The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline trans swap

I have a 35 chevy 1 ton closed driveshaft tube with a 4 speed. I swaped out the 207 for a 1940 216 I bought a bell housing and clutch/ring gear to put my old 35 4 speed on the 216.Now I was thinking of trying to find a 4 speed synchro.trans to replace the non syncro trans, can this be done without changing out the driveshaft tube/ rear end, its a dual wheel rear end and dont want to change out if I dont have to. what year and trans would I need THANKS/ Glen

Glen,

I'm not saying it can't be done, but it will be difficult. As you are aware, crash box 4 speeds were the norm till about 1947. In 1948 or 1949, the transmission to bellhousing pattern changed. All the 4 speeds after this time will not directly bolt up to your bellhousing.

A very early (1947 or 1948 maybe) torque tube type sm420 might bolt up to your bellhousing, but it may also be longer than the crash box.

If you don't want to also change the rear end, you are probably better keeping what you got.

If it were my truck, I would build a mild 261 to replace the 216, find a later open drive dually axle, and replace the transmission with a NV4500 5 speed. It's not my truck.