Technical Is anyone still using 4 speed transmissions?

I see so many threads were guys are using the 5 speed transmissions in their projects and wondering is anyone using the 4 speed transmissions that were so popular at one time. HRP

 

Welllll, sorta, in a fit of frustration I pulled the sag out of my 41 pickup and slammed in a 350 and pulled the tri power (the clutch linkage broke for the 5th time and the tri needed rebuilding) just to drive it. But now it has been down with the 350 dead and the Sag has been pulled from storage and it is going back in. I have a 5 speed but, I want what it was. the tri is back on and the new wiring is almost finished.
But I have to get it swapped before El Mirage season or it will be next fall.

 

Muncie M-21 with Hurst competition plus linkage for me. Rear gears in the quick change can be adjusted to compensate for the high 2.20 1st gear...I love Muncies.

 

Just put a Muncie M21 close ratio 4 speed behind the 327 in my 63 Impala (avatar). No complaints. The car was originally a Powerglide out of the factory. My 63 Belair with a 350 backed with a Tremec WC 5 speed is also a good combination. Runs 1900 rpm's at 75 mph. First gear still low enough to light up the tires.

Gary

 

me, 327 with BW super T-10 4 speed in a 49 ford 2 do'

 

I have a complete M-21 changeover for my 57 but am thinking of going to an auto.

 

yes

 

I'm planning on backing my 283 with a T-10 in my 50 Chevy.

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I was setting up my 32 with a wc 5 speed, but have changed direction. I have a Ford top loader 4 speed set up with a jeep shifter. The motor is a sbc 327 and it has a V8 winters QC rear. I think I will feel more comfortable with this setup.

 

I am still running a 4-speed Hydro behind the hemi in my Willys!

 

M 20 in my T bucket !

 

a m-21 in my 32 roadster.

 

Using a Super T-10 in my 61. I had options for sure but i'm loving the 4speed so far (the car had a TH350 when I drove it in highschool). I attempted a drive down Congress during the Roundup last weekend without regret!

 

I'm running a Close Ratio Top Loader Ford in my 32 RPU. I like the way it shifts better than most 5 speeds - more "Muscular" feeling, plus it fit the era I was building to ~ late 60's to early 70's. And it's much stronger than a T-5 will ever be.

 

Mine is just a lowly Saginaw, with about 200,000 miles, but i had to change it to guess what......... another Saginaw . But alas i must confess, i do have 5 speed waiting in the wings to go in.You know, there are not a lot of folks who can rebuild a 4 speed these days

 

I had a Ford 4 speed top loader behind my 406 (goes in my '54 Ford Coupe)
Actually changed to a Heavy Duty 3 speed top loader, (close ratio) 'R.A.T.' designation)
It is hooked up to my original '54 column shifter...("sleeper")
Really don't know why I'm doing this...bunch of front wheel drive jelly bean cars in traffic...no Tri-5 Chevys around to fool any more...
Just used to love that "GOTCHA!"

 

I don't recall the 4-speeds as being all that popular in the 'traditional' era. Prior to '62, only GM offered them in passenger cars, and the usually-used T10 (and to an lesser extent, the M20 and M21 Muncie) had a reputation for breakage if used behind the top engine offerings of the day. Which is what led GM, Ford, and Chrysler to develop their own 4-speeds. It wasn't until the muscle car era reached full bloom in the late 60s that 4-speeds became common, but the difficulty of packaging the external shift linkage and clutch linkage under most early cars generally resulted in an automatic being fitted... and still does.

 

LOL My bike is a 4 speed.

You know me I am not MR. Overdrive. I gear my cars to run the way I want them to run and live with it. I am running automatics these days but if I had a 4 gear I would run it, or a 3 gear too.

 

Muncie M-22 with Hurst shifter.

 

I've been running the same 1961 T-10 in my '32 that came in it , have redone the syncro's a couple times ,with the same ol big letter vise bent Hurst for 45 years...still good for cheap thrills with the 4.11's :

439914.jpg by bowie posted Jan 13, 2013 at 8:23 PM

. My Vette has it's original M-20 with the shortest comp plus on it I've ever come across :

IMG_3747 by bowie posted Aug 1, 2014 at 6:58 PM

 

Wide ratio T-10 for me. 17.5 mpg on the road, 75 mph at 2550. RPM is manageable as is mileage, no point in upgrading.

 

I'm using a rockcrusher for my '55 Chevy 1st Series truck rebuild. It fits like a glove where the three-on-the tree 3-speed used to be - same bolt-pattern, same pilot bearing, same clutch splines and throw-out bearing sleeve. Looks to be the same length too. Only needs some floor fab work for the shifter, a new fine splined yoke for the driveshaft and the addition of a support cross member.

 

I had a Muncie and hated the gear ratio so I put the wide ratio Saginaw back in and love it. It is behind a '63 Pontiac 421 tri power with enough torque that I am not worried about the RPM drop between gears.

 

M21 with Hurst behind a dual quad 454 in my '58 Chevy 1/2 ton. A real hand full.

 

M-20 in this.

 

There's a Muncie 4 speed at the other end of that Hurst Competition Plus shifter in my OL 55 (don't be confused by that extra boot laying there) Now as to whether or not it's still being used, that's another matter!

 

I'm running a '64 vintage M20 with the 2.56 1st gear. It works great and I like the wide ratio.

 

Yep, one in coop and one in cdan.

 

When you start talking Mopar 4 speeds, things get expensive, and pretty hard to find. If I was still pounding the gears like I did when I was younger, it would be worth the effort and money to chase down a good old 833, but I don't pound the gears like I used to, so its not worth the effort or expense. A 5 speed is pretty easy and cheap, comparatively. Sorry, 5 speed here, and the OD helps a lot. Gene

 

First photo shows 69 and later side cover with bolted on shift arms, second photo shows earlier stud style arm attachment.

Just curious @LAROKE are those two diffrerent Muncies or did you swap out the shift shafts?
My wifes 67 Nova has a 69 Muncie M20, when I first put the car together in 1983 I replaced the side cover with the earlier style version to use the oem (and very hard to find) shifter.