Chevy Manual Transmission



  1. Chevy Manual Transmission Swap
  2. Chevy Manual Transmission Cars
  3. Chevy Manual Transmission 2019
  4. Chevy Manual Transmission For 350
  5. Chevy Manual Transmission Cars

It used to be easy to find a manual transmission pickup truck. Many drivers enjoyed the engagement of driving stick, but fewer people have the skill today. It also used to be possible to find a new Chevrolet Colorado with a manual transmission, but those days are gone. Read on to find which Colorado model years did have a manual transmission available.

3 product ratings - Hurst 5010016 Indy 3-Speed Shifter for Truck Manual Transmission GMC/Chevy/Ford. Watch; S p o n s o r e d. TH200 3 Speed Automatic Transmission for 76-80 Chevrolet Chevette (Fits: Chevrolet) Your Satisfaction Is. Use the following information to compare physical description of your Chevrolet or GMC manual transmission in order to identify what model transmission is in your vehicle. We offer quality rebuilt manual transmission, parts and rebuild parts kits that are designed to be top of the line. Read the vehicles Owner's Manual for more important feature limitations and information. Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System functionality varies by model. Full functionality requires compatible Bluetooth and smartphone, and USB connectivity for some devices. Read the vehicles Owner's Manual for more important feature limitations and information. While the four-speed manual transmission was a staple in many Chevrolet musclecars, even many of the General’s “other” car models were equipped with a manually-operated gear selecting device. However, finding one of these transmissions now at a swap meet or salvage yard is getting harder and harder.

History of the Chevrolet Colorado

Chevy manual transmission truck

The Chevrolet Colorado and its equivalent, the GMC Canyon, were introduced in 2003. Its first generation was available for model years 2004 through 2012, and the second generation was introduced in the U.S. for the 2015 model year and includes the current model year. The first-generation Colorado had a five-speed manual transmission option. Autotrader noted that this was a surprise to offer this transmission at the time given the decreasing popularity of manual transmission vehicles.

The second generation initially had a six-speed manual transmission as an option for the Base and WT work truck trim levels. The choice came with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive and other engine options were not available with the manual transmission. The choice of a manual transmission remained available through the 2018 model year. With continuing reduced demand, GM ended its availability for both the Colorado and the GMC Canyon for 2019.

The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado

While the 2020 Colorado doesn’t come with a manual transmission option, it does have a number of other choices. It has five trim levels: Base, Work Truck, LT, Z71, and ZR2. The ZR2 is designed for off-road use. It has two cab size options (Extended Cab and Crew Cab), two cargo-bed lengths (long box and short box), and three engine choices. It’s available in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

Car and Driver calls its infotainment system “outstanding” but says the interior feels cheap and that there isn’t a lot of driver-assistance technology. The truck comes standard with the Infotainment 3 Plus system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power-adjustable mirrors, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Adding the Luxury package introduces power-adjustable, heated front seats plus a heated steering wheel. The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado starts at $22,395.

Powertrain options for the 2020 Colorado

The 2020 Colorado has three engine options, all of which come with automatic transmissions. The standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic transmission, which Car and Driver calls “weak and grumpy.” It has 200 horsepower, 191 lb.-ft. of torque, and 3,500-lb. towing capability. It gets 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway.

The second option is the 308-horsepower V-6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which Car and Driver describes as “peppy.” It has 275 lb.-ft. of torque and has towing capabilities up to 7,000 pounds. It gets 18 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway.

The third choice is the 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, which has 369 lb.-ft. of torque. With this engine, the Colorado is able to tow 7,700 pounds, which is best in class. The diesel engine also makes the Colorado the most fuel-efficient midsize pickup truck, with 30 MPG on the highway.

The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado does not have a manual transmission option, but used trucks from model years 2004 through 2018 do. Manual transmissions remain more common in small cars and sports cars, so if you’re a fan of Chevy, both the 2020 Camaro and the 2020 Spark have manual transmission options. If you’re looking for a truck, then there are only three pickup trucks with manual transmissions to pick from for 2020: Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma.

