Which manual transmission would you guys consider the best (most dependable) for the 235?

Would it make the car a good driver for todays' roads?

Which other 6cyl motors would it bolt up too?

Torque tube or open drive?

George

There is nothing wrong with the stock 1954 3 speed.It had all the latest durability improvements and the design continued on until 1966.Was used on big block V8's etc...all thats necessary is to keep it full of gear oil.If the stock drive line is used will be the most simple way to go.

I have two of them and parts to convert a 51 to the newer 54 version, the only thing I had to do to the two I have running, since I pulled them from old wrecked low mileage 54 cars was to drain the old black grease and flush them out with a mixture of WD40 and ATF, then fill with 85-140 multipurpose gear grease, and replace the speedometer driven gear with the one originally in the car. I also replaced the dried up cork seals around the shifting fork shaft with "O" rings.

"Best" overall might be to convert to later 3 speed with syncrho into low.

However, "best" is terms of cost, satisfaction of 'routine driving' and so on, would most likely be to stick with stock/original '54 3 speed tranny.

I guess it all depends on your point of view..... and what you want to be able to do.

Bill.

Thanks guys...great help.

Could you put an overdrive on the stock/original '54 3 speed tranny?

What rear ratio would be the 'best' for use on today's interstates using a '54 3 speed?