Hot Rods Manual Trans behind ‘55 Hemi 331

We are working on a ‘33 Ford 5 window coupe. Going down the path of putting a ‘55 331 Hemi ‘short housing’ in the car. This will be a driveable hot rod. I don’t plan to ever take it to the track.

My question is:

Any advice or experience on what bell housing and manual transmission that has worked?

I am leaning towards a S10 T5 with over drive to make it driving car.

Open to any advice on best manual trans, bell housing, clutch setup, and rear end that works.

 

I have a short bell 331 that I plan on running with a B/W T89 3 speed OD out of a Ford Pickup. I have already gotten the flywheel, clutch, and adapter plate for this setup. I like the idea of an OD over a T10 because at my age, I want to shift less, not more. With the right combination, it can function almost like an automatic around town.

 

Thanks for the response tubman! Did you find any challenges with the shaft length with the trans? Any recommendations on where to get the flywheel, clutch and adapter plate. Also, did you go with hydraulic clutch?

 

My default answer would normally be a Muncie four speed but with the current value of a rebuilt one you might consider a Richmond Super T-10.

 

I got the flywheel off eBay, the adapter on the "Swap Meet" section here, and the clutch from NAPA. It took awhile to figure out what clutch to use, but I had been through this before with my racecar (avatar). IIRC, it is out of a '56 Dodge truck.

 

Lotsa miles on both. The T89 is more HAMB and that's what I chose for my Studebaker C-cab with the Packard V8. The T5 is the better overall driver, but if one chooses that, he's on the wrong forum. Do ya' wanna just profile HAMB or ya' wanna be HAMB?

jack vines

 

Faceplated a833, but that's just me....


-rick

 

Not many T5's around in '64; Muncie's just sneak in under the wire.

 

A manual transmission behind an early hemi. That is the question. You’ll need an adapter. Hehe.

 

I've answered this question at least 10 times on here with the same photo. My theory is always K.I.S.S. This is all Mopar except the adapter. No mix-n-Match and everything works as it should. Will-Cap adapter. Stock small bock bellhousing, flywheel, clutch and starter with an 833 bolted back in place. Hurst 4 speed shifter looks right at home in the Truck.

I should add that I redrilled 340/360 flywheel to 8 bolt and it indexed right on the Will-Cap spacer. Simple as that. It lives in this.

 

Archiving this for some day as I also have a 331 that needs a manual of some sort however Id like a OD .

There is jsut no cheap way to there . but your set up looks like a easier way o go and can use mostly off te shelf parts if something fails . need the adapter .

 

I bolted up a late 50s big 318 truck bell to my 331
But that’s all I did was bolt it up
I’d pass on an s10. Unless you drive like me. I have a student that broke at least 4 of those behind a SBC

I like the 833. Every now and then an OD one pops up on marketplace

 

392 Hemi Buildup Part 1 - 5 Speed Tremec, Sonic Race Bellhousing, Setup Details | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)

Not a horrible set up

 

Then this is your answer. The 833 is an overdrive, it's just mechanical. It's like the Ford 3+1. 3rd gear is 1 to 1 and the 4th shift is into overdrive. Nothing electric like the earlier overdrive manual trans. They also came behind big blocks and small blocks.

 

Lloyd has an 833 overdrive for sale. @Lloydspaintand glass

 

@Lloyd's paint & glass

giving ya some help

 

And what years/vehicles did the 833 come in?

 

NP833 is 81-87 Chevrolet C10. It's a side shift, side load trans, 4th gear is a .73 OD. yeah I have one, supposed to be some guy coming Tuesday, but I'm first come first served.

 

Additional information. There are several versions of an 833 unit. Mopar made 3 different ones. What LLoyd has is a GM style. Yes they are generally the same inside. No, they are not a direct bolt together across brand lines. It's not like a T-350 is a T-350 (in fact there is a couple different models of them also). LLoyds 833 will require the same adapters as any GM 4 speed to bolt up to your Hemi. His bellhousing helps a little but you have no way to mount a Starter motor. Better do some homework before you dive in.

 

At the risk of taking this "off topic", Pist-n-Broke's approach can be easily updated for someone that doesn't intend to go drag racing and wants an OD trans. You will still need the adapter.

You can use a some what easier to find bell, modern flywheel, clutch, and trans from a Dodge truck with a V6 (has a smaller flywheel prior to 1994) or a V8. They have the same transmission bolt pattern at the motor (except for one bolt that can be left out). Most of these use a hydraulic slave cylinder clutch release set up (which solves a lot of clutch linkage problems). You can use the flywheel (with the re drilled crank holes) and the clutch that matches the bell you have, and use factory replacement parts. That opens the door to the NV 2500, NV 3500, & NV 4500 OD 5 speed transmissions which all bolt up to the bells.

The NV2500 is the "light duty" version. It has a very good gear spread, and can take some occasional light abuse. Probably not a good choice if drag racing is in the plan, but for a cruiser with an OD, its a great option.

 

I put a Ford full syncro 3 speed with overdrive behind my 354 hemi in my avatar 32 roadster. I got everything from Wilcap for the conversion. I think they are still in business. A man named Patrick bought the company the machine tools and found out there was still a market for the adapters. Was great to deal with. I believe they were on the central coast of California at that time.

 

On an automatic the 426 hemi flexplate bolts right on, so a flywheel should also.

 

[QUOTE="RocketDude, post: 15400984, member: 201997"a ‘55 331 Hemi ‘short housing’ in the car.[/QUOTE] All '55 are if talking about the back of the block.