69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

loony.toon · 11-21-2007, 08:27 PM

I have a chance to pick up a 69 c-10 with an overdrive manual trans. 3 speed on the column with a pull switch under the dashboard for overdrive. I have never seen this. Anyone know anything about it? good or bad? thanks Ron (a new guy)

Huck · 11-21-2007, 09:26 PM

Not common but not really rare either. These 3spd OD trans have been around wince way back in the 40's. The 69 should have syncro's in 2 and 3rd. They are ok for normal operation but don't handle high HP performance applications. I'd love to find one cheap enough to have rebuilt then stick in a 6 cyl truck.

qksilver · 11-21-2007, 10:02 PM

same here, they are cool and work but not the best for hevay duty use

loony.toon · 11-21-2007, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the help.

**special-K** · 11-22-2007, 09:03 AM

Most o/d gears don`t like heavy hauling or high power.It`s a good ole 3spd w/a n o/d unit added.You`ll get the same service as a 3spd w/o o/d.They are pretty uncommon.I want one,too.

loony.toon · 11-22-2007, 09:17 AM

SpecialK, I didn't follow you with all the abbreviations. Will it perform just like a regular 3 speed if it is not engaged? Can it go bad? Does it take the whole trans out or can you just not use it? thanks all for the help.

**WorkinLonghorn** · 11-22-2007, 09:18 AM

Here's the page from the '69 Data Book;(Hope you can read it)

loony.toon · 11-22-2007, 09:27 AM

thanks for the help. This particular one is working well. The truck is for my son who is 18. He is more interested in it as a street rod. If anyone is in need of this tranny, I would be willing to part with it for a 3 or 4 speed. You would have to do all the work including converting it to the floor. It would be an even swap. thank you all for your help.

berencam · 11-22-2007, 11:55 AM

i also had the 3 speed manual with od.... and honestly all the difference i noticed was when it was engaged(or disengaged...i never figgured it out) the engine would either be locked harder to the clutch or it would act kinda like a auto tranny. To where when you let off the gas, it would let the engine free from the tranny as if you where pressing the clutch in. Furethurmore, if it was engaged when you let off the gas you could shift without pressing the clutch regardless of speed or rpm. i hope that made since....

Botietruck · 11-22-2007, 06:07 PM

'69 was the last year Chevy put them in the trucks. Most of them used the 3 spd. Saginaw with a Borg-Warner overdrive unit. You can use the trans. without engaging the OD. Parts are hard to come by and they are expensive, they're out there, thanks to Ebay, but expensive. Here's one I just rebuilt. The 7 bolt side cover is the syncro trans.

**WorkinLonghorn** · 11-22-2007, 08:23 PM

So that little lever in the back actuates the overdrive? Apparently you could use the OD in any gear and it was a freewheeling type of thing if you let off the gas. I wonder how much torque it was rated for.

**Don Brace** · 11-22-2007, 09:08 PM

I put one of these in my one ton 71 Longhorn. It is behind a 350. I love it. I get 14 or 15 MPG on the highway at 65 MPH. It town I average 12.5 MPG. When hauling a heavy load I lock it out of OD so as to not trash the OD unit.

vrwelker · 11-25-2007, 09:41 AM

sent u a pm. interested in the trans u have.

**Don Brace** · 11-25-2007, 12:55 PM

Have not received your PM. The OD in the truck is not for sale. I have several
car ODs. These have a higher 1st gear than the ones for the truck. You also must use a car bell housing. The truck bell housing has two threaded holes and two that are not threaded. The car bell housing has all four holes threaded where the OD attaches to the bell housing.
Don

67ChevyRedneck · 11-25-2007, 03:07 PM

Wow, final ratio of .7:1. That's equivalent to a 700R4.

11-21-2007, 08:27 PM	#1
loony.toon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 4	69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? I have a chance to pick up a 69 c-10 with an overdrive manual trans. 3 speed on the column with a pull switch under the dashboard for overdrive. I have never seen this. Anyone know anything about it? good or bad? thanks Ron (a new guy)

11-21-2007, 09:26 PM	#2
Huck Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 3,269	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? Not common but not really rare either. These 3spd OD trans have been around wince way back in the 40's. The 69 should have syncro's in 2 and 3rd. They are ok for normal operation but don't handle high HP performance applications. I'd love to find one cheap enough to have rebuilt then stick in a 6 cyl truck.

11-21-2007, 10:02 PM	#3
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? same here, they are cool and work but not the best for hevay duty use

11-21-2007, 10:16 PM	#4
loony.toon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 4	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? Thanks for the help.

