C1 Transmission conversion

[Bud Landacre]

A previous owner replaced the 4spd in my 62 with a TH350. I would like to restore the car to it's original configuration. I doubt that I will ever have the car Flite judged so I'm not necessarily "going for the numbers". Suggestions for Trans. clutch combos would be appreciated.I need everything from the clutch pedal to tailshaft. There is a vendor in San Diego who sells a complete "kit" for such a conversion (excluding shifter) with an M20 Muncie for about $2700. Does this sound reasonable and are there other vendors who also sell this type of package?
Thanks for your input
Bud Landacre
Red 62

[Verle R.]

Re: C1 Transmission conversion

I'm not an expert in some of the 62 Corvette specific pieces, like bell crank and spring, clutch peddle, rod, spring but I'll make an estimate on what I think you can buy most of the parts for.

If you are not trying to match all the right numbers:

Muncie 4 speed $500 should be rebuilt for that price
Hurst shifter $300 new catalog (I bought a very nice used Hurst for $150)
Muncie adapter $ 19 new catalog price
Muncie yoke $120 new catalog price
aluminum bellhousing $100 used
flywheel $100 used resurfaced and balanced
clutch & pressure plate $150 new parts house
bell crank $100 used estimate (I don't have a clue)
clutch peddle $100 used, see above
throw out bearing $ 40 new parts house
pilot bushing $ 15 new parts house
transmission mount $ 25 new parts house

total about $ 1600 not including paying for labor.

I could do it for about half that and I would do all the labor myself, (on my own car).

Verle

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C1 Transmission conversion

Bud, that sounds a little steep to me. A good used Muncie shouldn't cost more than $6-800. I see 61-62 style bellhousings on ebay pretty regularily for around $300. Of course, you need a flywheel and clutch, which I would think would be under $500. The actual clutch linkage, cross shaft, etc. is available in repo for maybe $300?. This leaves the actual clutch pedal assy to find. The trans mount is also available as a repo and the driveshaft yoke.

I'd get a Corvette Central catalog and scope out all the readily available parts and total up the cost. Add, say $1000 for a transmission and bellhousing and then see where you're at. I suspect there is a large markup involved for assembling the kit. The pedal assy is listed in Chicago Corvette's catalog (used) for $135. They have the bellhousing for $375, crossshaft $67, frame bracket-$22, etc.

I would think that for that kind of money you should get a completely ebuilt transmission with a good warranty, all the necessary parts, AND a shifter (and maybe installed, too). I suspect that they are valuing their transmission at $1500 or more, and good Muncies simply don't cost that much from private sources.

However, if your time is more valuable than your money, there can be some value in "one stop shopping".

[Pierre J.]

C1 Transmission conversion

I just went through this with my '56 and these two ballpark estimates are pretty close. Cost me total of about $1600 to 1800 - did all the work myself.

Pierre G. Joly #34410

[Bud Landacre]

Re: C1 Transmission conversion

Thanks for your responses gentlemen. Sounds like it's a bit more expensive to be lazy.

Bud Landacre

[Richard T.]

Re: C1 Transmission conversion

Bud, your original post said you wanted to "restore the car to its original configuration." Then don't you want a BW T-10 rather than a Muncie (for a '62)?

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C1 Transmission conversion

Bud, one other thing i did not think about earlier is your starter. I suspect teh starter presently is attached to the block. The style bellhousing you need to use to make the clutch linkage work uses a starter which attaches to the bellhousing and has a different nose. I have just swapped noses in the past and made existing starters work, but you gotta have the right nose to start with.

[Tom P.]

Re: C1 Transmission conversion

The 60-62 Vettes used an aluminum bell housing, which, as has been indicated here, is quite expensive. And that is true. SOMETIMES, but very rarely, you can pick up one of these housings for a good price. I did get lucky Fri and picked up one at the Chickasha swap meet for $110. It had a little minor damage which was real easy to repair (unlike cast iron, alum is MUCH easier to weld). There is a MUCH cheaper alternative for one of these expensive alum housings. The 55-59 Vettes and 55-62 passenger cars used a cast iron housing which has the same configuration, used the same starter and the same pan as the 60-62 alum housing. Yes, it is a little heavier, but compared to the overall weight savings between an alum and iron housing, it is negligable. You could use an iron housing to start with then, if you found a 62 alum housing (for a good price) later on, you could swap.
At the swap meet this weekend, I saw at LEAST 6 55-62 iron housings for $15-40. A HECK OF A LOT CHEAPER THAN $300+. And they are virtually identical.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C1 Transmission conversion

I would not be surprised if they were not also a bit more rigid than the aluminum models. Another alternative is a drag race type scatter shield, which I have seen go cheap in the secondary market. As long as it has provision for the cross shaft bracket to bolt to, it doesn't really matter what it's made of.

[Tom P.]

Re: C1 Transmission conversion

Scatter shields are a full enclosure housing (of course they have a greater degree of safety), but, unless you are doing some SERIOUS racing, there really is no need for one. I ABSOLUTELY do not, and never will understand why Chev switched from the open bottom to the full enclosure bell housing in 63!!!!! With the 62-earlier open bottom housings, it is SO MUCH easier to change a clutch/flywheel. With the 63-later full enclosure housings, it is necessary to first remove the bell housing. Those 2 upper bolts can sometimes cause a person to talk ugly about their parents!

[GL Anderson]

Re: C1 Transmission conversion bellhousingon ebay

There is what is supposed to be a 61-62 Corvette aluminum bellhousing on ebay that ends at 19:45 PDT today. It is item number 2437261517. GL

[Dave Suesz]

I know it's tempting, but...

as much as you might be tempted to get a Muncie, if the original confuguration calls for a T10, then do it. A properly built T10 works very well, and the added value of having "done it right" will boost the pleasure of those afternoon drives. After all, doing it over later will co$t you.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: I know it's tempting, but...

Agreed. While there is a little difference in the price of a rebuilt T10 and a rebuilt Muncie, in the great scheme of things it isn't that signicicant and would be one more thing that is made correct.