I need to confirm what transmission I have in my truck. It is a 53’ Chevy 3100 with a 61’ 235 engine. I have taken it apart and everything looks good. I believe it to be a Saginaw 343 but I’m not positive. I’m wondering if it is the original transmission, or if it came with the 61’ engine, or, if it is just what somebody stuck in there. I’m including a couple pictures that may help identify it.
Chevy DID OFFER the fully synchronized T89 3 speed transmission for a torque tube as a heavy duty option for 54 pickups. Same three speed used with supercharged 57 T-Birds and Chrysler Hemis and a bunch of others from Jeeps to Javelins. Very rare in a Chev pickup and yours is not one of them as yours has an open drive shaft and modified shift levers. You can see a picture of one on the 47-54 site of the Classic Parts Forum www.classicparts.com under the thread "Transmission troubles" by Bilbo. Hard to miss being painted a BRIGHT orange. Since they are so rare maybe Tim could move the picture to the Bolt.
The bright red/orange transmission (left, below) is the standard 1954 3100 3-speed, SM318 The unpainted transmission (right, two photos) is the HD 3-speed (3100 only in 1954), Borg Warner T89
I don't know if this might help, but it's very hard to find any information on transmissions on line. This link is the best I've found on transmissions,
Down near the bottom are the chevy trannys. Just looking at your pictures I think the side cover is from the 343 Saginaw because of the hump for the top bolt. Good luck figuring this out.
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur ( https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
