The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 54 3100-Need help sorting out trans/motor options prior to buying parts

I've got a 54 3100 truck with 235 and 3spd on column. The original motor spun a rod bearing, and i'm buying a 235 out of later 50's chevy car.

First priority: to get the truck running again.

2nd: to acquire parts to convert torque tube to open drive shaft, change rear end gear, to make more driveable.

Options I have in response to my wanted 3 speed for open drive shaft ad.

1. owner of the 235 i'm buying has a 3 speed out of a 60's pickup, but is using the bell housing, clutch and flywheel. Can i use those parts from my original transmission which works just fine, aside from being torque tube? And is a 60's 3 speed a good match for my 54, or am i better off sticking with units from 55-59?

2. another person has 3 speed out of 67-72 trucks. Again, are those years good matches for my setup?

3. another person has a 3 speed for a 55-2-59. but farther away, and opposite direction of the motor.

4. another person on the way to the motor has a 3 speed out of a 64 impala that was on a 283 prior. will this work with my 235? are the linkage mechanisms the same?

Thanks in advance for all the help, i've only had the truck a short while and this is all very new to me, so pardon my ignorance on well covered topics.

any advice(known fitting issues, incompatability issues, etc)on either the motor or trans questions would be appreciated, as i'm planning to go pick up the motor this weekend.

pickup the 64 3 speed as you will have to mods on most of what you change...doc PS..if you don,t want to do mods just install engine and drive...

i need to do something to make it more driveable on the open road, i live in a rural area where a high percentage of roads are 55mph, and i'm concerned if i dont change the rear gearing, its just going to abuse the motor trying to keep a reasonable pace with traffic?

Any of those three speeds will fit in but the linkage will probably be a problem. There was a lot of different configurations of them. I would get a T-5 5speed from a mid 80,s S-10 & the rear end center section from a 55-2 up. That would be the cheapest & easiest way to go I think.

thanks for the information, but i should have mentioned, that i do want to keep the 3 speed column shift, and as far as i know any of the 4 speed or t-5 5 speed will be floor shift?