Just my luck

Well I was driving my 66 chevy pickup today, and coming down a hill I quickly realized that I could not take it out of 2nd gear. It's all stock it has a 283 3 speed column shift, the clutch still works and I can limp it along using 2nd gear so I'm guessing I broke something inside the transmission, and oh yeah lots of clunky grinding noises from the trans too. But I might have a solution, and I need your help to decide, I have a 5 speed trans from I think a 90 - 93 S10 pickup and was wondering if swapping this transmission would be worth my time? Any comments would help, Thanks , Nick


P.S. I rode the matching bicycle home

 

Put column shift in neutral, crawl under it and verify the shift linkages are both in neutral. Sometimes those arms hang up and if u try to move the shifter it makes some crazy noises. If everything is lined up and it still won't come out of gear, then go the 5 speed route


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Only if you want WAY better gas milage

 

Don't even bother diagnosing the three on the tree... Do the S-10 five gear. I think '92 was the first year of a change in mount patterns though so you might verify that you have a Chevy type pattern. After that trim the T/O slider a bit and the end of the input shaft and bolt it up.

 

Id check the linkages first like was stated but then again i love a column shift. Mine use to get hung up all the time

 

how long have you had the 66? you need to'' learn '' an old truck 3spd -if its only out of adjustment readjust the linkage and in about 3-4 months you will be the only one that can drive it.

 

Well I had my dad crawl underneath the truck to check the linkage, everything works fine when the truck is not running, linkage doesn't bind up, with the truck running it will not go into any other gear besides 2nd, and it sure makes a lot of noise so out guess is something inside the trans let loose. Time for a 5 speed

 

I have had the truck for almost 2 years now

 

You'll love the five speed and wonder why in hell you hadn't done it sooner. There is nothing that you can do with a vintage vehicle that makes it more drivable than modern gearing, period.

I too love the feel of driving a column shifted three speed if for no reason that it freaks out the "late model" people, and I'm always up for that. But why saddle your truck's acceleration with a first gear in the 2.60 something range when you can now get into a 3.76 just for trans swap? Same with dealing with a 3.90 - 4.10 something rear and a 1-1 top gear when a click into overdrive fifth will allow you run at modern freeway speeds and get far better fuel milage?

Do it, you won't believe the difference.

 

Yep, sounds like the ****** is trashed, but as one last check, figure out which lever on the transmission operates 1 and reverse and remove the shift rods from both arms. Manually put the trans lever into low and try driving it to see if low still operates. That will be the definitive check and put your mind at ease.

Don