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Anyone running a Muncie M20, M21, M22 in their AD trucks? If so what shifter linkage are you using and where does it put your shifter?

Not a Muncie, but I've got a Saginaw 4-speed (from a '74 Nova) in my '65. I made a plate to put the shifter as far forward as possible, and shortened the shift rods. It's a little tricky getting into 1st when it's cold, but the shifter isn't under the seat any more.

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Not an AD... I had a M-21 Muncie in my '65 C10. I used a Hurst shifter designed for a '57 Chevy passenger car to clear the stock bench seat.

In my '65, the set-up did not allow the shifter to clear the stock bench seat. It would have worked though with a modified bench seat that had a shifter cut-out.

In my build thread below there are a bunch of photo's of how I modified the floor and of the trans and shifter arrangement.

IMHO, the Muncies are old school cool, but they aren't really as good of a choice as an overdrive transmission would be. In my truck with 33" dia. tires and a 3.37 rear gear I had to slip the clutch a bit to get it going, and that's when it was empty. A higher ratio rear gear would have helped that, but would have raised the highway rpm too. That's why an overdrive transmission would be better. Great around town performance & great highway RPM's too.

Just saw this thread...anyone who still want to use a stick these days usually gets my attention. I strongly considered a Muncie as I had several M22s in cars (vettes, etc) in past years. To deal with the bench seat. Hurst does have a special stick that jogs forward a couple inches before going vertical. They have a recommended linkage for this application, too.

As I didn't own a Muncie at the time of my build or have a special deal somewhere, I went with a Tremec 5 spd. I looked at Muncies in a wide variety of prices and promises. I seriously considered an S10 5 spd, but since I wasn't running a 6, I passed on that. It was extra $$, but not more than the top prices I saw on Muncies.

I finished my truck in August and now have almost 1k miles on it. I love the Tremec - positive shifting, perfect location for the shifter, the overdrive gear etc.

My 49 AD

Sorry to drag out an old thread but my problem is along the same thing. I am putting a m-20 muncie behind my 235 motor. Truck is a 47 1/2 ton AD. My question after doing some searching is do I need a transmission crosmember? I had plains to add one but after reading some search threads some say it is not needed. Or will not allow enough flexibility in the drive line, causing transmission problems. I was thinking it wouldn't hurt to have one. Not that the m-20 can't take all that massive power of the 235 but it's aluminum case could use support.

There was a rear-of-transmission cross-member through 1953 (for all transmissions).

The rear-engine-mount cross-member changed in 1954. Its "stronger" design allowed the elimination of the rear-of-transmission cross-member on all drive-trains, except for the very heavy Hydra-Matic transmission.

What is the weight of the M-20 transmission?
Maybe someone knows the weight of the 1947 3-speed transmission?

All of my BIG truck transmissions just hang on the bell housing. The fire engine has a New Process 5-speed that I think weighs about 130 pounds.

Mike B

I don't have a Muncie in my panel but I do in my 454 Beaumont. The tranny weighs about 75-80 pounds, about half of what the SM420 weighs.

Your correct in questioning the position of the shifter and the bench seat. I have a 50AD 350 SBC with a Saginaw (only difference in the shifters is the reverse rod) and ordered a custom Hurst shifter from "Patricks" who makes a custom shifter mount that bolts on to the gearbox and not the tail shaft. It moves the shifter forward to the proper position. He also has the perfect fit floor pan and boot to fit the set up. Its about $350.
http://www.patricksantiquecars.com/chevy-gmc-auto-parts.html

I have 383 SBC, 485 HP. in my 55 210 with a wide ratio Muncie hanging off the back of the bell housing with no rear trans mount.
I beat the hell out of it, and have had no problems.