The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Good Transmission upgrades?

I'm right in the middle of rebuilding and reworking all parts of my 50 chevy 3100. I have only driven this worn down truck a few times on a farm road. The transmission linkage was very warn on this 3 on the tree set up. Presently, the engine and tranny have been removed for rebuilding, since the truck engine is not original (59 235 c.i.), Im considering changing to a 4 or 5 speed trans. for better highway speeds. I was wondering first, Can I still find a place to buy new shifter linkage parts to repair the 3 speed linkage? Second, Is there a more modern transmission (with a floor shifter) available that will fit into this truck? (What is the deal about the s-10 t-5?) Keep in mind I still have an original rear and torque tube that I am not interested in replacing presently.

Highway speed is limited by the rear end ratio, not the transmission.

Unless you install a transmission option with overdrive, your are going to do a lot of work for the same result. All transmissions without overdrive have a final gear of 1:1, like the three speed in the truck.

I would repair the linkages, so it is a solid driver then drive around to see what you want the truck to do.

Where in Louisa County do you live? I live in the Fredericksburg, and the President of the ODSS, Cosmo, lives in UVALand.

I would love to meet, show you my truck and check out yours. Welcome to the ODSS!!

Theb T-5 is a great way to go but requires changing to an open drive shaft. There is no o-drive for the torque tube rear end but there are ring gear & pinion sets available to gear it better for high way driving.

Changing the rear to an open driveline gives you many more transmission options. The current rear can be converted to open with a 1955-1962 chevy truck differential. Of course some welding will be necessary. If you can find the 55.1 chevy /gmc 1/2 ton rear with springs It will be a direct bolt in to your truck and give you the open driveline. No welding required.

Bigswingdaddy, you say find a 55-62 1/2 ton rear end. How much trouble would one form a 63 1/2 ton be? I'm working on a 47 1/2 ton using a 235 with a saganaw 4speed. Farmer down the road says I can have the one out of his old 63 that he says would run 60-65 all day. Kind of sounds like 3:55 or there abouts. I have not been able to look under it yet (snow drift) but would that year be good?

The whole axle assembly could be made to work. The 55-62 1/2 pumpkin will interchange with the 41-54 rear axles. It basically converts the older axles to the open configuration. One advantage for this conversion is in keeping the factory rear brake configuration. You won't have any problems with the parking brake cables needing to be modified.

That 63 rear pumpkin might work too, but it is likely a gm 10 or 12 bolt truck rear, and not the eaton ho33 rear the earlier trucks had.

A '63 would have the 12 bolt.

Have a 235 with an original 3 speed in the 49. Suits me fine. I can cruise at 55. I figure that once you start changing things around from the way they were originally engineered then you could be making more work for yourself. Just my opinion.

Man, my stock 48 was screaming at 45mph. I'd have never had the courage to push it to 55. With a 3.73 limited slip rear and a 5 speed with overdrive it cruises at 65 all day without strain.