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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,138 Posts1,056,751 Members48,454 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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#22813 10/07/2003 2:58 PM | Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 427 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 427 | Well, the pool of parts got smaller again.
Talking to Jeff at Bow Tie Bits yesterday and he advised that they lost the machinist who was grinding the 3 speed input shafts for them so they have stopped offering rebuild services on these old three speeds.
That means a lot of people will be driving around holding down the shifter in 3rd until someone else can provide this service.
They sell a shim kit to thrust the input shaft farther forward to get a good bite, but without machining the shaft it is running on very short borrowed time.
Anyone know anyone who rebuilds the old 3 speeds? | | |
#22814 10/07/2003 4:51 PM | Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 962 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 962 | That sucks. I remember about '97 I got all the bearings and seals for my '54 3 speed at an auto parts store in hattiesburg, MS. I think it was a national auto... Are rebuild kits/bearings still available?
What is it about these 3 sp input shafts that wear out? Is it the gear on the shaft or what?
And if I grenade the tranny in my bel-air, will a 3 speed column shift Torque tube tranny from a 53-54 truck fit? Anybody got a spare tranny? I'd like an extra JIC mine goes poof.
Preaching the Hot Rod Gospel according to the 4-stroke apostles:
Suck, Squish, Fire and Fumes
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#22815 10/07/2003 5:11 PM | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | Vally gear in Seattle Wa, seems to carry all the parts.
Chip, The truck trans is the same length but has a different bolt pattern. The gears and shafts will fit though.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | |
#22816 10/07/2003 7:41 PM | Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 218 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 218 | Chiphead,
I have a three speed long shaft tranny that came out of a 63 Chevy truck that you could have for the shipping costs if it would help you. I'm in Indiana though. | | |
#22817 10/07/2003 8:35 PM | Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 962 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 962 | Six,
thanks, but my car uses the 54-earlier closed driveline. If anybody can say if the parts would fit my case, I might could use it. Its not an emergency or anything, I just realized that if my tranny went out I'd be screwed.
chip
Preaching the Hot Rod Gospel according to the 4-stroke apostles:
Suck, Squish, Fire and Fumes
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#22818 10/07/2003 9:08 PM | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,745 Member | | Member Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,745 | Chip figures, with his luck, maybe better gather some backups.
:p
I once spent 6 months rebuilding the engine on my beemer and blew the tranny on the test drive.
54 3100 with 235
62 flatbed dump C60 with 261
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#22819 10/07/2003 11:48 PM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 111 Member | | Member Joined: May 2003 Posts: 111 | Agreed on the Valley Gear in Seattle. Very helpful when I was doing my 3spd Muncie.
35 + years of rollin' steel!
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#22820 10/07/2003 11:53 PM | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,893 Socket Breaker | | Socket Breaker Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,893 | this valley gear place... do they have a website, a phone number... anyone have contact info.?  My Dad has a '53 AD... who knows what will turn up... -W Originally posted by Pal:
Agreed on the Valley Gear in Seattle. Very helpful when I was doing my 3spd Muncie. | | |
#22821 10/08/2003 12:14 AM | Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 165 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 165 | Chiphead,
I have some transmissions and some new gears and shafts, If anybody needs some. | | |
#22822 10/08/2003 8:38 PM | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | Valley Gears #206-329-5353
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | |
#22823 10/08/2003 8:53 PM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 224 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2003 Posts: 224 | chevyb, where are u located at? i could use a three speed tranny for my 50 1/2 ton. i live in idaho. | | |
#22824 10/08/2003 11:46 PM | Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 53 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 53 | Chiphead, I have a Bow Tie Bits rebuilt tranny that I am not using. It was in perfect shape when I pulled it out of my truck. It might have 1500 miles on it. I haven't thought about selling it, but I don't really know why I am keeping it. Email me at [email protected].
How did all this sawdust get under the hood? | | |
#22825 10/09/2003 12:17 AM | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | My dad also sells NOS chev parts including trans parts. His e-mail is [email protected]
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | |
#22826 10/12/2003 12:14 AM | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 8 Member | | Member Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 8 | i have a three speed from a 50 half ton iam gonna use a v8 and 700r in this truck dont know what the three speed is worth | | |
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