possibility of changing over to manual trans.. Have Questions

For some strange reason i have been feeling of changing over to a manual transmission.. i currently have a th400...car runs good, no problem.. not a street machine yet though.. although mostly all stock internals on my 455.. i think id ask a couple of questions before i do anything. i have a question, i was talking to this guy who sold me a 455 block and he was saying that a buick 455 with a manual tranny will most likely explode if you miss a gear..is this true..why is that.. also whats the best manual trans for my 72 buick skylark 455..also whats neccesary to make the change..all inputs greatly appreciated thanks..

 

I can't help with the switch to the manual trans, but I got a chuckle out of the "likely explode" comment.

Any engine can be hurt if over-revved. Sure, some engines can handle more rpm than others but it can happen to anyone regardless of transmission type...breaking a u-joint under power can ruin your day nonetheless. The easy way to manage that is to install a rev limiter. Many aftermarket ignition boxes incorporate this feature, such as MSD 6AL.

Devon

 

sounds a bit better..the guy i was talking to made it seem like it was just on buicks..i kind of got scared when he said that:rant: but i guess it can happen to any engine, but what are the chances though..thanks

 

Neighbours V-6 Accord "EXPLODED" here last year! Factory 6 speed with built-in rev. limiter.
Her son had it out & later admitted to street racing the car. Missed a gear, maybe 2, on the way down..........rev. limiter wasn't any good in that case.
I'm guessing it went about 10k rpm??
Entire top end was toast & he was never allowed to drive mom's car again.

 

I was going to say 3500.00 and shipping

 

3500 and shipping for what staged70..so whats the best tranny for a 455..is it a saginaw,muncie, t10, borg warner..or what...thanks

 

here's the correct linkage you need....:Brow: :Brow: :Brow:


http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=177455

 

I have collected every part for the swap except the pressure plate/disc and floor hump that people are getting from www.thepartsplaceinc.com
I have a muncie 21 factory hurst shifter, rods, lockout, TA flywheel shifter console and mini console, bell, rods, fork, tcs switch, yoke, a 4spd speedo tach, pedals all the small stuff needed. Basically with what I have and a clutch kit and a hump you can convert a 68 to 72 GS or Lark to a 4 spd

 

I have just over $4K into the swap I just did, doing all the work myself.

 

It's worth every penny! Scott

 

i know someone that did that exact thing on a honda. they were going from 5th to 3rd and ended up going to 1st. completly destroyed engine. if the tranny had a shift blocker it would have prevented that. :beers2:

 

whats the best tranny for the 455, also can you use a chevy belhousing on a buick with the adapter plate, or is that strictly for the auto trans..

 

a Muncie (m22) or borg warner super t-10 is a close runner up. The super t 10 should be a little cheaper and easier to find however the m22 isnt called the rock crusher for nothing.

 

You'll need a BOP bellhousing (lots out there in the aftermarket - check out Lakewood's scattershield). The adaptors are for auto trans cases olnly.

Devon

 

sounds great, i have a person here locally wanting to trade me a fresh rebuilt trans off a 66 chevy pickup truck 1/2 ton 4 speed for my automatic setup. what would this tranny most likely be, is it that huge thing most big trucks use, could it be a muncie of some type, also how can i find out if its a m22 or not..thanks

 

M22 was a muscle car trans. BB camaros and cars like that. They do not grow on trees or in trucks. You do not need that much trans. you can use a M 20 , 21 or a bunch of aftermarket transmisions. ON race junk there a BOP Lakewood bell and plate. Somewhere i justr saw an add for a DNE 4+1 with clutch and shifter for a grand

 

Originally Posted by Steve Craig
Neighbours V-6 Accord "EXPLODED" here last year! Factory 6 speed with built-in rev. limiter.
Her son had it out & later admitted to street racing the car. Missed a gear, maybe 2, on the way down..........rev. limiter wasn't any good in that case.
I'm guessing it went about 10k rpm??
Entire top end was toast & he was never allowed to drive mom's car again.

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I did this same thing on an 87 accord 4 cyl. Took out the 3 month old clutch however. Just shattered. Luckly I got back on the clutch pedal to save the engine. However once I slowed back down I couldn't get it to coast as the bits and pieces gummed up the clutch works. So I speed matched shifted for about 5 miles to get it home.

 

I guess it just all depends on your driving skills. which is why most people blow up their engines and clutches, since im an amateur at manuals trans id say id stay away from it for a while, but i guess you cant get ahead of the amateur status if you dont practice ...thanks for your imputs guys..any idea what tranny a 66 chevy truck 1/2 ton would have..

 

A Chevy pick up would probably have a Saginaw. You'll probably grenade a saginaw in about a week with a big heavy buick and a 455. I wouldn't use anything but a Muncie, especially behind a 455. If you don't beat on it too hard an M20 should be fine. I swapped my original hydramatic for a Muncie M20 in my '59 Pontiac. It's not a hard swap, it's finding all the parts for the swap. Your Buick parts will be a lot easier to find so the swap should be a piece of cake. It took me years to find all the parts for my Pontiac. I'm having trouble getting the linkage to work right right now.

I'm putting a stoked 389 (446CI) in my '62 GP and I'm not taking any chances so I'm putting in an M22 rock crusher.

Personally, I would not start the swap until you have all the stick parts. That way if you have trouble finding a part your car won't be off the road for a while waiting on a part or 2.

A rev limiter is a good idea. I have a 6AL in my '59 and will do the same in my '62. I think a 6K rev limiter will be plenty

 

What I did was use a M21 case, and have a new set of Masiero M22 gears put in. It whines like crazy - love that rock crusher sound.

It cost me a little over $3,000 to do mine. That included a rebuilt trans, new clutch (CenterForce), resurfaced flywheel, new driveshaft, and all the bits and pieces.

I have to say that the time and money spent were well worth it. There is nothing better than a BB and a 4 speed....:beer