I am considering a 5 speed swap on my 1950 Chevy 3100. I am planning on keeping the 261 and 1955 1st series rearend. Has anyone completed this swap? If so, what is the best way of going about it?
rajcam79, We make an adapter to mate up an S10 T5 with your bell housing. The bolt pattern is the same, but you need to space the transmission back so there is proper clutch disc alignment on the transmission input shaft. http://hotrodworks.com/catalog/index.php?route=product/category&path=47 Click this link.
There's a good tech page about this swap on http://inliners.org/. In the left sidebar pick Tech Tips then on that page pick The T5 Tranny page. Also, there has been lots of discussion about this topic on http://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/. Good luck.
yes. swap out the clutch disc for one that matches the trans. make up a new trans mount if needed. shorten drive shaft as needed. you may get by with trimming the throwout collar and input shaft. I did.
this is a good article on putting in an S10 T5 without using an adapter plate. http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/t5tranny.htm If you are currently using a '55 3spd, driveshaft and rearend, it will need to be shortened and you will need a different yoke as the number of splines changed around 1964. An Astro van driveshaft with the adapter U-joint that is in the stovebolt article may also work with the '55 truck rearend. I think the size of the rearend yokes were the same on 1/2 tons and cars at the time, but just double check to be sure.
Excellent advice already. I like the '57 3.90 rear I have on my '49 with a .70 '62 3sp+od., the math .70 X 3.90 = 2.73 final drive 3rd overdrive. Watch your ratios. If you take a Camaro front end and mate it to an S-10 rear, you have the shifter right where you want it in the middle of the floor. You have to move the speedometer drive gear before you button it up but you'll want to make sure the drive/driven gears are the right ones for your tire size anyways. Others have done it, do your homework and you'll have a great combination.
Thanks everyone !!! I think by doing this swap, the old 261 will live a longer life. Does anyone here have pics of their swaps ?
Nice piece. What trans do I have ? It is a 3 spd that came out of a 1955 Chevy 3100. My 261 is a 1960 made in Oct. 1959 , Thanks
The adapter from Hotworks solves a couple of issues that guys run into when they have to shorten the the input shaft and modify the bearing retainer. But more importantly it makes it so that if you ever have trans trouble when you are half way across the country on a road trip you can get another t-5 and stick it in and go without having to modify it. Beats the hell out of sitting in a motel parking lot hoping that you are cutting the input shaft on the replacement trans in the right place with the hacksaw you had to buy at the hardware store across the street.
While you do a swap, do a tech thread on it! I may be doing the same thing. Depending on if I decide to keep a 235 or go over to the 250 dark side.
FWIW, I just used one of the Hot Rod Works adapters to put a t5 in my 50 Styleline, and it worked great. Used their trans mount also. Nice stuff, great prices and quick shipping
I'd love to see a tech thread on this swap as well. It sounds like pretty simple common knowledge to a lot of guys but i need some step by step! Thanks.
When I do the swap, I will post pics and all that good stuff ! Just got to get a collection of parts now. KEEP THE 6 DANIANAL !!! Your boy has the v8 truck already !!!! Plus I think the 6's look great !!! You guys could have two sweet trucks !!!
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