Group:

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; I'm submitting this post to both forums).

The engine is terrific - simple, reliable, and 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

Just poking around at GAZ stuff on google, I came across this one...

http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/ecars/Mil/GAZ/GAZ.html

Scroll down to the one pictured in the mud and note that it too has been modified with a B20/auto. Perhaps you should drop that fella Lars an email... or is that you?

-Matt

Matt:

Lars is the guy I bought the truck from. He's an engineer, runs a firm that makes some kind of whiz-bang gadget that eliminates electrostatic charges from sensitive equipment. Sorcery. Very good engineer and shade-tree mechanic.

I've posted a picture (one of Lars') on the Gallery.

RSB

If you want a quick, cheap fix, I have a good, dry BW35 which you can have cheap. I'm located a few minutes outside Hamilton.

Bill:

How much?

RSB

Robin,

How's $100 sound? It's out of the car, and I can bring it to work with me (Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, just off the 403). I've never been able to figure out how to contact people off line, but you can give me a call or e-mail me at work. Contact info is at www.hamilton.ca

Bill:

Does this transmission have a kick down cable and a safety neutral switch?

RSB

Yes, both. It's out of a '64 Canadian. I drove it home from the seller's place, and everything worked well. I also have various versions of throttle control rods with the kick-down doo-hickey from several auto cars. They seem to vary quite abit depending on the carb/manifold set-up.

Bill:

Yeah, the cables do vary a good bit from model to model and year to year, which is why it's proving to be a bit of a bear finding a replacement for my 1972.

I have no idea if a 1964 would fit or not, but $100 for a spare transmission ...

I wouldn't be able to come out to Hamilton until the weekend - Sunday, say. I live in West Toronto. I'll give you a call.

RSB

OK, I'm working at Dundurn this weekend. I'll bring it in Sun. with me.

Well, it is difficult to say in the case of an oddball swap like this.

The B20A would have come with a 4-speed (M40) or four speed with electric overdrive (M41). Either of these will physically bolt to your engine.

If there is a short shaft from your current trans to the transfer case, it may need to be shorter or longer. If the BW35 is directly attached to the transfer case, well, you're on your own.

The clutch pedal and linkage are up to you as well.

Many many folks have taken the dreaded BW lump out of a Volvo in favor of a manual transmission. It's not hard, but you'll need access to a parts car. How you might want to arrange the clutch might steer you toward a particular donor car. 140 series cars and 1800E and ES models will have a cable actuated clutch, 122 and 1800S cars will have a hydraulic clutch.

Other than that you will need:

- flywheel (pay attention to the number of bolts - late model B20's have 8 bolts, all B18's and early to mid model (73 or 74?) B20's have 6 bolts).
-pilot bearing, washer, retaining clip - I think every single B20 crank I've seen was machined for a pilot bearing, but I hear the occasional story of an auto trannied B20 engine that isn't.
-bellhousing, throwout bearing, clutch plate, pressure plate
-different length driveshaft - although yours probably isn't a standard Volvo part anyhow - just be aware you'll need to have it shortened or lengthened somewhat
- there are two styles of shifters that bolt onto M40/41 trannies - long truck levers that come off the top of the main transmission case, and shorter levers on an extension reaching back from the case. Looking at you truck and deciding where you would rather have the lever poke out of the tunnel should steer you toward one or the other.

Now you might want to look at the room under there carefully and decide if you want an M41 or an M40. The M41 is an M40 with a Laycock overdrive hanging off the end, giving it a relaxed 5th gear and 11 1/2 inches (more or less) length over the M40. It's a great enhancement to a 4 speed old Volvo, I'm not sure if your truck has the need for it though. It makes the most sense on a Volvo over 65 - 70 mph - brings the engine RPM down to a more sane level.

BTW - neat little truck it sounds like you have there! I guess it looks like the attached pic? I keep having an irrational urge to get a 50's Volvo Sugga TP21 - a big full sized prewar sedan body perched atop a big heavy duty 4WD truck chassis for Swedish military use.

Group:

I posted a picture of my truck to the Gallery. It's entitled GAZ 69.

I've been thinking a lot about the idea some members of the thread raised of getting rid of the BW35 transmission. I've got a supplier in Vancouver - Nick at Allvo Wreckers, nice guy - who says he can supply all the necessary parts.

I'm going to need an auto shop here (in the Toronto area) that can do metal fabricating as well as just installing parts; to change the length of the driveshaft and a couple of other things.

The two places I've seen mentioned on the list are JOLEX and Pickering Euro. Do they do this kind of work? Can anyone suggest someone?

Robin

John:

Thanks for a very useful post.

The M40 sounds like my best option. I won't need overdrive; with the jacked up suspension and big mud tires my baby is not very stable at high speeds.

Truth to tell, I've enjoyed finding ways to get around that don't involve getting on the highway, although everything does take longer. You see a lot more, though.

I'll look around for a parts car around here, as you suggest. I have no idea what's available, I'm pretty to new to all this (I can't believe what an active Volvo community there is on-line). I expect that what's available will determine which type of clutch will work. Not to mention what a parts car would cost. Sigh.

Your picture didn't come through. How do you attach photos? I see the option for adding pictures to the on-line gallery but not for attaching photos to individual posts.

RSB

You could always check around in junkyards, but 60's and 70's Volvo's are getting rare in them by now. But just getting the parts you need instead of a whole car would be a lot handier than having a dead Volvo lurk around your house for a while.

I didn't really think yesterday about how the BW35 output would be attached to the transfer case. The M40 will be at least several inches shorter than the Bw35 - depending on how the components attach that could either be a minor issue or a major fabrication challenge.

And to throw out an even more off the wall suggestion - you could possibly try to source a Volvo Valp transmission and transfer case. The Valp is probably the Swedish counterpart to the Gaz 69 - a moderately sized 4WD military vehicle. It came with a Volvo 4 cylinder and had a modified M40 transmission with slightly lower gear ratios, attached to a transfer case. Depending on how the BW35 is attached to your transfer case it might be easier to just get a transmission/transfer case that is made to go together, and work with the driveshafts. It's easy to get driveshafts shortened/lengthened/ends swapped. But such a part would certainly have to come from Sweden, there aren't many Valps in the US at all, and probably fewer spare parts.

The M40 is actually very common -- overdrive was an option in the 122 and 140-series. It's the M41s that are in demand, as many people want to convert their cars to overdrive.

The optimum for you would be to find a 1975 240, assuming you're in the U.S. That new model came with the B20 and M40/41, as the OHC motor was not yet "federalized" at the model's intorduction. Looks like a 140 with a slanted nose, two round headlights... you can tell a '75 right away; the OHC motor mounts at a slant like an old Mopar 6, while the B20 is always straight up. The later trans is stronger than the earlier ones, and also has slightly wider gear ratios, which I think you'd like for your vehicle.

Very few late '75s had a B20 with M45/46 trannies. If you find one of those, grab the bell housing -- it's rare and sought after.

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