Open rear swap... tranny too?

For those of you that have swapped in an open rear end, did you change the tranny too?

I picked up a 10 bolt for my 51, the guy I bought it from asked if I was going to put a Tremco 5 speed kit in it? Those kits are spendy.

I want to piece it together and I hear an S10 5 speed is the way to go. What bellhousing, flywheel, clutch etc do I need to find?

I'm not sure what all needs to be done to make my 3 speed work

 

what are your final plans for the 51?? Yes, you need to change the tranny also...Are you happy with the 216 or does it have a different engine in it yet? If you have plans for a complete change of running gear, gather all the parts together before you start the changeover so you won't be tore down for months trying to locate your pieces to finish the job. Chevies had closed d/lines until 1955....the bell hsg/trans after that still fit the 216/235/261 style eng.up thru 1962...If you were just looking for a better highway gear ratio in the rearend you can locate a powerglide torque tube 3rd member assy and change out your (probably) 4.11 ratio...keeping it simple..

 

RDR,
I have a 235 to replace the 216. Thanks for your reply.

 

You uh, kind of have to change the trans to go to open drive. The stock trans is made for a torque tube setup.

Keep the stock bell that's in the car now, use an S10 T5 with a Buffalo Enterprises adapter plate, an Astro Van 11" clutch disc in the stock clutch, and go -

 

" the guy I bought it from asked if I was going to put a Tremco 5 speed kit in it?"

Uh, if I was selling, I wouldn't care WTF you were going to do with it....