Muncie 4 speed transmissions were used in General Motors cars from 1963 to early 1975. These gear boxes were used when power levels exceeded the limits of the early Borg Warner T10 4 speed. It was actually based on the T-10 design and uses the same basic gear layout. The T10 made it's appearance in GM cars in 1957. From 1957 to 1963 many changes took place inside the gearbox to meet the increasing horsepower the new engines were putting out. It was replaced by the Muncie in late 1963. The Muncie 4 speed was used in production vehicles until power levels dropped in 1975. 1975 was the first year catalytic converters , smog pumps, and low horsepower were introduced. These new requirements led to the demise of the Muncie and the reintroduction of the improved T10 called the Super T10.
While General Motors was switching gearboxes around from 1963 to 1975 other companies such as Ford and AMC kept the T10 in production. So we got to see T10, and First Design Super T10 transmissions end up in these cars. It was also an opportunity for Borg Warner to design replacement Super T10's for the Muncie. These 4 speeds offered 9310 nickel gears, had a wide variety of gear ratios, and were available from any auto parts store carrying the Borg Warner parts line. A variation of this Super T10 ended up in GM cars from 1975 to 1983. Also as the 4 speed section of the 4+3 Corvette Overdrive in 1984 to 1988 Corvettes.
Well enough of this little 4 speed history. I figured I pass these facts on to you so that one day you can tell your children and just maybe all won't be lost. Lets face it today's muscle car is the Honda Civic. A majority of kids today will never feel the awesome torque of the big blocks as well as the feeling of ripping thru a few sets of gears.
|