Finally got a running 65 C10

[1low4x4]

Covers came out good

 

[DoubleDingo]

Covers came out good

Yes they did!

 

[1low4x4]

So if I was to start looking for a 4 speed manual transmission what would I be looking for? Assuming the clutch pedal would still work I’d just need to mount the shifter in the floor because now the 3 on tree wouldn’t work right.

I don’t mind manual, it would actually be neat to keep it but I’d like another gear

 

[legopnuematic]

65 is a Z bar clutch isn’t it? Or is it a hydraulic clutch like the earlier 60s trucks?

Depends on what you want, if you want a “true truck trans” the SM420 would be the correct 4 speed truck trans for one of those trucks. About a 6:1 first gear and 1:1 fourth. No shifter needed as it’s part of the trans itself.

For a “sportier” four speed, the NP833 is an aluminum cased 4 speed with an overdrive. It’s a “Mopar” trans that was an option in 80s squarebody trucks. 3.09:1 first and 0.73:1 fourth. If you went this route be sure to get the shifter, as the GM shifters are not reproduced and are somewhat difficult to come by.

Then there is the “traditional” four speeds like a T10, M20, M21, M22. Non overdrive.

An NV3500 5 speed could be a decent candidate.

 

[DoubleDingo]

So if I was to start looking for a 4 speed manual transmission what would I be looking for? Assuming the clutch pedal would still work I’d just need to mount the shifter in the floor because now the 3 on tree wouldn’t work right.

I don’t mind manual, it would actually be neat to keep it but I’d like another gear

If you're going to go 4 speed, I would highly recommend the sm420, and depending on your rear end gears, 3.54/3.55 gear ratio. Trust me, that truck would be a blast to drive like that. A really good take off gear, still only three shifts for regular driving, bulletproof transmission, and the gear ratio is great for cruising and hauling @$$. I say this from experience with Mean Green. It was a 4.57 truck with the sm420, until I found a 3.54 axle and swapped it in, and I broke some land speed records with that truck after that.

25 years ago, visitation weekend, living in a new town and 2.5 hours to get home. My girlfriend in my hometown said be there by 5 we're going out to dinner. I was running late, left my brother's house at 3, still had to stop for gas before hitting the road. Filled the tanks and was at her door in 2 hours.

A few years before that, was running late, dang I see a theme here...lol... Work was a 17 mile drive and I had 15 minutes to get there or I was late. From my driveway to the work parking spot, 8 minutes!

If you swap to a better gear ratio, install a front sway/stabilizer bar, and if you can find one, a power steering conversion kit with a smaller steering wheel. Unless you want to keep the school bus steering wheel and manual steering steering gear. Manual is fine as long as you have good tires, and rims without alot of offset. I ran Mean Green with a Grant steering wheel and the manual steering for many years. Converting to power steering was a game changer and installing the front sway bar made that truck handle like a sports car, kinda...lol... It still handled great for a 3/4 ton truck with that setup. Yours being a short bed stepper, it just needs a little tweaking to make it better.

A schoolmate had a 65 like yours, his dad built the engine, I think it was a 327, had the sm420, and I don't know what rear end ratio it had, but it would beat all kinds of cars in races.

Not saying you want to race your truck, but having more legs if needed is a plus.

 

[DoubleDingo]

This will give you the rpms with different gear ratios for your truck if you use a 30.5 inch diameter tire....

 

[DoubleDingo]

The land speed records I mentioned was with a stock 350, ram horn manifolds, dual exhaust that exited out the passenger rear corner, but a dual-in dual-out Borla muffler in the cavity where an auxiliary side tank would be mounted if they mounted them on the passenger side. The Borla muffler helped with the scavenging effect. Quadrajet carb, timing and carb tuned for race because I did mostly highway driving. Once in awhile I would go to the airport and get 5 gallons of 100LL and top off the tank with high octane pump gas. YEEEEHAWWWWW! Talk about throttle response!