What is the easiest transmission swap for my '46 chevy. I want to put in a floor shift trans and don't want to swap the torque tube drive train, I also have installed a '61 235 with headers. I have approached this topic before, but want to make sure before I drop money on a trans I can't use. Any tips or info for a smooth transition? I am told '38 passenger or '38-'47 1/2 ton truck. Anybody made this swap? I'm going for an early '50s rod style on the cheap.
S-10 5 speed bolts up nicely... though if you are keeping the torque tube that won't work... why not just put the shifter in the floor? They make 3-speed converters. Torque tube didn't exist in chevys after '54 (i believe).... so any later trans won't work. swaping in a G-body (80's cutlass, regal, monte carlo) rear seems pretty common with that vintage and isn't that difficult... then you can ditch the tube and put in a 4 or 5 speed.
Patrick sells a kit to install a 4 speed car transmission onto the torque tube. Go to their web site and check it out. http://patricksantiquecars.com/chevy_parts.html click on chevy parts and scroll down till you see the conversion kit. Now keep in mind that even though it says it's for the trucks, it will work on Chevy cars with torque tube rear ends also.
Vacuum shift can be deleted by changing to the later arms on the tranny. The 46 box is a weak sister though , still had bronze bushings instead of needle bearings.
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