Guys, I have been using the search on HAMB for knowhow and to gather parts for this open drive line conversion project on my 49 chevy coupe and have learned most everything I need to do. I don't see the transmssion talked about in the threads I have read through. I want to keep my original 3 on the tree three speed ****** with the 261 6 cylinder. I understand the rear of the ****** is setup for closed tube drive line. Can just the tail shaft be changed to convert my ****** to open yoke? If not, are later 3 speeds behind chevy car and truck 235's the same? When I say the same I mean mounts, and will my 3 on the tree linkage plug and play? If so, what year/vehicle transmissions do i need to be looking for. I probably saw a few at the KC swap meet this weekend and thought nothing about it. Need to know this before the Lawrence swap meet. THANKS IN ADVANCE GUYS!!!!!
To my knowledge, there is no open drive three speed that will be a 100 percent bolt in. The '55-'65 Chevy three speeds use the same basic gearbox, but I think you'd still have to do some modifications to the trans crossmember to use them, so if I were you, I'd opt for the '66 and newer Saginaw three speed if you want to retain the column shifter; they're more rugged, have a synchro low gear, and are cheap. Also, if you luck out, you can find one with overdrive.
I used a 3spd & bellhousing out of a 61 chev car. I had to make a small plate on the crosmember to meet the rear mount and do a little creative bending on the shift rods for the coulum shift. Used a shortened nova drive shaft and 69 nova 10 bolt rear. Its got 2.73 gears with 14" tires so you can drive 75mph all day. That setup would work great in Kansas where its so flat.
Would this new saginaw bolt to the older bellhousing I am using off of the 216 that is in the car? I know there are a ton of better ******s and ways of doing this but this but shifting on the column is a forgotten and never to return driving style that is fun to me and reminds me what I am driving.
NOTHING will bolt to the 216 bell housing except the transmission you've already got. However, if you use a bell housing from a '48-'54 truck, you can bolt the later transmissions to your engine and retain the 6 volt flywheel and starter. If you don't mind going 12 volt, any '55-'62 235 flywheel/starter/bell housing package will work.
Thanks Heathen, I am picking up a 261 out of a 2 ton 54 chevy truck tonight. Would that be the bellhousing i want if so i will buy the bellhousing with it. Thanks!
Yes, a '54 truck bell housing should have the common G.M. patttern, although since it's in a 2 ton truck, make sure it isn't some strange "large truck transmission" pattern.
The big truck bellhousing will very likely have motor mounts integral with the bellhousing. It may also have a larger diameter bore for the trans front bearing retainer. Depending on the transmission you choose that may or may not be useful. I totally agree with HEATHEN on the recommendation of a later Saginaw full syncro 3 speed. It can be found in both p***enger cars and pickups and they are very inexpensive. It can be utilized with your column shift if you 'tweak' or make new shift rods. It also will have a rear mount that will basically replicate your present setup. One word of caution, though. The '49 thru '51 Chevs front motor mounts were under the front timing cover and are close together. With the trans mount also in the center there was no 'torque control' and the engine could easily rotate on it's mounts. (ask me how I know) Chevy solved that by using what I call 'steady mounts' at the outer, lower part of the bellhousing. As I write this, I am thinking the big truck bellhousing could actually work better because it has provisions for outboard lower mounts. You would not need as heavy duty a mount as the stock truck if you are using the rear transmission mount, but it will provide a place to bolt on the required 'anti-torque' mounts similar (or the same as) your originals. Ray
Ray, I will start the hunt for the three speed. I need to go research some casting numbers so i know what i am looking for at the swap meets because i am not experienced enough to know what one looks like from sight. I know what you mean about the mounts. I just got this car a few weeks ago, it is decently restored. Had to remove the head off teh 216 to do some valve work to limp it along until I can build this 261. I was pulling sidways on the head to dislodge it after taking out the bolts and i pulled the top of the motor towards me about 4 inches and then pushed back the other way the same amount. Not one of the 4 mounts were good and i did notice how close the front were to together, and the ones on the belhousing ones look like very thin strips of rubber. I replaced them, but i can imaging if this gutless 216 did this a hopped up 6 would quick follow.
Whereas the early style three speeds ('49-'65) have a small four bolt side cover, the Saginaw will have a larger, almost rectangular side cover retained by seven bolts.
Heathen and Hinstray, I got the 261 today (very pleased) He wanted the cab for a 1/2 ton, I felt very bad at first watching a very nice shape 54 2 ton truck driving itself up to the garage for a slaughter, but told myself it was for the greater good. Any way below is a picture of the belhousing off the 261. It is the first picture. I think Hinstray was right, it sat on a full crossmember with some bulky mounts but i grabbed it anyway. The car ,ounts are just little ears suspended from the side (which i am sure you already knew). The second picture is of a 1950 1/2 ton truck that has a 216. If the 2 ton truck isn't the belhousing i need is the 1/2 ton one in the seond picture it? Thanks again for the help.
Great! Glad you got it.............the 1/2 ton bell may work just fine, although I doubt there is much difference in them overall. Just use whatever works best. '55 thru '57 6 cyl p***enger bells do not have the clunky bottom mounts, but have two drilled and tapped holes on the front side, down low, where mounts bolted onto them. That bell would probably work the best for your application, if you could find one easily. But what you have can be made to work too, just thinking out loud (?) here Ray
Thanks guys, I am tearing down the motor to start taking to the machinist tomorrow. Does this 261 engine have a larger diameter clutch and flywheel then my 216? If so can it be used in the 1/2 ton bellhousing, if not can the 216 clutch and flywheel be swapped to the 261 or are these externally balanced and matched to the rotating ***embly? Sorry for these and many other annoying questions. Just don't want to run in to any last second suprises when i do this swap.
No oddball balance issues with these. If someting fits, bolt it on! Measure your flywheel diameter.........if it is the same, check the tooth count........if all is the same you are good to go. If the diameter is okay, but the tooth count differs, you may need to change the starter or starter drive. Try mounting the clutch/pressure plate on the flywheel while the engine is out of the car. If it has adequate clearance and the throw out fork/TO bearing fit ok, then you can probably use the larger clutch, though you may not need it with sensible driving..........oh, wait.......that's out of the question, isn't it, else you wouldn't be doing this swap in the first place... Ray
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