I was wondering if anyone has any dimensions on a Munice 4-Speed. I plan on converting my '79 Trans am with my BBB from now automatic to manual. Ive never done this swap before and was hoping to get some mesurements before i go into surgery. Getting this BBB into the Trans am was a bit of a task but well worth every bit of time and $$. So, as of now the motor sit in the bay perfectly and clears the A/C box and even the air cleaner lines up perfectly with the shaker. I first started this swap around 2 years ago for those of you who remember. Now I would like to go with my orginal plans and make it a 4-speed car. I already have the tranny and i think all of the linkage including the pedals. I just need to get a bellhousing, flywheel and clutch asembly, just a hint if anyone is selling one Anyway, my qustion would be, -with the bellhousing attatched to a 4-speed, whats the demension from the front of the bellhouhing flange (where it mates to the block) to the tranny mount? -whats the overall length from the front of the bellhousing to the tail housing of the trans? -whats the hight differance? Meaning i would have to get a differant crossmember right? not a big deal though. Im just trying to get an idea here. I know its possible to do this swap and i know i can do it im just hoping i can swap this in without having to move the motor foward. If i have to go forward i think i might have to re-locate the power steering pump, last time it was a bit too close to the steering box. Thanks~Vinny
I am under the assumption, from what I have read in different articles, is that a 4 speed Muncie with bellhousing is the same overall length as a TH350 and the mount is also in the same place. I Think TH400 trans is longer and has a shorter drive shaft.
Total lenghth with bellhousing attatched to tranny 28 inches from front to tail.App 21 inches from front of bellhousing to the mounting holes for the crossmember mount.You should be able to swap directly from a auto to a Muncie.Even the crossmember mount will be the same.When I swapped my 65 ark it was all a direct bolt in.No heighth problems either.Thought I would supply you the dimensions anyway as I have my Muncie and bellhousing out at the time anyway.........Bruce.
GREAT!:TU: Thanks alot for those mesurments Bruce!!! I forgot to mention that I currenty have a TH400 in there, it also says it in my siguature. My only other concerns would be that the shifter fit the hole in the center console. Other wise i would have to adjust the motor with the tranny either forward or backwards so that the shifter comes through the center console as if it were stock. Well, i can only go forwards with the motor actually. Bruce, did your shifter line up with the console? Thanks~Vinny
Well mine was a column shift to begin with.In what you are working on you will just have to do some measuring and careful figuring to do it I suppose.I did some careful marking and measuring before I cut mine and you only get one chance so you want to make sure it will all fit correctly.I am not real familiar with the late Trans Ams so I really cannot help much there.I would guess that you may not be able to use a auto console with a 4 speed but I do not know for sure in the 80s cars how they were setup....
I have a manual console for the swap. Auto and manual trans require there own console. I think the best wat to go about this, would be to get numbers off of a stock manual 79 trans am. Then i could take those numbers and cut and paste. Then all i have to do is line up the shifter with the new hole from the bottom and it should line up with the hole in the console perfectly! It sounds almost to easy.. My new concern is protecting my feet from an explosion:shock: I guess i should start a new post for this......... Thanks~Vinny
I swapped in a Muncie for my TH400 in my '68 GS last winter. I can't speak about a Trans Am, but I can tell you in my Buick the Muncie was shorter and the crossmember had to move forward quite a bit. Also had to replace the driveshaft with a longer one. And, incidently, had to replace the emergency brake cable and corresponding hook for it that goes to the crossmember. These too needed to be a different length.
