New Guy Here---Looking for Muncie Trans Info - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BTPT1969 · 09-03-2015, 12:21 PM

Hi everyone. Happy ot be on board here! I recently purchased my dream car, a 1969 Camaro. The car has a Muncie 4-speed. Everything (relatively) seems to be in great shape with the car. However, the gearbox of the trans is borderline annoying. First and third gear are so ungodly close together---sometimes I can't tell if I am starting in first or third and it takes the fun out of driving the car! I have never driven in a manual vehicle before where I was so unsure of what gear I was in.

What can I do to fix this issue? Do I need a whole new gearbox assembly? What can I replace without replacing too much? Not sure what may be different about the gearbox on my trans vs. any other Munice 4-speed out there, but I can't imagine that they are all like this.

Any suggestions/advice? Thanks!

Mark114 · 09-03-2015, 12:35 PM

If I understand your post you are having trouble feeling if the shifter is to the left for 1st gear or to the right for 3rd gear. That sounds like a problem with the shifter rather than a problem with the transmission. You may get used to it in time. The shifter is completely separate on those transmissions so you might want to look at replacing it with something you like better. Lots of options on the market!

Good luck!

willhe64 · 09-03-2015, 01:07 PM

Nope, OP is talking about the gear ratios in the trans.
Muncie gear ratios are denoted by the casting number and the number of grooves in the input shaft spline. You have to have the tranny out and count these grooves. The ratios in these vary widely in different models.
http://www.5speeds.com/muncie2.htm

Left to right, no grooves, two grooves and one groove:

BTPT1969 · 09-08-2015, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark114

If I understand your post you are having trouble feeling if the shifter is to the left for 1st gear or to the right for 3rd gear. That sounds like a problem with the shifter rather than a problem with the transmission. You may get used to it in time. The shifter is completely separate on those transmissions so you might want to look at replacing it with something you like better. Lots of options on the market!

Good luck!

Mark---your understanding of the situation is correct, and I have been advised elsewhere that the problem is likely the shifter itself, as well. I guess I am just not sure what else will work and is easily interchageable here. The trans itself feels just fine actually, so I wasn't worried about a complete overhaul or anything, but the ease of finding first gear to actually get going is what has proven to be difficult so far.

The Hurst V-gate shifter was recommended to me as an alternative, as it is purely a back and forth pattern to shift first through fourth, as opposed to the H pattern that is in the car now. I like the concept of it, but the reviews on the durability of the shifter dont seem to be that great, and I actually like the H pattern to be honest.

I need to look at what is actually in the car now in order to assess where I can go from here. I will try to investigate a bit and take some pics, then follow up. If anyone else has any shifter assemblies they would like to recommend, I am all ears.

09-03-2015, 12:21 PM	#1
BTPT1969 Drives: 1969 Camaro Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Chicago Posts: 2	New Guy Here---Looking for Muncie Trans Info Hi everyone. Happy ot be on board here! I recently purchased my dream car, a 1969 Camaro. The car has a Muncie 4-speed. Everything (relatively) seems to be in great shape with the car. However, the gearbox of the trans is borderline annoying. First and third gear are so ungodly close together---sometimes I can't tell if I am starting in first or third and it takes the fun out of driving the car! I have never driven in a manual vehicle before where I was so unsure of what gear I was in. What can I do to fix this issue? Do I need a whole new gearbox assembly? What can I replace without replacing too much? Not sure what may be different about the gearbox on my trans vs. any other Munice 4-speed out there, but I can't imagine that they are all like this. Any suggestions/advice? Thanks!

09-03-2015, 01:07 PM	#3
willhe64 Drives: 2012 45th Vert, 2011 4x4, 9sec Vega Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 2,188	Nope, OP is talking about the gear ratios in the trans. Muncie gear ratios are denoted by the casting number and the number of grooves in the input shaft spline. You have to have the tranny out and count these grooves. The ratios in these vary widely in different models. http://www.5speeds.com/muncie2.htm Left to right, no grooves, two grooves and one groove: __________________ I feel it only fair to warn you, I have a black belt in CAPS LOCK.

09-03-2015, 12:35 PM	#2
Mark114 Drives: 2016 2SS Convertible Join Date: May 2012 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,755 View My Garage	If I understand your post you are having trouble feeling if the shifter is to the left for 1st gear or to the right for 3rd gear. That sounds like a problem with the shifter rather than a problem with the transmission. You may get used to it in time. The shifter is completely separate on those transmissions so you might want to look at replacing it with something you like better. Lots of options on the market! Good luck!