Gyromatic transmission change

[Alexander]

Hello guys

As some may remember I am plagued with a bad gyromatic (m6) transmission in my 51 dodge vert. with Hershey coming up I was thinking of going there to pick something up.

Question: Can I maybe install a manual trans to mate with the fluid drive? if so what would be a direct fit considering the fluid drive and drive shaft?

What should I look for?

Attach is a pic of what I currently have in the car.

[greg g]

looks like the bellhousing, fluid unit and trans are all one unit. If so you would need to bet a bellhousing a non gyromatic fluid drive unit with clutch and a fluid drive standard transmission. The three speed used in Plymouths and dodges are the same except for the llinckage arms and the input shaft. (longer for the fluid drive unit)

I have a picture of the Dodge style 3 speed posted in the thread for watchingwolf. the input shaft has a pice of foam pipe insulation with a coke can on it for shipping so it looks a bit wierd.

Might be easier and less expesive to get an adapter plate from Wilcap and put a GM automatic in there. You would have to get a drive shaft made up and fabricate a rear trans mount but finding and gathering the stuff could be daunting unless you found a complete Dodge with the fluid drive standard trans. You would need the hift linkafe also.

[James_Douglas]

Alex,

The M6 unbolts from the bell housing. Look at it from the back. The x-member is in the way in your photo.

If you can find a "Dodge Unit" which is a 3-speed trans with a longer input shaft it will slip right in.

I use a 3-speed with OD in place om my Tip-Toe shift M6 in my 1947 Desoto.

I used the same bell housing and fluid coupling. The linkage takes a little work to get right, but that is about it.

Best, James

[Young Ed]

Dad and I installed a 3spd OD into a 51 dodge with a bad M6. The M6 and 3spd are so close in length you can even use the same drive shaft. Only real tricky part for us was shifting rods(we had lots of them but none may have been from a 51 manual setup) and then extending the parking brake cable.

[Alexander]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Someone is offering a 3 speed manual from a 51 medowbrook.

Would that work on my 51 coronet with out having to mess with the input shaft and or drive shaft. would I have to use his bell housing?

how involved would it be to modify the shift linkage? is it a matter of changing the bends a little or new ones need to be made from scratch?

I apologies for the armature questions. I appreciate the advice and direction.

[PatS....]

If the bellhousing, flywheel and clutch are available (if it's not fluid drive) grab them just in case.

Also grab the rods for the shift linkage, again, just in case. I'm pretty sure the rods are different.

Usually at some point on these swaps there is head scratching but if you have those parts, you have the solutions.

What was wrong with the M6?

Can you not just replace it with a good one?

[Young Ed]

We did not change the bellhousing at all in the 51. If you can get the 3spd and the shift rods I think it would go right in.

[Alexander]

Thanks, sounds like it will work!

The gyromatic is a neat transmission, but I am not sure I like it. its slow and guzels gas becuased of the wasted energy starting out in high.

Alex