1954 3 speed manual trans ?
10-31-2009, 07:22 AM
#3
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2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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ALTHOUGH, it would be relatively simple to convert one.
It would require a 55-62 pass car 6cyl bell housing/flywheel and a 55-57 Vette clutch/brake pedal assembly/linkage. Once those parts were rounded up, a 3sp tranny with a tail housing that has the rear mount (55-62 Vette) could be used. Or a later, fully syncro 3sp, or T10, or Muncie could also be used.
PERSONALLY, I'd love to have a 6cyl Vette with a 4sp and a 261 truck engine in it!
Tom Parsons
Last edited by DZAUTO; 10-31-2009 at 07:35 AM.
10-31-2009, 09:05 AM
#4
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Thanks, here is one that NOW has a 3 spd manual trans
Thanks, A classic car dealer just listed a 54 vette for sale. It now has a 3 speed manual trans with shift on the floor. A Picture is on the web at coolcarsforsale.net Dean
10-31-2009, 10:01 AM
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10-31-2009, 04:14 PM
#9
ALTHOUGH, it would be relatively simple to convert one.
It would require a 55-62 pass car 6cyl bell housing/flywheel and a 55-57 Vette clutch/brake pedal assembly/linkage. Once those parts were rounded up, a 3sp tranny with a tail housing that has the rear mount (55-62 Vette) could be used. Or a later, fully syncro 3sp, or T10, or Muncie could also be used.
Tom Parsons
It would require a 55-62 pass car 6cyl bell housing/flywheel and a 55-57 Vette clutch/brake pedal assembly/linkage. Once those parts were rounded up, a 3sp tranny with a tail housing that has the rear mount (55-62 Vette) could be used. Or a later, fully syncro 3sp, or T10, or Muncie could also be used.
Tom Parsons
Ditching the Powerglide Article
Russ
10-31-2009, 08:24 PM
#10
For the 53-55 body style, ONLY the 55 V8 Vette was available with a 3sp tranny. It is believed that approximately 75 were built.
ALTHOUGH, it would be relatively simple to convert one.
It would require a 55-62 pass car 6cyl bell housing/flywheel and a 55-57 Vette clutch/brake pedal assembly/linkage. Once those parts were rounded up, a 3sp tranny with a tail housing that has the rear mount (55-62 Vette) could be used. Or a later, fully syncro 3sp, or T10, or Muncie could also be used.
PERSONALLY, I'd love to have a 6cyl Vette with a 4sp and a 261 truck engine in it!
Tom Parsons
ALTHOUGH, it would be relatively simple to convert one.
It would require a 55-62 pass car 6cyl bell housing/flywheel and a 55-57 Vette clutch/brake pedal assembly/linkage. Once those parts were rounded up, a 3sp tranny with a tail housing that has the rear mount (55-62 Vette) could be used. Or a later, fully syncro 3sp, or T10, or Muncie could also be used.
PERSONALLY, I'd love to have a 6cyl Vette with a 4sp and a 261 truck engine in it!
Tom Parsons
Joe
11-01-2009, 01:58 PM
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It's a powerglide in hiding.........
There were NO 1954's with a manual transmission. The first were done in early 1955. GM data supports that fact. There are work orders for testing and fitting a 3-speed into a Corvette and these were dated in early 1955. The earliest known 3-speed that was retrofitted was in the mid-300 serial number range. Some have thought that the first 3-speeds were actually automatics that were taken off of the line and retrofitted and they have indications of being both an auto and a manual.
Terry Michaelis had a 1955 for sale a year ago or so and claimed it was an original 3-speed even though it had an automatic in it at the current time. It's number was below #100 and was highly suspect, but then again what isn't suspect at pro-team. 3-speeds are worth much more, so tauting one as a 3-speed vs. automatic would have obvious value implications.
Back to the 1954. It is most likely an automatic car that had a 3-speed retrofitted to boost performance....this was done to many 54's and 53's. The tell-tale would be the stamping on the block (if it's original), if it ends in "yg" it is an automatic car.
To replace the transmission and return the car back to its orginal state, considering the cost of the transmission, shifter, body and frame work. you would be looking at several thousand dollars. Further, considering how the body was cut, there will be repairs visible to the naked eye once complete and would hurt slightly the value of the car if restored. This should be considered when valuing the car.....a 54 with a 3-speed is worth less than a 54 with the complete original drivetrain, transmission included.
Terry Michaelis had a 1955 for sale a year ago or so and claimed it was an original 3-speed even though it had an automatic in it at the current time. It's number was below #100 and was highly suspect, but then again what isn't suspect at pro-team. 3-speeds are worth much more, so tauting one as a 3-speed vs. automatic would have obvious value implications.
Back to the 1954. It is most likely an automatic car that had a 3-speed retrofitted to boost performance....this was done to many 54's and 53's. The tell-tale would be the stamping on the block (if it's original), if it ends in "yg" it is an automatic car.
To replace the transmission and return the car back to its orginal state, considering the cost of the transmission, shifter, body and frame work. you would be looking at several thousand dollars. Further, considering how the body was cut, there will be repairs visible to the naked eye once complete and would hurt slightly the value of the car if restored. This should be considered when valuing the car.....a 54 with a 3-speed is worth less than a 54 with the complete original drivetrain, transmission included.
