Several folks in the "big bore" vintage racing community like to offer up the Super T-10 transmission as the best 4-speed, synchromesh gear engagement (not dog ring), "period" style gearbox for Chevy racers. I disagree, and not just because they weren't original equipment in a first generation Camaro Z/28.
I disagree because:
1) I believe a Muncie shifts better than a Super T-10. I have driven both, or rather, more Super T-10s than Muncies in race cars. I've even driven a fresh Super T-10 and a Muncie, both rebuilt and syncro-prepped by the same transmission wizard, each with fresh and similar shift linkages. In my experiences, the Muncie shifts smoother, less notchy, than a Super T-10.
2) I think the Muncie can be just as reliable. After 11 years of vintage racing a Camaro, it still has the same M21 transmission. In that time we've only done two general rebuilds, which included fresh sets of syncros.
I do think that if you're going to run a Muncie in your race car, you should do the following:
- Vent the Muncie transmission from the top of the rear tailhousing, or it'll build more pressure than it needs to, and have a better chance of leaking while on the track. I hate leaks, and if sealed and prepped properly, a Muncie should not leak on the track, in the paddock, or sitting for months in the garage/shop.
- Use an input bearing oil slinger, or yours may want to leak between the input splines and the nose (bearing retainer) under heavy, repeated braking that only a road race track can induce.
-Chad
PS. I did run/try a "spare" M22 transmission for one track session, but that ended with us putting back our well used M21. It wasn't the spare Muncie's fault, and it's a long story irrelevant to the above, but I bring it up because forum moderator Jon Mello was actually at that track event to see us doing this swap back to the M21. I didn't want Jon to question my credibility on the bit about 11 years of running the same transmission.
