Tranny swap question

[84 400]

I have seen some of the posts on this on the site but am looking for some options and ideas. I have a 1984 c10 (in sig for options). I want to do the oppiset of most form members and was wondering what your thoughts were. It has a rebuilt th350 in it now with a shift kit and while it is a nice tranny i am sick of automatics. I want to swap for a 3 or 4 speed. at first i wanted a 3 on the tree but now i think a 3 or 4 or bigger on the floor would be more fun to drive. I need some info on this swap. I know i would need the clutch and brake pedels the tranny maybe a new drive shaft and some mounting brakets cross bars on and on and on. But i am going to be coming into some money and figured i will put most away in the bank or market for retirement. however i think some will have to go into my old truck to make her the way i want. So the biggest thing will be the tranny swap. then an eaten psoi rear end with 373's a 2 or 4 inch cowl induction hood, some wider rear tires, maybe traction bars, new seats ( see my post in "what did you get done" for the seat in there now.) Also a new paint job and a possible super charger are inthe works. As i said it might sound to some like i am dreaming but i finally will have the money to make this happen and the only thing i would not be doing is the paint. Also if i could find a long stepside bed i would consider that but i have never even seen one in person.
Thanks

[benoit454]

Well here's some little info I know, we had a 76 c10 with a saginaw 3 speed, and swapped in a saginaw 4 speed, same length, no crossmember mods, driveshaft or anything. I dropped that same setup in my monte carlo which was factory th350 short tail. It fit and would bolt right up in the monte carlo crossmember. I then changed out that 4 speed for a short tail turbo 350.

So....

a short tail th350 is the same length overall as at least a saginaw truck 3 speed or car saginaw 4 speed. The 4 speed I have comes up as a 74 camaro trans. So no driveshaft or crossmember mods should be needed if you have the short tail th350.

You need of course as you said pedals, linkage, bracket, balls, and clutch z-bar/bellcrank. Also flywheel, pilot bearing, clutch kit, fork and throwout bearing. Of course a shifter as well.

On a side note I don't blame you one bit, I'd LOVE to have my monte carlo standard shift, and love to have the 86 4x4 a stick shift also.

[84 400]

Thanks man for the input. i forgot to mention the z bar and stuff thanks for adding. I think it would make for one heck of a truck when i am done was thinking of the saginaw 4 speed. Also do you or anyone else know of a 5 or six speed manual trans that i could use? i firgure a six or five speed will need alot of mods. Just looking for some options. Thanks for the input. I think the 4 speed saginaw might be my best bet and i know another board member ( name evades me (he is building a 383 right now ) has one in his truck ) Thanks for all the help. I would also like to here some complaints with the manual trans from those who swapped to an auto? I love shifting even in traffic so that is not going to cut it for me for an excusse. Was it not able to handle the power? do you hate shifting? just wondering as i see alot of people doing the standered to auto swap.

Thanks

[benoit454]

We beat the hell out of our old 3 speed with the 350 in the truck, that 3 speed was probably factory 76 model, went through 2 straight 6's with us, and that 350. We only destroyed it by slamming 2nd with like 7 or 8 grand no clutch shift, that killed it.

This th350 i got now is no where near comparison to that little factory 3 speed stick shift. We could smoke 31" mud tires like it was nothing, now I can't hardly break em loose in the monte(same motor the truck had). I know i got a crappy rear but IMo an auto is no where near as good a trans. for street pounding as a stick shift. I know you can do full manual and all that in an auto but I just like stick. That was the best part of my 86 camaro it was 5 speed.

[rcbildr]

I just stuffed an SM-465 in my 85 Suburban, it replaced the 700R4 that quit shifting in to overdrive. I found an SM-465 with the clutch linkage and pedals on craigslist. I was originally going to use an NV-3500, but it was set up for a 2wd truck and I didn't want to go thru all the work of making it fit. I think the NV-3500 swap would be the easiest to do, and it is a hydraulic clutch set up.

[magnethead]

or you could go to a NV4500 5 speed (there is a Chevy bellhousing I do believe, unlike the 5600)

[edman87]

Definately go with a hydraulic clutch, easier to push and easier to install compared to linkage. An easy swap would be a nv3500 from 90's truck, prolly easiest would be 96 up withhydraulic throwout bearing. You don't want a nv4500 in a 2wd unless you tow a LOT. Don't waste time on a 3 speed and no truck 4 speed shifts easy. The nv3500 is a pretty good settle on everythiung for a truck as long as you don't have a ton of power, they will give with enough abuse, but will hold up decent to a mild smallblock.

[84 400]

thanks for the info guys! I am looking for an easy swap as i am doing it myself. The newer trans does sound tempting will it stand up to my 400+ horse power sb 400? Also with the newer tranny would i need to modifiey my cross brase? Also my freind had the 5 speed in his 94 chevy and it cracked its bel hosing because the uper struts on the tranny broke

Thanks for the help on this one. also i saw the post on that seering colom auto shift delete peice and would want to do the same since my truck is a auto at the moment
Thanks

[72C203503ONTHETREE]

The NV3500 was used in the S10 trucks, not really made for a lot of power and torque. The Turbo 350 long and short tail trans will use the same mounts as a 3 or 4 speed car trans(MUncie-the best, Saginaw-ok but weaker, and Borg Wraner Super T10-also good), its just the tail is longer and you would need the driveshaft redone. I personally want to get a SM465 for the strength, but a newer NV4500/NVsix speed version would be good for strength and economy plus they use hydraulic clutches I think. I'll probably do the swap once my turbo 350 dies but its doing pretty good now, plus my wife cant drive a stick.