The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Trans Replacement

I have a '53 3100 pickup in the works (about 60-70% complete) and recently opened the transmission intending to put in gaskets and front/rear seals. This is the stock 3 speed trans hooked to a torque tube. Inside I found grindings, worn gears and some very bad attempts to repair damage to almost all shafts and gears. None of this was visible from the outside. I have completed a swap from the 216 to a 235 using the 216 bell housing so the rear motor mounts could remain the same. Since funds are in short supply, I was intending to leave the drive train stock until future funds (hopefully) would allow upgrading to another transmission and open drive shaft. Now the bad trans requires a change in plans.
Now the questions along with some info: a fellow bolter has offered a Muncie SM-318 3 speed which he believes will bolt up to the 216 bell housing on the 235 engine. He has a drive shaft which could be altered to fit also. Can you advise if the Muncie will indeed bolt up to my engine? Can you advise the best approach to change the rear end to accommodate the open drive line and suggest a good replacement? The Muncie trans and drive shaft came from a '59 Chevy truck per the owner/bolter.
I need to leave the replacement rear end in the original position so the wheel/tire position in the rear fenders will remain the same.
One good point to consider: This may solve the old gear ratio problem and eliminate the need to replace the ring gear and pinion in the old rear end....Oh Well !
Thanks for any advise, warnings, encouragement and/or information.

The pumpkin out of the '59 will work in your current housing. Just take out the torque tube and put in the '59. If your lucky it may be a 3.38 or maybe its a 3.42, that was in that year along with a 3.90

there are several years of pumpkins that will work replacing the torque tube. I think all the way up to 62 or maybe later.
I'm sure others who have done this will chime in with more info.....

1955-62 1/2 ton pumpkin will bolt in the 53 axle housing.

Can you still use the stock axles of the 53 with the 55-62 pumpkin?
Will you have pinion angle problems with this setup?

Axle splines are the same.
You will need to add modern style spring pads with this set-up, although there is more to that.
I could talk you through that if needed.

The later trans will bolt up but you will likely have to use the side cover from your original trans to match your linkage. This will require using the 1-R shift fork from the later trans providing it has the same internal configuration.
Modifying a driveshaft is by no means cheap, and you have to find another rear end.
I would suggest putting an ad in the swap meet and finding a good original transmission. There are many people taking them out to modify their AD trucks to updated engine/transmission/differential conversions. I see them advertised all the time. I purchased one a couple of years ago for a 54 I was working on. It doesn't solve your low gear ratio issue but it would put the truck on the road.
Fred

I'm with Fred on this one.
If your ultimate goal is to upgrade the drive train in the future when you get the funds, look for a stock torque tube 3 speed from a '48-'54 truck.
You could probably find a usable one from a truck with trees growing through the frame in a hedgerow as long as it isn't sitting in water and still has gear lube in it.

Drop me a PM- - - - -I might have the trans you're looking for.
Jerry

Thanks Fred, 52 Carl and Jerry
PM sent