I have been looking for a 4 speed manual. Right now I have a TH350 Turbo Auto in it. What am I going to need to swap over to a manual? And any ideas for a good solid 4-speed and where to find one without spend and arm and a leg?

 

I know there's been some threads discussing the conversion, do a search to see what you can find. The last two manual transmissions I bought I found on Craigslist. If I were you I'd start watching Craigslist for any town close enough that you'd be willing to drive to for a transmission. John

 

And the crank needs to be drilled for the pilot bearing/bushing (depending on the route you choose to go)

 

I put a stick in mine. I had to get the right crank first off. Then I had the motor rebuilt. Then I had my best fabrication man, Chet, put it all together for me. I found my 4 speed on ebay with EVERYTHING I needed, right down to the springs for the clutch etc. I just had that rebuilt too. Once your done it is a real blast. I don't like autos for my hotrods so it had to go. I think you know what I mean. No console, just a Hurst shifter comin' out of the floor. COOL! It is not as hard as you think, so go for it. Finding out what you need is the biggest headache you will encounter. I think the crank having to be drilled or changed to a 4 speed crank is the biggest hurdle you have. Finding a parts car may be the way to go on this one. Then you know its all there. Good Luck!

 

i was looking on craigslist for something to bring home from PA after the nationals. i found this.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/pts/1250734831.html

looks like a good deal if they really are rebuilt. the M-22s would be an even better deal.

 

Two ways to go:

1. Cobbled together from used parts from any GM make, probably $1500

2. Done 100% GM with rebuilt/refinished parts, probably $3500

 

That is a good point. I've never done a manual conversion; however, I know it can be done. You might consider purchasing a new manual transmission and parts from an aftermarket supplier like Summit, Jegs, or B&M. Then you would probably get a warranty and you would know the transmission is ready to go. Of course, you might not be able to have an "original" 4 speed with this route, but there are plenty of manual transmissions out there.

 

I'm not really looking for the original route anyway. Just want a solid car that is fun to drive on the weekends. And auto's are not for me. So its definitely something I need to pull the engine for to swap over to a manual? My I have a '77 350 in the car now that was just recently rebuilt. Will I have to tear the motor apart to modify the crank?

 

You will definitely have to remove the engine to modify the crank. The easiest way to drill the crank is to remove it and have a machinist modify it for you. However, I believe there is a member here that drilled the crank while it was still in the car.

 

If anyone has any information on what exactly I need to do to modify that crank I would much ablige. Hopefully I can do it while it is still in the motor and hopefully still on the car. I manage a machine shop so whatever information I can get I would greatly appreciate it.

 

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...onversion.html

 

Also, unless you care about having a "correct" Muncie, just get a five speed. Your end cost will likely be comparable and you'll like it a lot more.

 

I did a 100% "all GM" correct parts 4 speed conversion.

New parts: clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, driveshaft, hardware

Rebuilt/refinished parts: M21 tranny, Hurst linkage, pedals, floor hump, shift rods, console, etc.

The conversion looks 100 factory.

The M21 was rebuilt with M22 gears for that Rock Crusher sound.

Best money I spent on the car.

 

Don't use the conversion bearing.

Have the crank drilled for a BCA7109. The dimensions are in the Mondello Tech Manual.

 

What year car, how much are you looking to spend (budget), and WHERE are you located???????
I just sold a rebuilt muncie M-20 on c-list, no response at all on this site.
Look at the parts for sale forum. It can be your friend.

 

Hey man I have 2 saginaw 4 speeds and a ford top loader 4 speed with a scatter sheild that fits the toploader to a chevy. I am still debating on what I will be using with my 455, the toploader or a built 200-4r. I have a 5 speed to but not sure what to use it with. I would sell any of them to get the money for a 200-4r rebuild. My everyday driver is a standard it gets a lil tiring rowing that shifer so not exactly sure what I'm gonna do yet. And I seen a whole pedal and clutch linkage kit on ebay for lots of cars

 

The top loader is a lot stronger than a saginaw; it is even stronger than a Muncie. All Olds bellhousings are already drilled and tapped for the ford pattern because Olds used Ford top loader 3 speeds.

 

X2
I installed a 5 speed Richmond Doug Nash 4+1 and it is awesome. My 3.31 gears with a 3.27 first gear and a 1 to 1 5th is the way to go period.!!!
JMHO

 

Many small block top loaders have 2.78 first gear. You can get Super T10s with even steeper first gears, but strength goes down as the ratio goes up. The new Super T10s bolt in, with the 26 spline clutch disk and Turbo 400 yoke. Note that their motor mount and speedo gear retainer bolts are metric (M10x1.5 and M6x1.0 respectively). the Ford tranny is longer, and some have the shifter mount positions far away from the Muncie/ST10. The input is a little shorter (much shorter with big block trannies), and different nose diameter for the pilot bearing, and the output is not a GM spline.

 

Old School 4-Speeds
Springfield VT
1-603-440-9035

I haven't ever used them, just found their business card in my big stack of junk. Might be worth a call.