I have an 82 Z, with a 200c automatic. I was planning to swap out the 200c for a turbo 350, but just recently my buddy gave me all his old 3rd gen parts, which included an 88 iroc 5 speed and the clutch pedal/fork assembly. I want to convert my car over, but I would like to have a four speed. I have a Muncie M21 "rock crusher" from an early 70's camaro at home that works good that I would like to use instead of the tremec. My questions are:

Since my car is an 82, am I only limited to the mechanical clutch/fork assemblies from 82-83, or can I put in a hydraulic assembly?

Do I need a tranny from a 3rd gen because of the torque arm mounting?

Will I have to get another drive shaft?

What would be the easiest(less headaches) manual swap for my 82?


Your help would be very much appriciated...thanks

 

First order of business is that if you have an M21 it isn't a "rockcrusher". Only the M22 got this designation, and I don't think they were still using this in Camaros in the early 70s, because they switched to the Borg Warner Super T-10 in about '73. I would make certain exactly what trans you have first. If you give me part numbers off the trans case I can tell you because I have all the numbers books.

Second, you aren't limited to a mechanical clutch linkage. You could custom build a system using a hydraulic throw out bearing. McLeod and others offer parts to get a system like this up and running.

There are several companies that make trans crossmembers with independant torque arm mounting points. One for a TH350 would work fine for a Muncie or Super T-10, because the mount is the same and the trans is the same length.

I'm not certain about the driveshaft, but I suspect you will need a longer one.

The simplest swap is probably a World Class T5, because you can use all factory parts. After that the T56 from a '93-'97 F-car is a fairly straightforward swap. Then I would say the Tremec 3550 & TKO are next in line in terms of simplicity. The T5 will be the cheapest. The Tremec's are probably next in line. The T56 is the most expensive.

 

TKO is pretty much right on the money with his advice. As far as your driveshaft, it should be the right spline count and length for an older four speed since you have an 82 with the 200c trans. This driveshaft also works perfect for using a th350. A muncie four speed has 7 bolts on the side cover and the borg warner T-10 and super T-10 tranny have 9 bolts on the side cover. This is the easiest way to tell the difference. The muncie and the super T-10 trannys are both pretty damn tough. Either of them will take twice the abuse that a borg-warner T-5 will. If you have a saginaw four speed, I wouldn't even bother with it. They're easy to identify because they have a cast iron case and the reverse shift lever is in the side cover and not on the tailshaft housing. Probably the trickiest part of putting an old four speed in a third gen is figuring out how to mount up the torque arm to the the tail shaft. You also might have to massage the tranny tunnel to clear the external shifter and linkage, but don't quote me on that.