The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 6cyl. motor,trans and rearend

Hello fellow stovebolters; I own a 1936 Chevy 1/2tn pickup w/ the 207 motor,(411) ratio and I want to upgrade to highway cruising. I plan on running a 1958 235 cu.in. motor and changing to an open drive rear end. I have a 307 ratio rearend that I plan to install, but am unsure what trans to go with,(compatable w/this rearend) I want to stay with the floor shift(top load) 4 or 5 sp. but need to be sure to have sufficient power for take off in first gear. Any help and advise is greatly appreciated...Thanks...Richard

i have a t-5 from an s 10 truck. i love it. it is a 5 sp./w overdrive. do a search and you will find lots of post on this trans. also go to the tech tips for further info. ron

The real beauty of the T-5 especially with a truck like yours and the small cab is that you wont need to fool around with a side linkage shifting trans. Even though you won't really need the overdrive the T-5 is the way to go. You will need to find a later bell housing to go behind the 235. The T-5 is the best thing since sliced bread, as they say.
Best of luck

My '55 1st Suburban has 3.08 gears in the rear. With the original 4-speed and a GMC 270 it starts out easily in 2nd gear and runs down the highway easily.

I also have 3.08 gears in another car with a V-8 and 4-speed with a 30% overdrive. Its fun to run at 70 mph at about 2000 rpm.

An interesting difference between the two is that I never stall the 270 starting it out. When I switch to the V-8 powered one it always takes me a while to adjust and spin the motor fast enough to start it out in first with out stalling it.

While your long-stroke 235 should tolerate it better than my V-8, it is possible to choose gears that make starting out a bigger challenge.

I've been told that the original 4 spd. non-syncro works fine with re-geared rear ends, but I still have the 'granny' gear in mine. I haven't decided if I want highway speeds or not yet.

Your bellhousing from the 207 may bolt up to the 235. if not a 37- 46ish chevy bellhousing should prolly work with the least amount of modification. The art deco trucks all had the brake and clutch pedals mounted on the bellhousing.

consider a 250 CI motor for a better oiling system.
do a search on the 235 250 and T5 conversion as there is lots of info on this site.

You can also use a Saginaw 4 speed, look for the 2 or 3 groove input shaft, they have a nice broad ratio and matched with the 3.07 rearend are nice for a 235.

I run a 270 with a 3.08 axle in my '57 GMC;my engine is a little worn out though,and that coupled with LT235/85R-16's means it doesn't take too much of a grade to slow it down from my 70 mph @ 2,300 rpm.(It has a knock at anything over 2,500,so 2,300's cruise redline for it.)
Speed

Thanks for all the information Guys, we have a pull-ur-part here that has 4 and 5 speeds for $150.00, I'll go check it out and see what I can find. Thanks again...oldred36

I USED A MUNCIE WIDE RATIO 4SPD IN MINE AND IT
WORKED JUST FINE. BOLTED UP GOOD TO THE STOCK
GM BELL HOUSING TOO. GOOD LUCK.

Richard,

Do you know the horse-power rating for your 207?

Also, is there any chance you could mail me photos of both sides of the engine and a picture of the top of the engine with the valve cover removed?

Information about the early stovebolt engines does not show up very often.

Thank you, Tim

lederman@siena.edu

Just thought I'd throw this out.....if you are considering a 5 SPEED, and are planning on running a 28-29" rear tire you'd better STAY AWAY from a 3.08. I went with a pricey IROC-Z 3.08 posi/disc with a .72 T5 OD, 29" tire behind my decent running 235 and it was a BUMMER. It worked okay as a 4 speed but in OD, the rpm's nosedived so dramatically, that I dropped completely out of the 235's power band. I switched to a 3.42 R&P which lets me cruise in 5th gear @ 2000 rpm's at 65-70 mph and can drop down to 50-55 mph without downshifting. If I lived in an area with hills, I'd even consider a 3.73.

I now have a expensive 3.08 doorstop and BTW...I drive my truck every day! Hope this helps you avoid a costly mistake.

Dave

I agree with Dave. Unless the majority of the driving will be on the freeway. For getting around town you would definately be happier with a lower gear rear. I have 3:90 with a granny 4sp and an O.D. It's a combo that gives me the best of both worlds.