11-22-2007, 09:03 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? Most o/d gears don`t like heavy hauling or high power.It`s a good ole 3spd w/a n o/d unit added.You`ll get the same service as a 3spd w/o o/d.They are pretty uncommon.I want one,too. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

11-22-2007, 09:17 AM	#6
loony.toon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 4	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? SpecialK, I didn't follow you with all the abbreviations. Will it perform just like a regular 3 speed if it is not engaged? Can it go bad? Does it take the whole trans out or can you just not use it? thanks all for the help.

11-22-2007, 09:18 AM	#7
WorkinLonghorn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Studio City, Calif. Posts: 2,858	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? Here's the page from the '69 Data Book;(Hope you can read it) __________________ '69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. Best $300 I ever spent.

11-22-2007, 09:27 AM	#8
loony.toon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 4	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? thanks for the help. This particular one is working well. The truck is for my son who is 18. He is more interested in it as a street rod. If anyone is in need of this tranny, I would be willing to part with it for a 3 or 4 speed. You would have to do all the work including converting it to the floor. It would be an even swap. thank you all for your help.

11-22-2007, 11:55 AM	#9
berencam Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: branson mo Posts: 933	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? i also had the 3 speed manual with od.... and honestly all the difference i noticed was when it was engaged(or disengaged...i never figgured it out) the engine would either be locked harder to the clutch or it would act kinda like a auto tranny. To where when you let off the gas, it would let the engine free from the tranny as if you where pressing the clutch in. Furethurmore, if it was engaged when you let off the gas you could shift without pressing the clutch regardless of speed or rpm. i hope that made since.... __________________ 69 chevy c10 350 3 speed manual wood bed build thread here r.i.p. 70 c10 auto 350 build here

11-22-2007, 06:07 PM	#10
Botietruck '71 chevy s.bed/s.side Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 1,571	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? '69 was the last year Chevy put them in the trucks. Most of them used the 3 spd. Saginaw with a Borg-Warner overdrive unit. You can use the trans. without engaging the OD. Parts are hard to come by and they are expensive, they're out there, thanks to Ebay, but expensive. Here's one I just rebuilt. The 7 bolt side cover is the syncro trans. __________________ STILL PLAYS WITH CARS...AND TRUCKS!! Parents! Be good to your kids...they get to choose your nursing home! 250 I-6 with a 3 speed Saginaw and Borg Warner Overdrive...She's got overdrive! Last edited by Botietruck; 11-22-2007 at 06:09 PM.

11-22-2007, 08:23 PM	#11
WorkinLonghorn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Studio City, Calif. Posts: 2,858	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? So that little lever in the back actuates the overdrive? Apparently you could use the OD in any gear and it was a freewheeling type of thing if you let off the gas. I wonder how much torque it was rated for. __________________ '69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. Best $300 I ever spent.

11-22-2007, 09:08 PM	#12
Don Brace Active Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Clarks Grove MN Posts: 487	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? I put one of these in my one ton 71 Longhorn. It is behind a 350. I love it. I get 14 or 15 MPG on the highway at 65 MPH. It town I average 12.5 MPG. When hauling a heavy load I lock it out of OD so as to not trash the OD unit. __________________ Don Brace 55 Nomad 56 Nomad 58 Impalla Coupe 58 Bel-Aire 4D HT 61 Impala CVRT 409 4 SP 2- 71 Longhorns Always looking for old toy trains, Juke boxes Pin ball and game machines.

11-25-2007, 09:41 AM	#13
vrwelker Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: mooresville, nc Posts: 2	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? sent u a pm. interested in the trans u have.

11-25-2007, 12:55 PM	#14
Don Brace Active Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Clarks Grove MN Posts: 487	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? Have not received your PM. The OD in the truck is not for sale. I have several car ODs. These have a higher 1st gear than the ones for the truck. You also must use a car bell housing. The truck bell housing has two threaded holes and two that are not threaded. The car bell housing has all four holes threaded where the OD attaches to the bell housing. Don __________________ Don Brace 55 Nomad 56 Nomad 58 Impalla Coupe 58 Bel-Aire 4D HT 61 Impala CVRT 409 4 SP 2- 71 Longhorns Always looking for old toy trains, Juke boxes Pin ball and game machines.

11-25-2007, 03:07 PM	#15
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: 69 c-10 with 3 speed manual with OD? Wow, final ratio of .7:1. That's equivalent to a 700R4. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!



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