Topic: od unit
in Forum: C3 Driveline Components

There IS a kit available to put an overdrive gear into the stock Muncie 4 speed. It is still a 4 speed, but 4th gear is overdrive. About $300 for the kit, last time I looked, plus the labor for the conversion, and it all fits exactly like it came from the factory...no cutting or any other modification. It involves changing the cluster gear, and the 3rd gear on the main shaft of the trans, and flipping the 3-4 shift lever over on the outside of the trans. It's a pretty neat set-up, for someone wanting to keep the stock look/trans, but have an O/D ratio in 4th. The bad part is it will not work in a BW Super T-10 trans....only the Muncies.

The next best option is to go with the Keisler, or similar swap to a 5 or 6 speed. Lot more work, but you get better ratios all around that way.
I find this interesting. Here's part of one on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Muncie-M21-Overdrive-Cluster-Gear-Italian-Steel-Auto-Gear-M21Y-WT297-8H-/201252074545?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2edb8ef431&vxp=mtr

1978 L82 4speed
1994 LT1 6speed
Didn't realize Kiesler is now out of business, but anyhow, their transmission was a Tremmec TKO just for information. They sold a kit and had their own off-set shifter as the Tremmec at the time was only a top loader in the center of the transmission. Few years later there was a bolt on offset shifter made for Tremmecs 5 speeds.
Hopefully your transmission mount is a bolt in, mine on my 1978 was a weld-in crossmember. Kiesler claimed it was a simple (ok air quotes "simple") bolt in installation. Unbolt the motor mounts and radiator,jack the motor up, slide the transmission upside down into the tunnel and pull forward and rotate.... yeah right....... I know Darryl's was a bolt in crossmember so he didn't have toooo much trouble.. ;) but as for the T56 six speed, i'm not so sure about, but I kinda recall its a very very tight fit... but had I to do it over again, I probably would do it over again with the 5 speed. I don't race or drag with it (much) so it is a good cruiser transmission. By the way I am running a 4.10 rear gear and in 5th gear I turn about 2200 rpm at 60-65 mph... roughly 20-22 mpg with a zz4 355 hp crate motor and 750 holley...