Exciting day today, picking up and unpacking the transmission. I had originally wanted to find the correct Muncie M21 and do a period correct conversion to manual, but parts can be hard to come by in my area and honestly, I just didn't feel like trying to chase down 50 year old used parts hoping they were A) correct and B) in good condition. I'm starting with a bench seat, column shift automatic car which means I needed everything - transmission, bellhousing, shifter, clutch pedal, Z-Bar, etc etc. The idea of a brand new transmission with all new conversion/installation parts had great appeal to me.
The donor car has the bucket seats and console I'll need as well as the steering column and speedometer (without the PRDSL indicator), although I think I have another column housing in my parts stash...and may use all aftermarket gauges in the dash for a cleaner finish. More on that later.
I need to source a 4 speed saddle to convert the automatic shift console for use with the stick, and probably a couple other console pieces just for restoration.
I decided on the Tremec TKX 5-speed transmission which is rated for 600 ft lbs of torque, 8000 engine RPMs and shifts up to 7500 RPM. The design is just a couple of years old and will bolt straight into the GM A Bodies (and many others) without having to do any tunnel modifications. Well, apart from cutting a hole for the shifter.
There are many Tremec vendors and I went with Silver Sport Transmissions in Rockford, Tennessee mostly because I liked the look of their full conversion kit. I also opted for a hydraulic clutch which I think my knees will thank me for in years to come. SST was great to deal with - very responsive to calls, good information, fast shipping and confirmation emails. Everything was well packed too.
It was like a second Christmas as I dug into the four boxes these goodies arrived in! Of course the biggest box was the transmission itself, snuggled in with assorted documentation. I can't disagree with the warning label on the box