Turbo 350 to sm465 ??

[Hankster]

Hello all, I have a 1986 that was a turbo 350 truck, i have put a built gen 5 454 into with a 12 bolt and 3:73s , Someone is GIVING me a sm465, Its free, and I want a manual.. it came out of a 1985 c10 with a 307 in front. What All will I need for this swap and Is it worth it to swap it? I'm not trying to go out there and street race my truck, just want a torque monster that' s fun to drive. I know I'll need

-Crossmember
-Clutch plate
-throw out bearing
-clutch pedal assembly


But what else?

THANKS

[cerial]

I love sm465's they are tough, simple, and cheap. They are not a racing transmission. in any regard. Never confuse that you will be able to keep up with your current th350 shifting with a sm465. It is a top loading rock crusher and is meant to be shifted slow.

A few things to add to your shopping list that you can get easily from someone parting out a manual Chevy with a sm465 that is the same length as your truck.

Cross member (c10)
Bell
Shifter boot (measure the parts truck floor once out to know exactly where to cut)
Dust cover
Drive shaft(s)
Carrier bearing/cross member(if long bed)

Things you should get new that you did not list
Bell boot
Trans mount
Clutch (kit)
Flywheel
Bolts
Carrier bearing(if needed)
Alignment pins(the Lakewood adjustable ones are nice)
Caliper with a magnetic base you can put on the flywheel and align the bell
U joints

While you have it out do a bench rebuild, the shifter fix, and you will be golden. It is quite basic. But if you don't feel like it most people are willing to do a bench rebuild and do the shifter fix for around $350.


Some guys like hydro clutches I prefer the manual one I have right now. The pedal is going to be the hardest part of the install. I have a few aluminum bells laying around. But if you are going to make power over 550lbs I highly suggest a Lakewood bell.

I bought one on ebay for $250 with the block plate, opened it up for another $50 and have it on a 68 Caddy 472 right now. I am going to use the good old aluminum one on a 72 Buick 455 going in during the spring and it should hold long enough for me to build the 472 into something nuts that will require the Lakewood bell and hydro clutch.

With the 4.56 gears I have now and a little 383 putting out 350ish lbs I am able to start my c30 off in 2nd get up to 15 then drop into 3rd and cruise from 3rd up to 40 then shift into 4th. As long as the truck is rolling I can usually just go back and forth from 3rd to 4th driving around and the gap between 2nd to 3rd is never a issue.

Your gearing, weight of the truck, torque, and how you drive will determine when/if you feel you need to go into 2nd or not. 1st gear is great for warming up the tires, pulling stuff up hills, letting the truck idle/pull itself through parking lots, and that's about it.

[Tx Firefighter]

High hump floor.....

[Hankster]

What exactly is a bench rebuild? I'm not very fimilar with standards. I just know I want one cause I enjoy using a clutch.

[Hankster]

Is it possible that I have a High hump? If not can I make mine work?

[Tx Firefighter]

Very doubtful on the high jump floor already. They are bolted in place while the low humps are one solid floor board all the way across so it's easy for you to check.

[dfrank]

Originally Posted by Hankster

What exactly is a bench rebuild? I'm not very fimilar with standards. I just know I want one cause I enjoy using a clutch.

I am the opposite. I like the shifting and don't even touch the clucth unless i am starting (unless i can get it going rolling down a hill then I can pop it in gear without the clutch) or stopping. Anyother time I am just floating gears up and down. Must be a trucker thing. Lol

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Very doubtful on the high jump floor already. They are bolted in place while the low humps are one solid floor board all the way across so it's easy for you to check.

Ten four. Does that mean I can add a high hump floor over mine when I cut it?

Originally Posted by dfrank

I am the opposite. I like the shifting and don't even touch the clucth unless i am starting (unless i can get it going rolling down a hill then I can pop it in gear without the clutch) or stopping. Anyother time I am just floating gears up and down. Must be a trucker thing. Lol

I know how to rev match. But I just prefer a manual over auto

[MalibuSSwagon]

Yes, you need the high hump floor to clear the transmission, it's tall. On the later trucks the floor is stamped as one piece, my 86 C10 has a factory installed SM465 and the floor is one stamped piece.

As far as shifting, I do enjoy driving a manual even if it's a slow shifting truck transmission. Plus that low gear gets the load moving easily with the worn out 305 in front.

Soo, how difficult is rebuilding the SM465? I have an issue with popping out of 3rd gear often, and I'd like to get that fixed when I swap the engine out.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

Yes, you need the high hump floor to clear the transmission, it's tall. On the later trucks the floor is stamped as one piece, my 86 C10 has a factory installed SM465 and the floor is one stamped piece.

As far as shifting, I do enjoy driving a manual even if it's a slow shifting truck transmission. Plus that low gear gets the load moving easily with the worn out 305 in front.

Soo, how difficult is rebuilding the SM465? I have an issue with popping out of 3rd gear often, and I'd like to get that fixed when I swap the engine out.

That's not across the board about the hump cover. My 88 model sqaure body (link in signature) was bolt in. I'm guessing cabs were made on different lines or something. It seems to be all over the place.