[BamaNomad]

Did you photograph the original stamping which identifies the year/car model it was originally placed into?

 

[DZAUTO]

That's a "built" transmission.
The case is 1963 ONLY. which means it has (or originally did have) the small front bearing retainer which ONLY mates with a 63 ONLY bell housing (421 style housing).
IF, IF, IF that is an original 1963 input shaft, it is a wide ratio, NOT a close ratio.
The tail housing is a late 65-70 version.

Now, with all that said, since it is a 63 and (presumably) has the smaller 63 only front bearing retainer, that can easily be remedied. Simply round up a 62-earlier 3sp transmission front bearing retainer and install it so that it will properly made with the hole in a 55-62 or 64-later bell housing. For those not knowledgeable, that is what Chevy did to the 63 Muncies that were installed behind 409 engines in 63 to fit into the open bottom alum bell housings.

Oh ya, and as a final comment, I'm 80 and I will NEVER give up banging the crap out of my Muncies and Richmond 5sp. And I'm still rebuilding them for others who still enjoy shifting.

 

[firemangordy]

Since it has been bolted to a 55-57 bellhousing since 1975 I would guess it has the correct bearing retainer.

Gordy

 

[DZAUTO]

Since it has been bolted to a 55-57 bellhousing since 1975 I would guess it has the correct bearing retainer.

Gordy

That is correct.
A 63 transmission with the smaller front bearing retainer WILL bolt up to any 55-62 or 64-later bell housing. Since the 63 front bearing retainer is smaller than the hole in a 55-62 or 64-later bell housing, it MAY or MAY NOT be properly aligned with the center line of the crank, because the front bearing retainer is what aligns the transmission input shaft with the pilot bushing in the rear of the crank. The 4 bolts which attach the transmission to the rear of the bell housing are NOT what properly align the transmission. If the transmission is not properly aligned by the front bearing retainer in the hole of the bell housing-------------in time--------------excess wear can occur internally in the transmission.

 

[manicmechanic007]

I'm 62 and hope I am still banging gears at 80

 

[manicmechanic007]

Better yet

 

[manicmechanic007]

Do they make a spacer ring in case you have an early small bearing trans in a later big bell housing?
I ask because a guy gave us a early Corvette M21 and a 10.5 bell housing
We swapped a bigger bell housing and an 11 inch clutch, is that going to be a problem?
I /we never thought to check the diameter of the bell housing hole v/s the input collar of the early Muncie

 

[DZAUTO]

Do they make a spacer ring in case you have an early small bearing trans in a later big bell housing?
I ask because a guy gave us a early Corvette M21 and a 10.5 bell housing
We swapped a bigger bell housing and an 11 inch clutch, is that going to be a problem?
I /we never thought to check the diameter of the bell housing hole v/s the input collar of the early Muncie

TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, No, there is no spacer collar ring to adapt a 63 front bearing retainer to the hole in a 55-62 or 64-latere bell housing.
As I mentioned earlier, the easiest and simplest way to adapt a 63 transmission to a 55-62 or 64-later bell housing hole, is to round up a 55-62 3sp front bearing retainer and bolt it to a 63 T-10 or 63 Muncie.

As far as bell housings are concerned, ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Chevy bell housings have the SAME bolt pattern to mate them to ALL Chevy V8 engines and they all have the same bolt pattern for mounting a 3 or 4sp.


Now that we have gotten into this--------------------------- and it WILL NOT MATTER TO MOST PEOPLE ------------------ here is some differences between the 63 T-10 and 63 Muncie compared to the 64-later 4spds.
Here is a comparison between the front of a 63(left) and 64-later Muncie front face. Notice the hole for the front bearing of a 63 case is smaller. Also, the bolt pattern for the 63 front bearing pattern is smaller.

This shows the smaller diameter 63 front bearing retainer positioned in the hole of a 55-62 or 64-later style bell housing. Notice the gap between the retainer and the opening of the housing.

This is a 55-62 3sp front bearing retainer in the same housing. Notice the retainer is a full fit.

64-later bearing retainer in housing

55-62 3sp bearing retainer on 63case. Notice it has the larger diameter to fit into the hole of a 55-62 or 64 later bell housing, but has the smaller bolt pattern to fit a 63 T-10 or 64-later Muncie.

64-later front bearing retainer on a 64-later Muncie case. Notice there is more surface on the face of the 64-later Muncie case than there is on the 63 case(above picture), BETWEEN the edge of the retainer and the outer edge of the case face.

As I said, this will be of no value to MOST people here (T-10s and Muncies are fading away and being replaced by 5 and 6spOD trannys).

 

[Fogger]

I'm 78 and have never built any of my cars since '60 without a clutch. I currently have four running cars, a 3-speed, a 4-speed, a 5-speed and a 6-speed. It really is a joy to shift through the gears, plus it's been proven that a stick shift car is a great theft deterrent. If my left knee gives out I'll have it repaired so I can still enjoy rowing the shift lever.