[pontiac_boy]

What part of Idaho are you from?

[1_Wild_Cat]

Thanks for the warm welcome...

I see you need at least one new quarter panel.

Thanks for the info. Right now I am hunting a good salvage panel, and have a couple of leads. Fingers crossed.

I would put the RA manifolds on and save yourself a lot of messing around.

I have thought some about going that route too. I haven't made any real decisions yet on this and probably have a couple of years before I have to.

What I meant to post was: I think you will be happier with the M20 wide-ratio transmission. Lesson learned - read before hitting POST.

LOL...well I knew what you meant. The high first gear is one of my reasons for deciding to get rid of the M22. The annoying noise is the other reason.

I always contend that the GTO option alone takes a '64 Lemans out of the realm of "low option" but in your case, I count at least a dozen options (seat belt delete was an option so gotta count it!). In my book, that qualifies as pretty well equipped.

HaHa...I didn't look at it that way. I guess what I meant was it doesn't tend to have the "big options" - light groups, power options, etc. Little couple dollar options like the parking brake light.

Thanks for the info about the steering stabilizer too. I read through the posts and it seemed like those cars with the 612 package tended to have the part. Others without the 612 package also had it - maybe more than one route to ending up with it.

I also noticed some posts suggesting that the Tri Power with the 3 speed is a bit unusual. Anything to that?

What part of Idaho are you from?

I have lived around the state some...currently in the Boise area.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 1_Wild_Cat

LOL...well I knew what you meant. The high first gear is one of my reasons for deciding to get rid of the M22. The annoying noise is the other reason.

Annoying noise? I LIKE that noise!!

(lol)

Seriously - (although I was being serious) one of my first projects as a young engineer was to fix gear whine in a manual transmission.

My mentor said "hear that? You gotta fix it."

"Fix it?" I said. "I LIKE it!!"

This might be a good time to make a move torwards a manual trans with overdrive, since you are still on the fence. Your three speed knob mounted on top of a 5 speed stick might be kind of fun.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Welcome!! btw.

K

[MH 1964]

Welcome To Forum and THANKS for saving another 64!!!

[wbnapier]

I have one of those modern M22W's with the Autogear case. It wines, especially in 3rd gear. It's pretty cool.

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Annoying noise? I LIKE that noise!!

(lol)

Seriously - (although I was being serious) one of my first projects as a young engineer was to fix gear whine in a manual transmission.

My mentor said "hear that? You gotta fix it."

"Fix it?" I said. "I LIKE it!!"

This might be a good time to make a move torwards a manual trans with overdrive, since you are still on the fence. Your three speed knob mounted on top of a 5 speed stick might be kind of fun.

K

[John V.]

Originally Posted by 1_Wild_Cat

I also noticed some posts suggesting that the Tri Power with the 3 speed is a bit unusual. Anything to that?

I bought my first (and only other) '64 GTO in 1973 from the original owner. It had the base 3 spd man trans. I soon yanked it and installed a 4 spd. Always regretted that move and the fact that I literally threw the original trans out in the garbage.

Car is long gone (another sad tale) but one of the only things I have kept from it is the original, well-worn, 3 spd shift ball. Sorry, it holds sentimental value for me, not parting with it!

As far as the 3 spd being rare with the Tripower, my experience is that the 3 spd was generally rare in the GTO. Very few '64s that I run across got the base trans.

They weren't much to brag about, non-synchro 1st. Presumably, PMD had good reason to offer the Dearborn 3 spd in '65 as a Heavy Duty option.

Not sure how easy they are to find if you wanted to go back to the original, but I know there is one in a landfill somewhere in south Jersey......

[1_Wild_Cat]

Annoying noise? I LIKE that noise!!

B/T/W, I love the M-22 whine. It only does it in the first three gears.

Sorry...It reminds me of a big truck or a 4 wheeldrive transfer case...

The main reason for favoring the M20 is the first gear ratio. As Mr. Taylor discussed. I forgot to mention in my original post that the car is equipped with 3.23s, and I like the gear since running around the West means some long trips.

There is the financial aspect too. For what I can get from the M22 I can buy both a nice M20 and probably all the metal needed for the quarter repair.

Seems like a good deal - since I don't think I will be needing the additional power handling. My engine plans aren't radical...

Car is long gone (another sad tale) but one of the only things I have kept from it is the original, well-worn, 3 spd shift ball. Sorry, it holds sentimental value for me, not parting with it!

Far be it from me to part a man from such an item. I have a nice 4 speed knob I have carted around since my teens and it isn't going anywhere.

How about a picture though? It would help to know just what to look out for...

The other thing that in re-reading my original post that I forgot to mention was the factory colors for the car...

Saddle Bronze with the Light Saddle interior.

Initially, I was disappointed - but I think it is growing on me.

[John V.]

Here you go!

[1_Wild_Cat]

Thanks John V. - Looks pretty recognizable with the rounded "3", long numbers and no insert.

I am seeing a lot of swap meets and salvage yards in my immediate future...

I've run an M20 with a 3.23 in a '65, and it's the perfect all-around gearing for a street driven car that also sees long road trips.

I thought that is should be a good gear and was happy that it was in the car. Funny, because a couple of my friends said "too bad it isn't a 3.90 car" and I thought the opposite.