1957 corvette 3 sp transmission?

[Jim L.]

Re: 1957 corvette 3 sp transmission?

Jim Lockwood,

I found a 29th tooth thin stem input shaft with drilled through oil hole in my pile. Not sure what transmission it came out of.

Over the years the 3 speed parts I have were sorted through by lots of NCRS guys building 3 speed transmissions.

Gary
....

I'm having a senior moment, Gary.... where is this drilled oil hole located?

Random observation: Years ago, when I was rebuilding the wide ratio 3 speed for my '57 Bel Air, I got the bright idea to replace the thin input shaft with a thick input shaft. Great idea, except that the gear helix wasn't the same on the thick input shaft so it wouldn't interchange. Of course, I have no idea what the original source of the thick shaft was.

So, that thick input shaft became my pilot shaft for clutch installs.

Jim

[Gary C.]

Re: 1957 corvette 3 sp transmission?

Jim,

Welcome to the club! It's an oil hole as far as I know. The differences in the input shafts is well covered in Stan and Paul's Restorer articles that Terry Bartel referred to.

Those two guys along with Tom Trainer helped me years ago learn what little I know about 3 speed transmissions.

Gary
....

[Jim L.]

Re: 1957 corvette 3 sp transmission?

Jim,

Welcome to the club! It's an oil hole as far as I know. The differences in the input shafts is well covered in Stan and Paul's Restorer articles that Terry Bartel referred to.

Those two guys along with Tom Trainer helped me years ago learn what little I know about 3 speed transmissions.

Gary
....

You knew Tom? When I lived in The South, he and I crossed paths often at the '55 - '57 Chebby events. His '56s were always state of the art long before anyone else could even pronounce "state of the art". Great guy, in my opinion.

[Gary C.]

Re: 1957 corvette 3 sp transmission?

Jim,

Knew Tom very well. Great guy, always willing to help. My friend Pete helped Tom's kids sell off his collection.

Gary
....

[John N.]

Re: 1957 corvette 3 sp transmission?

Tom was a great guy. Left way to soon. He would hang with Pete and Gary P at the Florida meet swap meet area and after the banter got up to a high level his statement would be- "If Bull _____ was music we would have a brass band!!!" RIP

[Ray K.]

Re: 1957 corvette 3 sp transmission?

Kevin, Gary, Jim, All

My first Chevrolet, a '57 Bel Air hdtp with an original 270 HP dual 4BC engine had the close ratio 3 speed in it. I purchased the car in about June of '59 and the previous owner had already modified the trans by installing the Corvette extension housing and also the Corvette shifter assembly but with the longer handle from a 4 speed pass shifter. It worked great although it was not quick from start even with 4.11 axle ratio. I had the trans apart several times over the years but no longer have any parts left from then. The main drive gear had to be removed from the rear not out the front of the case as in a standard 2.94 ratio trans. As I recall, I believe that it had the thick shaft main drive gear.

Ray