11-02-2009, 10:54 AM
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There were NO 1954's with a manual transmission. The first were done in early 1955. GM data supports that fact. There are work orders for testing and fitting a 3-speed into a Corvette and these were dated in early 1955. The earliest known 3-speed that was retrofitted was in the mid-300 serial number range. Some have thought that the first 3-speeds were actually automatics that were taken off of the line and retrofitted and they have indications of being both an auto and a manual.
Terry Michaelis had a 1955 for sale a year ago or so and claimed it was an original 3-speed even though it had an automatic in it at the current time. It's number was below #100 and was highly suspect, but then again what isn't suspect at pro-team. 3-speeds are worth much more, so tauting one as a 3-speed vs. automatic would have obvious value implications.
Back to the 1954. It is most likely an automatic car that had a 3-speed retrofitted to boost performance....this was done to many 54's and 53's. The tell-tale would be the stamping on the block (if it's original), if it ends in "yg" it is an automatic car.
To replace the transmission and return the car back to its orginal state, considering the cost of the transmission, shifter, body and frame work. you would be looking at several thousand dollars. Further, considering how the body was cut, there will be repairs visible to the naked eye once complete and would hurt slightly the value of the car if restored. This should be considered when valuing the car.....a 54 with a 3-speed is worth less than a 54 with the complete original drivetrain, transmission included.
Terry Michaelis had a 1955 for sale a year ago or so and claimed it was an original 3-speed even though it had an automatic in it at the current time. It's number was below #100 and was highly suspect, but then again what isn't suspect at pro-team. 3-speeds are worth much more, so tauting one as a 3-speed vs. automatic would have obvious value implications.
Back to the 1954. It is most likely an automatic car that had a 3-speed retrofitted to boost performance....this was done to many 54's and 53's. The tell-tale would be the stamping on the block (if it's original), if it ends in "yg" it is an automatic car.
To replace the transmission and return the car back to its orginal state, considering the cost of the transmission, shifter, body and frame work. you would be looking at several thousand dollars. Further, considering how the body was cut, there will be repairs visible to the naked eye once complete and would hurt slightly the value of the car if restored. This should be considered when valuing the car.....a 54 with a 3-speed is worth less than a 54 with the complete original drivetrain, transmission included.
11-05-2009, 11:13 PM
#14
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55 with 3 spd
I have a '55 that is early, #127. I have traced it back to 1961 and it had a 3 spd in it back then. I'll never know for sure if it was original, since there aren't any records to prove it, but it was a white car with black top and a blue interior (which is still has) and potentially a 3 spd.
Go figure...
I'd sure love to know what it came with originally, if anyone has any sources that have come up in the last few years. Everything is in the right place for the stick, as compared to the later stick cars in '55.
By the way, I just signed up for this forum, have never been on one before. I've had my car for almost 20 years now, and know all the owners back to '61 (3 more guys). The block was decked in a rebuild back in the 70's, so can't tell by the serial number.
I'm a little surprised that the C1 and C2's are together here, there is a lot of posts to this, is it that the C1's don't post very often?? I tried to read the reason, but the link just stops.
Always open for good info guys (and ladies). Enjoy reading about your cars.
Jim
Go figure...
I'd sure love to know what it came with originally, if anyone has any sources that have come up in the last few years. Everything is in the right place for the stick, as compared to the later stick cars in '55.
By the way, I just signed up for this forum, have never been on one before. I've had my car for almost 20 years now, and know all the owners back to '61 (3 more guys). The block was decked in a rebuild back in the 70's, so can't tell by the serial number.
I'm a little surprised that the C1 and C2's are together here, there is a lot of posts to this, is it that the C1's don't post very often?? I tried to read the reason, but the link just stops.
Always open for good info guys (and ladies). Enjoy reading about your cars.
Jim
11-07-2009, 12:43 AM
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Wow!?!?!?!?
Post pics.....please! Go to photobucket and post pics there since you are a junior member and put link here. I want to see the blue interior and the trunk (esp. if you have the original trunk mat). Also put pics of the shifter, shifter area (and the metal shield on the under-side of the trannsmission tunnel), the firewall around the master cylinder, the steering column, the area lower and to the left of the column on the firewall side and the left inner fender, these should help decide if it is a original 3 speed or not. Being that early, it's in question. If original it would be one of the ones modified by the factory. Also would love the dates off of your motor (aned carb it you still have the tag), the heads, tranny, rear end (what ratio is it?) and if its a solid cover or bolt on.
This should be enough to keep you busy for a while..........
This should be enough to keep you busy for a while..........
11-07-2009, 08:49 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
11-08-2009, 07:31 AM
#18
George Moore / Eb Rose 54
January 1957 assebly date..matched with an all cast iron Borg Warner T-10 4-spd with O dash experimental casting #..assembled March 1957..just prior to the Sebring race.
Transplanted into the 54 in 1957 from the wrecked Eb Rose Sebring car received from Ed Cole after the AMA ban on racing.
Eb Rose bought the Bill Mitchell SR2 and twe production body Sebring Corvettes from EdColefor $1 each afterthe AMA ban..so EdColecouldbackdoor continue the race program under the sponsorship of ownerdriver Eb Rose..which resulted in numerous other name drivers piloting Corvettes..including the hottest driver in America in 1957...Carroll Shelby.
Notice the cast iron water outlet. The FI unit is a second design 4360.
Joe
10-10-2021, 01:04 AM
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10-11-2021, 02:40 PM
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