Group:

I'm a new poster, with an odd vehicle and a transmission problem.

I own a Soviet Army GAZ 69, basically a small 4x4 pickup they used as their equivalent of a JEEP. Mine was bought from a very talented engineer in Sweden who dropped a 1972 Volvo B20a/BW35 auto transmission into the GAZ (I don't know if he took it out of a 140 or an 1800, I gather that either vehicle might have had this combination).

The engine is terrific - the engineer bored out the cylinders and did a lot of work on it - but the transmission's another story. I've never liked it much, and recently it's started leaking fluid like crazy. My local AAMCO dealership tells me I need a new kickdown cable and a new neutral safety switch, and I've built up a list of possible suppliers in the Toronto area from reading old e-mails on this list (thanks!).

What I want to ask is of you all is an informed judgement about how difficult and complex it would be to put a standard transmission into my truck to repalce the BW35. Is there a Volvo standard tranny that can be swapped in with a minimum of fuss, or would this be a major production costing $$$?

Many thanks, in advance, for your thoughts.

RSB

Absolutely -- there's the model M40 4-speed and the M41 4-speed + overdrive (just liike a fifth gear, but electrically operated). You would also need the bell housing that goes with those, and then the clutch, pedal, some way of linking the pedal to the clutch (cable or hydraulic, depending on the bell housing)... and some way of relocating the transmission mount forward from its present position.

How hard that is to do on your vehicle, I have no clue. It's relatively easy on a Volvo 140-series, harder on the older ones.

Phil:

Thanks for the fast response.

An M40 or M41. And associated bits.

Am I right in supposing the simplest way to do this would be to find a wrecked Volvo fitted with one of these and just lift the whole thing out - bell housing, pedals, and all?

Alternatively, is there a supplier who would sell the transmission and associated components all together?

Finally - can you recommend a garage that would do such a job? JoLex Auto and Pickering Eurocars seem to be the two places most often cited on this forum.

RSB

Finding a donor car with all the bits would be the way to go. Were I you, I'd find a 122 or early 1800 with a hydrolic clutch. I would think that would be easier to modify than trying to get a clutch cable going. Search the archives in the 122 section for transmission conversions. Pretty commonly discussed, and I would think the 122 would be the closest to your conversion efforts...

Being that your's is more of a truck, I assume you ain't doing much high speed travel? If thats the case, I'd skip the M41 with overdrive. All you need is the straight 4 speed. Inexpensive parts cars do appear commonly on ebay...

The important thing here is... Where's your pictures???? I want to see this vehicle. Including engine shots. Sounds like a good one!

-Matt

Matt:

I'll be happy to post some pictures, soon as I figure out how to do it ....

RSB