Chevy Manual Transmission Swap

Chevy Manual Transmission Identification

Chevy Manual Transmission Cars

Go here for info on Chevy Automatic Transmission Identification

Muncie (left) Saginaw (center) Borg Warner (right)

To quickly finger what you have, notice in the above picture:
The muncie reverse lever is in the extention housing, and the cover has 7 bolts.
The Saginaw reverse shift lever is on the cover, and the cover has 7 bolts.
The Borg Warner has a 9 bolt cover.
Muncies are the hot tip, since they usually were used with high performance engines. Again on the muncie, and looking at the cover, 3rd/4th gear lever is on the left. 1st/2nd gear lever is on the right.

Further Muncie identification
3 Muncie 4 speeds were offered. The M-20 wide ratio, the M-21 close ratio, and the 'Extra heavy duty close ratio' M-22, also known as the 'Rock Crusher'. The M-22 was generally installed behind severely powerful (high torque) big-block engines. The M-22 is distinguished from an M-21 by the angle of the gear teeth. The M-22 has 'straight cut' gears. Due to this, the box tends to be noiser (whines or howls almost like a blower, which is why it's called a 'rock crusher') than other boxes. The M-21 has a higher pitch angle on its gear teeth.

The close ratio gearboxs generally came with 3.73+ gear ratio'ed cars. 3.55 geared and higher (numerically lower) cars used the wide ratio gearbox.

Due to the wide combination of id's, stampings, numbers, etc... varied and even GM couldn't keep track of what was what, it's best to ID your gearbox visually, taking what is stamped on the box FWIW. The best way to ID the transmission is to count teeth.


Chevy Manual Transmission 2019

Muncie 4 speed spline, groove and tooth count characteristics.
Type/Year

Input Spline

Input Groove

Input Gear
Tooth Count

Cluster Gear
Tooth Count

Output Spline

Gear Ratio

M20: 1963 - 6510none2429-22-19-1727Note 1
M20: 1966 - 701022125-22-19-1727Note 2
M20: 1971 - 742622125-22-19-1732Note 2
M21: 1963 - 701012627-22-19-1727Note 3
M21: 1971 - 742612627-22-19-1732Note 3
M22: 1965 - 7010none2627-22-19-1727Note 3
M22: 1971 - 7226none2627-22-19-1732Note 3

Note 1: M-20 gear ratio: 1st 2.56:1, 2nd 1.91:1, 3rd 1.48:1, 4th direct
Note 2: M-20 gear ratio: 1st 2.52:1, 2nd 1.88:1, 3rd 1.46:1, 4th direct, Rev 2.59:1.
Note 3: M-21/22 gear ratio: 1st 2.20:1, 2nd 1.64:1, 3rd 1.28:1, 4th direct, Rev 2.27:1

Effective October 21, 1968, an additional letter was added to the plant prefix number to help identify the gear ratios in Muncie transmissions. The additional letter codes as follows:

Muncie 3 speed ManualMuncie 4 speed manual transmissions
Suffix1st gear ratio
A3.03:1
B2.42:1
Suffix1st gear ratio
A2.52:1 wide range
B2.20:1 close range
C2.20:1 Rock Crusher

Of course like engines, transmissions come and go over time, so below is the (as complete as I can make it) transmission plant prefix list:

PlantTypePrefixPlantTypePrefix
Cleveland Manual Powerglide ASaginawoverdrive O
Cleveland Turbo Hydramatic BWarner Gear 3 & 4 speed P
Cleveland Powerglide CMuncie4 speed P
Hydramatic Turbo Hydramatic CAMuncie4 speed R
Saginaw Overdrive DSaginaw4 speed R
McKinnon Powerglide EMuncie3 speed S
Muncie 3 speed HSaginaw3 speedS
McKinnon 3 speed KToledoPowerglide T
GM of Canada Turbo Hydramatic LCleveland Turbo Hydramatic X
Muncie3 speed and Overdrive MToledoTurbo Hydramatic Y
Muncie4 speed N

Chevy Manual Transmission For 350


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Last updated: 10/20/2011
Author: MadMike Maciolek


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Chevy Manual Transmission Cars