I AM PLANNING ON PUTTING A 4 SPEED IN MY 74 COUPE. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHICH TRANS (MUNCIE,B/W, SAGINAW) WHICH BELL HOUSING, WHICH CLUTCH, 10.5 OR 11
AND ANY OTHER ADVICE ? THANK IN ADVANCE
GARRY
AND ANY OTHER ADVICE ? THANK IN ADVANCE
GARRY
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Re: C3 4SPD SWAP
Gary,
What are you starting with. Is the car a 4-speed originally or a TH400?
Please turn off your caps lock. All capitals makes your post very hard to read, and is considered shouting. Most of us don't shout here.Terry -
Re: C3 4SPD SWAP
Sorry about that. I'm starting with a TH 400. I have the pedals hung, which was probably the hardest part. The engine is out so building everything shouldn't be that difficult, I just want to know what fits with what for the best set-up.I'm not building this to race, just a toy to run around town, so I don't need any thing real hi-perf.Comment
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Re: C3 4SPD SWAP
The car, if it had been a 4-speed originally, would have had a Muncie transmission. Others will be able to give you casting numbers for the bell housing, transmission, part numbers for the clutch linkage and other parts. You will have to add a bracket to the frame for the clutch bell crank (or Z bar as it is sometimes called). I'm not sure how available that part is, or if it will have to come from a donor frame. Again, others here can help with that. The removable cross member in the TH400 car will be an advantage with the 4-speed. It will make access to the transmission a whole lot easier.
I'm sure it would be easiest and least costly to have a 4-speed donor car parked next to your project car.
Depending on your ultimate aim for the car, there might be other more modern transmissions, perhaps some with more than four forward speeds, that would be possible to adapt to your configuration -- depending on your engine plans. Others will have to chime in on those possibilities. Those kinds of things are outside my knowledge base.TerryComment
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Re: C3 4SPD SWAP
Whatever 4-speed you decide to buy, since your car came with the turbo 400 I would not use a close ratio transmission, the standard transmission with the high numerical first gear will save your clutch and dead stop take-offs will be so much better. There are transmission experts that read this board and know which is better the, the 70+ Muncies or the later model B/W's that were used til 81.Comment
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Re: C3 4SPD SWAP
Gary,
You might contact some of the Corvette salvages (internet search) for parts you need.
VerleComment
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Re: C3 4SPD SWAP
Garry:
What rear axle ratio does the car have? If it is high numerically, then I would NOT install a close ratio transmission. I am not an expert on the shark series, but I think that I can safely say that your clutch is the 11" diameter. If your engine is essentially stock, or mildly to moderately built up for "street racing", then I suggest using a standard duty pressure plate and disc assembly. I would also suggest that you purchase the Judging Guide, Assembly manual, and Shop Manual for your car. The first two items are available on this website. The last is published by Helm, Inc.. With these publications, you will have most of your part numbers, and the needed info for you to perform the swap.
There are much better transmissions available for your application. The Tremec 5 speed is widely used, but is pricey at about $3700.00. Tremec's marketers have kits available which will "fix you up" with bellhousing/starter/clutch, etc. There may be clearance issues within the trans tunnel. These can be easily fixed with t******* and spacing the trans mount. AFAIC these small tweaks are well worth the superior performance and quality of this modern transmission. With $3.50/gal gasoline, the .6:1 OD ratio is nice to have, too!
oeComment
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Correction
Second sentence: change "high numerically" to "low numerically"Comment
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