with them and comb the junkyards and pick out the newest one in there and start from there. sure easier than swaping a 727 tourqueflite or something, they are so tiny. i kind of enjoy the unaltered ride this pontiac has. totally unmolested time machine. i think unchopped roof lines are going to be a crowd pleaser one day as so many cars are going under the knife. i must tail drag her though.
Depending on what's wrong your current trans, and how difficult they are to find, it may or may not be worth rebuilding. Maybe you'll find a replacement that doesn't need rebuilding?
thats what i was hoping so i also ran an ad on the local classifieds. lots of gearheads around here with stuff on top off stuff.
Not knowing what swaps into your Pontiac, you may be able to find a later GM 3-speed in better shape with a synchro 1st gear. I'd look at Chevy truck boxes since they're plentiful and heavy duty. I know they got rid of the flathead 8 in 1955 and the pickins is better for the later OHV 8. I ran across this link, not pictured, but they have straight-8 adapters so this might be an option. http://www.transmissionadapters.com/early_pontiac.htm Bob
Is there a problem swapping tail shaft from long to short in a Muncie 3 18 3 speed? Sure do need some help Thank you in advance
The long and short tails housings and shafts will swap. The 318 was used in trucks until 68. Im running 318,s in my 55 chevy. Ive got a pile of them. I even have two 319,s they are overdrive 318's
1954 Pontiac should't have a Muncie 318, at least if it's stock. The 52-55 Pontiac 3 speed has a small bolt pattern (to bellhousing); the 56-57 is basically the same trans "with improvements". Pontiac began using the Muncie 318 in 1958 and they will not bolt to your bellhousing; I don't know if you can even re-drill your bellhousing to fit. Is the clutch the same for all of these transmissions, and is the spacing the same as far as bellhousing "face" to clutch fingers, disc, and pilot bearing? Is your transmission a select-shift model? I know Oldsmobile's of the same era/years were, and if so, your shifter is really going to present some issues. Might be floor shift time. There is 1 955 Pontiac 3 speed on E-Bay currently for $150.00; not a lot of those transmissions around. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
I happen to have a 56 Pontiac trans in my hoard. They have a much different bell pattern than a 318 Muncie. I also have a 56 GMC truck Pontiac 316 engine and trans. and that does have a 318 Muncie trans.
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