322 nailhead manual trans years?/

[JRussell]

my 322 has a 3 speed manual tranny what years will work for swapping parts fly wheel mainly caddy/olds? 53-? nailheads...and anyone seen aluminum ones aftermarket?? please help o buick gods!!!haha...Joe

[jerry burger]

the history i have read says they redesigned the transmission in 1936 to mate with the new 320 engine.cadillac division liked it so well they adopted it with an open drive line from 37 to 50.it also went into the 49 to 55 olds as well as the 55 to 57 pontiac.the gears in them are all the same 2.32 low and 1.53 second.it depends on the application which case is used as the buick is a closed drive line.i think 56 was the last buick stick.

[JRussell]

so only upt ti 56 for the stick?and only buick?

[Tom Gallagher]

Hey Joe!

There were 2 different transmissions that were available.

One was put behind the 264 which was the same transmission that was behind the Straight-8 (circa 1938)

and then there was the Heavy Duty Transmission that was Put behind the 322
(In '56 all Buicks had the 322 powerplant)
Needless to say, You need to find the Heavy Duty!

Also the 322 was put in Chevy trucks in the 50's since it was the only engine that had enough torque to accomodate the strain of a dual wheel tandem axle............However I don't know how the truck transmission which would be a heavier application would fit in a enclosed driver shaft application.

I don't know whether You have the infamous "torque tube" drive-line set-up or the gear ratios on the rear axle ( I wouldn't know the answer to that anyway) but that would also have to be a consideration.

Regards,

Tom Gallagher

[JRussell]

Thanks Tom and Jerry(hahaha the cartoon!)no really thanks guys for all the help!...Joe