The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Muncie 4 speed to modern 5 speed

I have a Muncie 4 speed in my Pro Street 63 Chevy II and am wanting to change to a 5 speed. The engine is probably 400 plus hp. The car is a toy and only street driven. I'd like to change to a more modern 5 speed for the overdrive. I need someone to educate me on late model 5 speeds. What will work? S-10, Camaro, truck? Are they as strong as Muncie's? Do they direct interchange and fit early bell housings and clutches? I would appreciate any help here. Thanks.

Is this a troll post? Since when is a Chevy II a truck?

Anyways...

Might be complete overkill but you could use an NV4500. They're a truck transmission and can take the power you have.

Another option is the NV3500. It's not a strong as the NV4500 but it's stronger than a T5.

NV4500's can be found in chevy pickups.
NV3500's can be found in Jeep TJ's.

just my thought,,,if you are looking at the trans from a v6 to install behind 400hp is a mistake,,,,look at one from a HP corvette or something similer in HP...

that will break a t5.you could get a six speed from a 93 up camaro or an aftermarket richmond trans.

My vote is also for a tranny out of a late Camaro or Firebird. If you get the crossmember, bellhousing,flywheel and clutch from the same car it'll be a LOT easier to install. The more related parts you bring home,the more you have to choose from when you start fitting it together and need to adapt something. Don't forget to replace the pilot bushing-buy one to fit the tranny you're installing. Send your ol' Muncie to me.
Speed

Second dibs on the Muncie, Really would think twice before changing it.

Do a search on a Tremec 5sp Thats what i used on my gto. Bolt in set up

Tremec is the way to go.

Thanks everyone. Can someone tell me about the Tremec 5 speed? What did they come in? Ray you said it was a bolt in in your GTO. Is this with a stock bell housing? Can I use my existing mechanical clutch linkage? Does the Tremec have internal shift linkage and is that a problem with shifter positioning? I'm wondering Ray, was this any problem in the Goat.Thanks again and I do appreciate the education.

Ron,
I went with a aftermarket bellhousing and a hydraulic throwout bearing.But i don't think i had too.Shifter is internal. I got mine at Forte's Parts connection in burlington Ma. They have a website or you can give him a call. Great guy very helpful.

Just a thought -- why not consider a gear vendors overdrive unit?. This will eimentate, clutch, presure plate, throw out bearing, linkage, and shifter location issues. The initial cost may seem high, but should be compareable to the cost of a 5 or 6 speed manual that will handle the power and torgue. Plus when you sell the car you can remoce the unit and drive shaft -- and use it in another vehicle.

twe56,sounds like a good idea. Streetrod Builder Magazine just happens to have an article about the Gear Vendors unit. They say it's only available for automatics. GM's 350 and 400's only. Thanks.

I just put one on my sm420. Call them and they will tell you if they can do it or not. Gearvendors.com

Keep that Muncie.. they are getting real hard to come by now...

JT-5 vs 3550 tremec vs T56 & NV4500
http://www.5speeds.com/tremec.html
http://www.5speedtransmissions.com/tr-3550.html
http://www.cobracountry.com/southern/tremec.html
&
http://medusa.ih8mud.com/cruiser/NV4500.html
http://www.5speedtransmissions.com/5sp_comparison.html
http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/frame.html?/BorgWarner/bwt56.html

T5's were originally made for mustangs in 83 and 84 used in camaro's and firebirds.
Buying a TKO for your Classic Chevy is a big investment. By asking the right questions and understanding the facts you will be able to make an informed buying decision.
Below are 5 important tips that will help you make the right decision.

