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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: BidEquation78 on September 06, 2014, 09:55:12 pm

Title: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: BidEquation78 on September 06, 2014, 09:55:12 pm
Hi, today I went to a local salvage yard and priced out parts for a manual swap in my 82' C10. The donor truck I found was I believe an 87' C3500 6.2 diesel with a 4 speed(granny gear). I was quoted $75 for everything (flywheel, bell housing,clutch, pedal assembly and all) if I pull it. Anybody have experience on a swap, and if so how much modifying is required? Thanks
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: Engineer on September 07, 2014, 09:11:44 am
The '87 used a hydraulic clutch. Your '82 used mechanical linkage. The firewall will be slightly different and mounting the clutch master cylinder might be kind of difficult.

What engine is in your '82? I don't remember the 6.2L diesel coming with a 4-speed so the flywheel may be a mystery. In any event the 6.2L used a couple of different flywheels on the automatic tranny and neither will work with a gas engine.

If that '87 has mechanical clutch linkage then that is a sure sign that the transmission was swapped in. If the donor truck has mechanical linkage then great, it will adapt to your '82 better.

If the truck has a 4-speed column I would get that too so you don't have the issue of the auto shifter on the column, and 4-speed shifter in the floor....... Unless you like the bubba effect.

I knew a guy back in the day who swapped in a 4-speed. With his old auto column he drove out the pin that held the auto shifter in the column. About half the time when he went to start the truck he would have to put the auto column back into "park" so the starter would work. With the auto shifter missing the column shifter would rotate out of position while he drove.
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: winky on September 07, 2014, 09:15:28 am
i swapped my 77. with it being an 87 donor it should have a hydraulic clutch.
You will want to get the bracket that holds the clutch sensor(same as a brake pedal sensor) I cant remember if they are on the same bracket as the brake pedal sensor..
measure the difference in the transmissions i be leave the manual is shorter (may require drive shaft modifications)

as far as install goes..

Cut a Hole in the fire wall for the master cylinder (some trucks already have the hole or a stamped circle)

change out your pedals (just un bolt and bolt in new ones)

measure transmission and see if the cross member is going to rest in the same place (may require drilling new holes in frame)

un do the neutral safety switch on bottom of column and wire it up to the clutch sensor

install master cylinder (make sure to us the 2 rods that come off the pedal "cage" they reinforce the firewall, if you dont use them the fire wall will flex when using clutch and possible crack/break leaving you with a clutch you cant disengage.

Blead your master cylinder and see how you like your new trans

sorry, i have a very busy day so i kinda just jotted this in here, if you need any help or pictures of my setup just pm me or ask here for some and ill do my best to help

EDIT:

Engineer beat me too it lol
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: BidEquation78 on September 07, 2014, 12:14:35 pm
Thank you both for the detailed replies! I really appreciate it :D! In response to Engineer, my truck truck is a 350, the donor truck looked to be all original and I was very suprised to see a 6.2 4 speed especially in a 2wd setup... Seems very rare to me! Currently on lunch break so ill post a pic up this evening
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: BidEquation78 on September 07, 2014, 04:49:27 pm
Here is the donor I found. It is in fact a 6.2! Such a shame to see it rusting into the ground but all drive-train parts seem extremely solid! Also the price is more than fair.( if you look close enough someone tried removing the 1 ton sway-bar and got about halfway there lol)
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: roundhouse on September 22, 2014, 07:21:23 am
Funky lookin box for the heater A/C

Grab that sway bar too
Some hot rodder  will want it
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: BidEquation78 on September 22, 2014, 09:15:42 am
I'm planning on going back to the yard(which is 2 hours away) within the next few weeks to get the assembly, so ill take some pics of all the trucks they have!
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: mechanic58 on September 24, 2014, 10:00:52 am
That 6.2L Diesel will also have a Buick/Olds/Pontiac bellhousing bolt pattern on it. Won't bolt up to a Chevrolet engine. (The bottom bolt on either side will and the dowel pins will line up, but the other 4 bolt holes will not line up)
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: Dan75k20 on September 25, 2014, 07:09:57 pm
6.2S had a bop bell housing
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: csdineley on September 25, 2014, 09:58:28 pm
You will also need the transmission floor hump. Auto trucks have a low hump and manual and 4x4 trucks had a higher hump.
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: Dan75k20 on September 27, 2014, 12:12:49 pm
87s didnt have removable trans humps
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: roundhouse on September 29, 2014, 07:13:47 am

That 6.2L Diesel will also have a Buick/Olds/Pontiac bellhousing bolt pattern on it. Won't bolt up to a Chevrolet engine. (The bottom bolt on either side will and the dowel pins will line up, but the other 4 bolt holes will not line up)

I've seen on other sites where people put a NV3500 from a late model Chevy behind the 6.2

How'd they do that if it has the BOP pattern ?
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: BidEquation78 on October 04, 2014, 03:07:30 pm
would my best bet be buying a new bell housing? around my area most manual trucks either are automatic, or they have the entire drive train yanked.
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: roundhouse on October 05, 2014, 10:17:39 am
Search on Colorado K5.com

I'm not certain the 6.2 has a BOP pattern

Several swap threads on there
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: BidEquation78 on October 05, 2014, 04:17:54 pm
I will be sure to check that out roundhouse, thanks  :D... Also, what transmission would you guys suggest?(used from a salvage yard of course). preferably 5 or 6 speed but I also don't want to break the bank.
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: roundhouse on October 06, 2014, 07:42:31 am

I will be sure to check that out roundhouse, thanks  :D... Also, what transmission would you guys suggest?(used from a salvage yard of course). preferably 5 or 6 speed but I also don't want to break the bank.

Nv3500.  From a 97-07 full size Chevy pickup
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: BidEquation78 on October 06, 2014, 09:12:22 am
Are nv3500 stout enough? I'm working on trading some parts for my friends 388 stroker long block and heard nv3500 tend to scatter past 400lbs..
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: roundhouse on October 06, 2014, 09:52:38 am

Are nv3500 stout enough? I'm working on trading some parts for my friends 388 stroker long block and heard nv3500 tend to scatter past 400lbs..

Several folks using em

Depends on how you treat it

GM put em behind the V-8 in the pickups
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: BidEquation78 on October 06, 2014, 08:39:18 pm
Throwing another option in... Picked up 2 doors today from a k30 dump truck at the local scrap yard. He offered me the entire manual linkage setup including everything minus the tranny for $200 pulled. What would be a semi-budget tranny that accepts manual linkage? ($500 and under)The other yard is roughly 120 miles out and im not 100% positive it was hydraulic either...
Title: Re: Th350 to manual swap question
Post by: Captkaos on October 07, 2014, 01:10:31 pm
6.2L Diesels used a Chevrolet bell pattern.