Hi,
Finally had a weekend to devote to the C8. Put the time to good use by test-fitting my 235 and a transmission to make sure everything was OK before painting the frame.
Both my donor 4-speed crash boxes turned out to be worn completely out, so resorted to Plan B:
Installed a six cylinder bellhousing from a '60 through '62 Chev truck which has the clutch fork exiting the right-hand side. Now I can use my stock C8 clutch linkage with a bellhousing that accepts the later model GM manual transmissions. Made up a couple of adapters to mount it so not to modify the original C8 crossmember.
Was then able to install a General Motors SM 420 4-speed transmission. First is the ultra-low "granny" gear that I will probably never use, but it now gives me three synchronized foreward gears to work with.
Next weekend I will tear it all back apart to prepare the frame for paint!
Regards, David