need a quick answer- m22 in an 81 model?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
need a quick answer- m22 in an 81 model?
was the m22 manual used in the 81 models? or some other standard tranny? seller says the car has a m22, just trying to verify that fact.
thank you
thank you
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
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From: Japan
I don't believe the M22 was available much beyond 1970, if then. A Muncie M22 is known as a 'rock crusher' and was somewhat biased toward competition use because its gear teeth were cut straighter than the M20 and M21 which produced a signature gear whine. It was also a 'close ratio' box with a rather tall (numerically low) first gear. Any four-speed that would have been available in 1981 would have been a Borg-Warner T10 which was similar in many ways to the Muncie design and can still be purchased new from Summit racing for around $1800.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 556
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From: C3 Forum, Colorado
Not from the factory they didn't that's for darn sure.
That's not saying someone couldn't bolt one right in but I'd say the chances of it being a real M-22 are slim.
Seems like everyone thinks they've got the famous M-22 but most people can't tell the difference between it or any other Muncie.
I'm not sure but I think the 81 came with the Borg Warner T-10.
That's not saying someone couldn't bolt one right in but I'd say the chances of it being a real M-22 are slim.
Seems like everyone thinks they've got the famous M-22 but most people can't tell the difference between it or any other Muncie.
I'm not sure but I think the 81 came with the Borg Warner T-10.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,883
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From: Lubbock TX
81's with manual trannies came with aluminum case Super T-10's, no Muncies, Saginaws, Doug Nashes, Tremecs, Lencos, Jerichos, Viper T-56s or T-10s. Or any other manual tranny for that matter. Just the BW ST-10.
Last edited by L88Plus; May 12, 2011 at 07:33 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
The last year to use a Muncie was 74, from 75 through 81, all Corvettes had BW Super T-10s.
Racer
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From: KY
Le Mans Master
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From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
You would know if you had a M22. Snap, bang, rattle, whin.... the are very noisy. You basically jam it into gear at idle and sometime get a nice chatter going into second to slow. lol.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Thanks everyone. It seems the seller "thinks" its a m22, or so his uncle told him so. Now that I'm educated on the differences, he's probably has the SuperT10 . I will ask for pictures to verify.
Again, thanks for the info on such a short notice.
Again, thanks for the info on such a short notice.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,534
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From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
I am pretty sure, but I had a 79 Z28, and I had the original window sticker. I was 2nd owner. And it said M-21 4 speed for the trans listing. But the actual transmission is an aluminum Borg Warner as mentioned above. I still have the trans but not the car. It was the close ratio model.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
I am pretty sure, but I had a 79 Z28, and I had the original window sticker. I was 2nd owner. And it said M-21 4 speed for the trans listing. But the actual transmission is an aluminum Borg Warner as mentioned above. I still have the trans but not the car. It was the close ratio model.
From 63-65, all GM 4 speeds carried the RPO M20. Certain horse powers got the close-ratio, and others got the wide-ratio. It made no difference if it was an early 63 with a BW T-10, or a late 63-65 Muncie, they all were M20's.
GM first offered the M22 in 66, and changed the RPOs. From 66 on, M20 was the wide-ratio, M21 indicated the close-ratio and M22 was the RPO for the "Heavy-Duty" 4 speed. These RPOs continued to be used from 66 to 79. 80-81 4 speeds were RPO M18.
The hobby has adopted M20, M21 & M22 to designate Muncies, but to GM, these RPOs only designated the type of trans.
An M20 can be a T-10, a Muncie, a Super T-10 or a 78-79 Saginaw. M21's can be a Muncie or a Super T-10, while the only M22 made came from Muncie.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Indy Indiana
M21 was the GM order code for a close ratio 4 speed, it did not designate any particular brand of transmission.
From 63-65, all GM 4 speeds carried the RPO M20. Certain horse powers got the close-ratio, and others got the wide-ratio. It made no difference if it was an early 63 with a BW T-10, or a late 63-65 Muncie, they all were M20's.
GM first offered the M22 in 66, and changed the RPOs. From 66 on, M20 was the wide-ratio, M21 indicated the close-ratio and M22 was the RPO for the "Heavy-Duty" 4 speed. These RPOs continued to be used from 66 to 79. 80-81 4 speeds were RPO M18.
The hobby has adopted M20, M21 & M22 to designate Muncies, but to GM, these RPOs only designated the type of trans.
An M20 can be a T-10, a Muncie, a Super T-10 or a 78-79 Saginaw. M21's can be a Muncie or a Super T-10, while the only M22 made came from Muncie.
From 63-65, all GM 4 speeds carried the RPO M20. Certain horse powers got the close-ratio, and others got the wide-ratio. It made no difference if it was an early 63 with a BW T-10, or a late 63-65 Muncie, they all were M20's.
GM first offered the M22 in 66, and changed the RPOs. From 66 on, M20 was the wide-ratio, M21 indicated the close-ratio and M22 was the RPO for the "Heavy-Duty" 4 speed. These RPOs continued to be used from 66 to 79. 80-81 4 speeds were RPO M18.
The hobby has adopted M20, M21 & M22 to designate Muncies, but to GM, these RPOs only designated the type of trans.
An M20 can be a T-10, a Muncie, a Super T-10 or a 78-79 Saginaw. M21's can be a Muncie or a Super T-10, while the only M22 made came from Muncie.
if it is a muncie then it can be anything since it cannot be original.
if it is a super t-10, then it 'might' be original. but not a M22
if the seller is stating it is an original to the car muncie, then assume he is incorrect in the description of the other details of the car.