Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train Replace old Muncie 3 spd with later Saginaw 3 spd

My 65 Bel Air has the original Muncie 318 3 spd. No synchro in 1st. I have a line on a local late 60s Saginaw 3 spd that I might buy.

Will I have to change/modify my crossmember and/or driveshaft?

Any comments would be appreciated.

Just an assumption based on Chevy II experience. My 63 which was an original 3 spd car has the same cross member as the 66 which had a Saginaw 3 spd. I would give very high odds the crossmember will work. Not sure on the drive shaft. It would probably be worth while counting the splines on both trans to make sure they are the same. You might see if the person who is selling the Saginaw has the yoke to go with it. If they are different splines it is likely they both take 1310 u-joints.

On my 64SS I went from a glide to a Sag4 speed then to a Muncie.Never had to change cross member OR drive shaft. Even a Th 350 will change out But the edge of the cross member needs trimed to add some clearance for the tranny pan.