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Is there an easy tranny swap for 265???

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Wolfman

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Question: Is there a decent 4 or 5 speed tranny that bolts right in to a stock 265 (manual), without having to change clutch, flywheel, bellhousing, driveshaft, etc?

Background: Bought '55 sedan 4 years ago after the (numbers matching) 265 engine was rebuilt. Owner had died and parts were lost. Pretty sure it has a new clutch. I've already invested in a new driveshaft and Hurst Indy 3-speed shifter. I had it shifting okay when I brought it into the paint shop 3+ years ago. Got it back in June, in pieces, and have been trying to put my poor car back together. Now I'm trying to connect the shifter back up and the forward shaft (2nd & 3rd) seems to be stuck now and won't budge.

I plan to keep messing with it, but just wondering if I ended up swapping the tranny out, what all would be involved. I wouldn't mind having a shifter with a lot less slop than the Indy, but it was all I could find for the 3-speed.

Thanks,
Joe
 
#2 ·
Can't move 2-3 slider

Wolfman said:
Question:
Now I'm trying to connect the shifter back up and the forward shaft (2nd & 3rd) seems to be stuck now and won't budge.
Thanks,
Joe
Click to expand...
Have you tried rotating the input and then the output shafts to get the sliders and gears to align in the transmission? When trying to shift the unit on the bench, this can prevent the shifter from moving.

Driver.
 
#3 ·
A T-10, Muncie, or even a Saginaw will bolt right in. You can use the original drive shaft but will need to change the front yoke. Your old three speed used a 16 spline yoke and you will need a 27 or 32 spline yoke for a 4 speed transmission.

Actually a Saginaw behind a 265 would be a great choice. Granted a Saginaw is weaker than a Muncie or T-10 but you can pick up a good Saginaw fairly cheap. A Saginaw will hold up well behind a 265. They shift great with a Hurst shifter. The Saginaw has a 27 spline yoke. These yokes are the same as a TH350 and are common and plentiful. The Saginaw also has the speedometer bullet on the LH side so your old speedometer cable should work.
 
#5 ·
#6 ·
chevyboy56 said:
you will also need the starter adapter for the 265....if you dont have one already.
Click to expand...
Nope Like pops said
If he uses's stock manual bell housing the starter will bolt to it.
:anim_25:
 
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#7 ·
The sag 4 speed is a really good choice for the 265, particularly the version that has two groves on the imput shaft. Those transmissions have a 3.11 first gear whichnis pretty close to the stock 3 speed's 2.90 something first gear. Also, the sag is fully syncronized as opposed to the stock trans which requires a full stop to go into first gear. They are not that expensive, more than durable enough for a low power conversion, and finally, the long proven hurst 4 speed is available with shift rods for the saganaw.
 
#9 ·
Farm Boy said:
A T-10, Muncie, or even a Saginaw will bolt right in. You can use the original drive shaft but will need to change the front yoke. Your old three speed used a 16 spline yoke and you will need a 27 or 32 spline yoke for a 4 speed transmission.

Actually a Saginaw behind a 265 would be a great choice. Granted a Saginaw is weaker than a Muncie or T-10 but you can pick up a good Saginaw fairly cheap. A Saginaw will hold up well behind a 265. They shift great with a Hurst shifter. The Saginaw has a 27 spline yoke. These yokes are the same as a TH350 and are common and plentiful. The Saginaw also has the speedometer bullet on the LH side so your old speedometer cable should work.
Click to expand...
As usual Farmboy offers excellent advice, this is one of the few good applications for a Saginaw. I had a 350 Camaro in HS and changed Saginaws more often than the oil. My 231 V-6 Starfire driven hard newer missed a lick. 200-300 CID is where these trans belong.
 
Discussion starter · #15 · (Edited)
Dragsix said:
The sag 4 speed is a really good choice for the 265, particularly the version that has two groves on the imput shaft. Those transmissions have a 3.11 first gear whichnis pretty close to the stock 3 speed's 2.90 something first gear. Also, the sag is fully syncronized as opposed to the stock trans which requires a full stop to go into first gear. They are not that expensive, more than durable enough for a low power conversion, and finally, the long proven hurst 4 speed is available with shift rods for the saganaw.
Click to expand...
I think I found the two-groove model, but oneth gear is broke....

http://collegestation.craigslist.org/pts/3920165929.html

What would I look for to make sure I'm not getting a truck tranny with a granny? I'm not worried about pulling or quick starts. Rather have highway gears, better gas mileage.
 
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Wolfman
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