I've purchased, a 41 Chevy 2 door sedan, It's my first real restore, I have the body off, and getting started, My question is this... Is it possible to replace the side feed, column shift transmission, 3 speed transmission with a top feed, " torque tube 4 speed transmission " .. and what steps are involved ... If not feasible, what options, do I have converting to a floor shift .. Thank you for your time RickRoby56
Are you talking about replacing it with a truck ******? Don't do it. First gear is a "granny" gear and will be nearly useless. If you're talking about a later model 4 speed, you need to convert to an open driveshaft and later differential. Tom
You wouldn't like the Truck Transmission. Not much way to get rid of the torquetube without changing both the transmission and rear end.
As somebody already said, the top shift 4 speed that will fit into your driveline is a rather useless, super low 1st gear, non synchro crashbox. However, there are (if you can find one) some top shift 3 speeds from '39(?)-'46 pickem up trucks that would work.
If you are keeping the 216 six in the car then there is no reason to change transmission unless you change the rear end also. Then you have more options. Just run a wanted ad in the HAMB cl***ifieds for a 3 speed floor shift linkage kit if the three on the tree bugs you. I liked the old stock vacuum ***isted column shift but its your deal.
What's wrong with column shift? Lots of old hot rods were converted to it! You could get the adapter to a '39 ford 3 speed, or even a ford topload with a jeep top. Best bet in my opinion would be to get a generic 3 speed shifter (hurst,ect) and fab some brackets and rods, easy stuff....
You can put a saginaw 4 speed from a monza or nova or the like into the torque tube. it is spendy and wont change the speed at which you drive but the gear splits are a lot nicer. You can change the rear gears to 3.55 too. Contact Patrick's antique cars and trucks in Casa Grande AZ 520-836-1117 - he manufactures and sells all the conversion parts.
Anouther option..... Olds hydro, with a buick? tailshaft, i belive tony nancy's drag roadster had one..... 4 speed auto with a in the dirt 3 sumthin 1st gear ratio
I believe '38-'47 truck 3sp or '38-'39 p***enger will work. I'm looking to do the same in my '46 coupe as the headers I've installed interfere with the shift linkage.
My guess is he's refering to an earlier, top loader, Chevrolet 3-speed, like what's in my 1948 Gibson tractor (who knows why they used the Chevrolet trans, especially since the rear end is an 8 3/4 MOPAR). I don't think he's talking about using a "truck" trans. As long as the ball swivel is the same, it should work. Someone else on here was talking about a similar swap. n Butch/56sedandelivery.
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