If you want to keep it VERY "original", use a TH400 and connect it up to the factory column shift or T-bar using original HQ-HZ TH400 crossmember, tailshaft etc.
For a manual Id be using a Muncie. Whilst these were standard fitment to HQ 1837 and XW8 Kingswood it would be very hard to make it look factory with a Muncie as the bits you need are extremely rare, so itd probably have to be a modified setup. In whcih case Id be buying a full cable bellhousing, WB V8 clutch pedal and aftermarket shifter, and modify a TH350 crossmember from a WB sedan. Muncie boxes are quite cheap brand new from the US (about $1500 US), and if you get the right one you can use a normal V8 HQ tailshaft for your car.
Speedo cable will be a snack as TH350, TH400 and Muncie are standard at some time for HQ-WB.

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If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords?

Definitely. A Muncie is the strongest factory box in M22 form was used behind 427 big blocks in ZL-1 Camaros. Youd be better off with an M20 or M21 version though as they are a lot quieter and cheaper.

http://www.tbtrans.com/muncie_4_speed.htm

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If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords?

Have you thought of a ford toploader?you can get bellhousings(crs) in aust,and hydraulic clutch set up,all here and a very tuff box,cheaper than a rare muncie set up.(better in my opinion)

Jim in adelaide

Question: I have a fully recod 4speed with new old stock Holden cluster and was wondering how it would last behind a mild 350, provided it dont do full noise standing starts too often. Haha.

I know anything will last if you baby it, but id like more opionions much like the topic starter please.

Edited by user Saturday, 17 October 2009 3:50:54 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

If youre going to that much trouble, Id be at least putting a World-Class T5 into it, or even a T56.

US$1500 would leave you heaps of change from the T5, and just about do the T56, which would be a much nicer (and more than strong enough) option, with a huge spares availability to boot.

Cheers,

Mick
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Judge a successful man not on how he treats his peers, but on how he treats those less fortunate.

Plus massive tunnel mods to fit it.

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If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords?

The T56 is a big mutha of a box, but the T5 is quite a bit more compact. Depends on how much work you want to do.
I spent a lot of time on the pros & cons, and went with the T5. There are a myriad of ratios & shifter positions, so I went with one that suits my cars shifter hole, and the ratios that I found desireable - 2.95:1 first, 1:1 4th, and 0.68:1 overdrive, which tie in nicely with a 3.45: diff, giving it nice easy off-the-line acceleration, and a cruising RPM of around 2000 at 110km/h.

I got mine from an F-body (Camaro/Firebird) wrecker in the US, for only a few hundred US$, and through a non-courier company, its now in a container, with other goods, and its under $100 shipping fee.

Dont get the aussie T5, they arent as good as the US ones from the same era - hence why I said "world class" box in my previous post - they have different synchros, that get rid of that notchy delay between shifts that the aussie T5s suffer. Sellers of the aussie T5s locally usually ask stupid money for them as well, so its simply not worth it compared to the better options you can get out of the US, for less money.
Youll find the World Class (WC) T5 used from about 87 onwards in the GM cars that had the SBC, and also in Mustangs (however the shifter position is a long way forward on the mustang box).

As far as bellhousings, Ive only explored the T5 ones (for both aussie & chev pattern blocks). VN-VS cast-iron V8s ran the T5 with a chev-pattern bellhousing, which would be the ideal swap for you.

My other option was a T56 onto an aussie-pattern 304. Using an LS1 T56, the input shaft is too long as it is, and the front of them dont lend themselves easily to a conversion. Heres an ebay auction showing the LS1 T56 bellhousing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebay...ewItem&item=380131791429

However, it can be done. I researched doing the LS1 T56 onto the aussie V8, which is a lot harder than what you want to do. To fit it to the aussie V8, I can use a T5/aussie pattern bellhousing (dellow or HDT), and use an adapter plate from the states like this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebay...ewItem&item=360103050875

Keep that adapter plate in mind, as I will refer to it further down.

In your case, with a small block chev, you wont need the adapter, as you can get T56 bellhousings to suit SBC. Be careful though, as some of the yank T5 & T56 stuff mounts the gearbox on a lean, to angle the stick closer to the (left hand) driver.

Heres an ideal one for you - the right bellhousing & all, ready to bolt up:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebay...ewItem&item=150379606770

If you couldnt get a suitable SBC > T56 bellhousing, you could use the very common US GM SBC > T5 bellhousing (angled mount though) fitted to the 80s & 90s F-bodies, and couple it to that ebay adapter. This then lets you use an aussie LS1 T56. That adapter plate in the ebay link allows you to use the angled bellhousing as well, sitting the box back up straight if you use the alternate bolt holes. Alternatively, and SBC bellhousing for the muncie & T10 can be acccomodated by that plate from what the description says, so you have lots of options.




Cheers,

Mick
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Judge a successful man not on how he treats his peers, but on how he treats those less fortunate.

T400 easy enough! stage 2 kit 2500 stall convertor never breaks.(not a manual though)

Jim in adelaide

Edited by user Sunday, 18 October 2009 5:43:07 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Byron, both boxes are about the same I think MUNCIES are great boxes too. TOPLOADERS won bathurst in nearly every car they were in.I like the idea of the shifter in the middle and the option of a 9 inch rear end(less mods on the tailshaft) but as you said an overdrive would be the way to go,especially with the prices of fuels,(I know its not every ones concern but it makes sense to me),but in saying all that I went T400 just for the ease of it all and then Ill gas it.All just opinions to mull around..jim PS.that gearing(o/drive)is $500..!(T5?..cheaper?)

Jim in Adelaide

Edited by user Tuesday, 20 October 2009 2:45:27 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

They just cant make things simple can they!..lol

Jim in Adelaide