The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline What's my old tranny worth?

I'm installing a T5. A friend has expressed interest in my old one but asked for a price. I have no idea if it's worth anything beyond scrap. Based on what I've read it's a Muncie 4-speed with the stump puller first gear. Came out of my '59 with a 235. All I know for sure is that it weighs a ton!
I don't want to throw out a stupid number, either high or low. Suggestions?

the usual SM420, not worth more than scrap value really - if he's a "friend", $50, if he's an "acquaintance", $100

Bill

I usually get about $75 for an old trans. if I can asure the guy if its good.

You might try checking with the off roaders, that trans is popular with them due to very low first gear.

I have seen them as low as 100 and as high as 500. And mostly settling around 150 to 250. For SM420 they are sometimes popular with the 4x4 jeep and rock crawler folks I thought I heard that someplace.

I think location has a lot to do with it. I have sold several as scrap iron in Central Texas. I got tired of looking at them.

The rock crawlers are mainly interested in the latest version of the SM420. That version used a front seal which is important to them when 4 wheeling.
I can't find anyone around here that wants them so I have scrapped close to a dozen if them.
I should mention the speedo gears are worth a lot$$$$

I'm amazed they are so cheap especially the 4 speeds. I would think that there will be many owners or future owners who will want to put their trucks back to stock and will want those items. It happened with cars.

Yeah jb, start buying them up, maybe you can corner the market.

As the old timers die off, the ones that fill their shoes want
more modern rides, just interested in keeping the old look so,
they gut them in favor of automatics or 5/6 speeds, IFS,
9"Fords, disc brakes, AC, PS.
I've seen it happen with lot's of old thing, the antique (read
junk) malls are full of stuff that people sat on thinking "I'm
gonna save that, it'll be worth something someday." And there
it sits, year after year.

DG

My experience through over 40 years has been with cars and I can tell you that we all threw away the stock items in favor of all our supposed those "upgrades".
All those original motors including original intake and exhaust manifolds, steel wheels, air cleaners, canister oil filters, original interiors, etc....
At the time we were throwing those parts away as they had no real value. Today they are gold.

Then the market turned in the old car hobby and all these same guys paying huge money for those original parts. Customizing will always be with us but original cars are KING and getting the most money at sale.

I did that on my Chevelle but kept all the parts (seats/interior, manifolds, Air cleaner, wheels/hub caps) including my original transmission and put my car back to stock and has more interest in this configuration.
When looking for an old truck I was considering some of the customized stuff and like some of it but most of it is hack jobs. I bought original and I can't get out of a gas station, shopping center or anywhere else without someone checking out the truck.
It will be interesting to see if trucks follow the car hobby.

I've been trying to sell a couple 3 speeds and even an SM420. They worth just about scrap value, to be quite honest.

I keep thinking somebody will want one, but no luck.

To bad you're not closer to Sandwich Chris. I'd take them
off your hands. Always looking for spare stuff.

DG

Pm sent

I'm 70 years old, and I don't think I'll be around to see much appreciation of all the spare parts I have. I hear of all these prices that stuff brings, but I haven't been able to sell much. When I got to the scrap yard, I know I will come home with a little money. I was a licensed salvage dealer for many years, and a bumper pull trailer trailer full of short iron brings between $800 and $1,000.

I bet you'll get more if you sell as a lot with a "no dickering policy" or more still if you sell individual. I know some guys here that sell on craigslist and occasional local meets and completely fund their projects. They are leery about PayPal so cash makes a deal safer for the seller.

You'd be surprised how many guys are looking for single parts. Some people would rather buy individual part than buy a parts car/truck. Where I am there is no room or storage space so a parts car is impossible.

Denny, I may be heading up to Antioch memorial day weekend. I'll be going to DeKalb in the next couple weeks also.

If you're serious, I could part with the 3 speeds.

If I don't get any objections from the other half, I may be able to do a side-trip.

I threw the SM420 in with the 3800 truck I sold awhile back.