TIP #1
KNOW THE FACTS. Following are a few commonly misunderstood facts:

FACT: For the following car models, there is no reason to pay extra for a specially modified Tremec TKO transmission or custom shifter. An out-of-the box, unmodified TKO transmission with the stock Tremec shifter, or the proper McLeod, bolt-on offset shifter, will properly fit within the stock console of the following cars:
‘67-‘81 Camaros and Firebirds
’64-’72 Chevelles/GTO/LeMans
’62-’74 Chevy II/Nova’s
The pictures below show an unmodified transmission and either a stock Tremec shifter or a direct bolt-on, offset shifter. All pictures are shown with the shift stick in the neutral position.

see:: http://www.classicchevy5speed.com/important_tips_Tremec_Purchase.htm

Again, I thank everyone for your input. Bottom line, the reason I want an overdrive is so I can drive the car more. If you've read my previous post about this car, it's bad a$$ and a ball to drive. I thought with the monster cam in it, I'd be better off getting the rpm down. I'm really afraid of breaking valve springs. Again, it's bad a$$. I think I'll just drive it and have fun. If it breaks, I'll drive the truck. After all, I put the Muncie in it in 1979. I can't believe the Gear Vendors overdrive are as pricey as they are. I could build an engine for the amount they want for them.

In my neck of the woods, they're worth around $3K Canadian.

I'd rather buy an NV4500 for my truck.

RustyRod; Watch it,man-you're gettin' pretty generous with MY Muncie...
Speed

do a search on 5 speeds. see a recent T5 questions thread.
this has been covered but always interesting as more info floods in. This oughta keep some of you busy....

http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=006487


Other possibilies is the NV-1500 http://www.cyberjeep.com/products.asp?dept=5730
and NV-3500, http://members.aol.com/mymovie/motor/Jeep/swap.html
S 542 FORD
Borg Warner T-85N, http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=007235
http://www.6066gmcguy.org/3-to-4-speed.htm
T10 - http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/148_0305_t56/
, T18, T19,
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t18_t19.htm
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/sm420.htm
or http://www.motivegear.com/tech_info/tranny_guide/tranny_guide.html
T-56 (Camaro 6 speed), http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=006487#000005
http://www.v8monza.com/images/tech/trans/monza-trans-5spd-Chuck_.jpg
http://www.5speeds.com/muncie.htm

The T5 I had built is an S~10 housing but has camaro V8 gears inside. T5's were origionally made for mustangs in 83 and 84 used in camaro's and firebirds. I believe that IS the best way to go w/ these T5's as borg warner made them w/ ALL completely interchangable parts. I have a better chance to handle any load and the HP

[i]THE T5 WORKS ON MUSTANGS, JEEPS (4X4), CAMARO's && FIREBIRDS THAT HAVE HORSEPOWER !!!!!!!..... SO WHY WASTE THE $$$$ and BERATE THIS TRANNY and PUT IT IN YOUR TRUCK and BERATE IT AGAIN. WILL YOU NOT PUT IT IN AND HAVE IT WORK FOR YOU??? If you buy one from a four cylinder and it fails working in your truck ..... don't give it a bad name when these trannies work on autos that have way more Horse Power than your chevy does and still work. Do your homework first.

Am in the process of putting a TK0 600 in and found out that torque is what the suppliers are interested in, horsepower doesn't count much. With the high torque situation I have it required the TK0 600(600 ft lbs) and I'll add it's really pricey. I have heard rumors this trans might be in the late model supercharged stangs but would probably not be much cheaper from a salvage yard. After puking the whole bottom of the case on two rock crushers the price looks better and better.

There is an aftermarket company that tailors kits for a variety of cars. I think the name is Keisler Engineering. The cool thing is, if you need any sort of adaptor, they can provide it with the kit. They are NOT cheap, but they seem to have a really good sense of what needs to be done. They furnish instructions for the installation into your car. Not a bad idea, at least to investigate. I've been thinking about putting one into my wife's '69 Vette. But that's a few years off. By the Way . . . . . Is that Muncie an M20, M21, or M22??

Pat

How come everyone wants my Muncie? I only paid $100 for it in 1978! I thought that was kind of high.