Lm1 350 crate compatible transmission?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Washington
Lm1 350 crate compatible transmission?
Hi All,
I've searched a lot about this but I'm not sure what the right choice is. I am the second owner of an '81 vette, the original owner was a little old lady (I'm serious!). I think a shop may have conned her and convinced her to put a new motor in it...whatever the case was they put a LM1 350 crate in it. The vette still has the original 3 speed automatic which I absolutely loathed. So my question is what kind of manual transmission, preferably a 4 or 5 speed w/overdrive, is compatible with the LM1 350? Will I need a new rear end as well or is it as simple as a tranny swap? Thanks for any help!
I've searched a lot about this but I'm not sure what the right choice is. I am the second owner of an '81 vette, the original owner was a little old lady (I'm serious!). I think a shop may have conned her and convinced her to put a new motor in it...whatever the case was they put a LM1 350 crate in it. The vette still has the original 3 speed automatic which I absolutely loathed. So my question is what kind of manual transmission, preferably a 4 or 5 speed w/overdrive, is compatible with the LM1 350? Will I need a new rear end as well or is it as simple as a tranny swap? Thanks for any help!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 33
From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
The LM1 is basically the same as an L-48. My '80 Z/28 had an LM1 in it. It's a common small block like any other. Any transmission setup that fits an internally balanced GM engine of the same generation will work if you change all the right parts. You rear gear may be a little high for a manual trans for the best performance but it will work as long as you don't abuse it too much. It is either a 3.07 or a 2.87 if I remember correctly.
