Advice Please

[mberry]

Here's the deal.



I have a 1956 Chevy pickup that's just a rust farm right now. I was working on it to get it running but haven't had the space or time.



I am really into diesels now that I have mine and thought "what about a 4BT in that old Chevy?".



It had a 327 in it. It now has an Olds 455 in it that I traded another motor for.



Here's my questions,



Considering the age of the truck, space is not an issue but weight might be?



I have a Muncie 4 speed transmission in it now. Would that work and hold up to the 4BT torque?



Any ideas would be appreciated. If you want the truck for your own project let me know as I'll sell it cheap too.



Thanks



Mark

 

[Philip]

Well no one wanted to touch this one. So I guess I will.



If you don't plan on hotroding that 4BT. The muncie should hold up all right. It was used behind all the High horsepower Big Blocks. Just don't dump the clutch. I don't know if it would hold up against that much torque instantly.

 

[1stgen4evr]

About the Muncie

If it is like the Muncie that we used, It will indeed take the 4bt. In fact it will take the 6bt. There is a mod that includes a stouter input shaft and better front bearing that I put in mine after a while but it held up well in the original configuration. Changed it because the old style wasn't avaailable and had to change because of worn clutch splines. Matter of fact, we tried some new process trannys that didn't hold up.



The problem you will face is the fact that your gearing will be slow. If it is a half ton, you have some selection as to ratio that may be better than what is available for the 3/4 and one tons. You will want a ratio close to 3 to 1 or lower. If you could find a OD 518 to use I am sure you would be more satisfied.



The four bt is shaking son of a gun and you may not like that part. You can improve that if you do a balance on it. Weight will not be a factor. I doubt the four weighs as much as a v8.



We put 300k miles on a 6bt in a chevy four door one ton and a regular cab one ton that we put a 4bt in is still on the road. Don't know how many miles the current owner has on it.



Finally got enough money to drive a Dodge CTD. Love it.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[mberry]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.