To compare the new M22W to your M21 there is a formula to explain the difference.

M21 = 2.20 1st
M22W = 2.56 1st

The formula:

new trans gear (times) rear ratio (divided by) original trans gear = 1st gear feel
M22W x 4.10 (divided by) M21 =
2.56 x 4.10 (divided by) 2.20 = 4.77:1

Your Camaro now has the feel of a 4.77:1 rear pulling out in 1st gear with the M22W verses the M21. You still have the 4.10 as your final drive. A very sweet play combo!

You can also go the other way for a rear gear change to have the same feel with the original M21.

The formula:

original trans gear (times) rear ratio (divided by) new trans gear = same rear gear feel
M21 x 4.10 (divided by) 2.56 =
2.20 x 4.10 (divided by) 2.56 = 3.52:1

The closest rear gear would be a 3.55:1

The M21/4.10:1 combination and M22W/3.55:1 will have the same 1st gear feel.

 

I love that tranny,..tough as nails,..good and tight,..nice gearing,..priced right. If I have a complaint, it's that it's not that receptive to downshifts at upper rpm. She downshifts fine at lower rpm used for most street cruising but If I do a big bonzai then want to slow the car down with the tranny, it can grind on me.

Let me know if you encounter this.

But make no mistake,..I'm extrememly happy with the tranny,..I'd give it an A-.

 

Straight line 69 I'll let you know if it does that. I only drive about 2k miles a year so I just couldn't see goint 5 speed. I really like how the ratios are split, then again I've only driven it 20 miles. Jody I ran all the numbers before I bought it and it seems like I might be able to wind up the motor a little more in between gears which should be helpful when I drag race. The car was always a dog in first gear and ran out of rpm at the bigend orf the track.

 

I love that tranny,..tough as nails,..good and tight,..nice gearing,..priced right. If I have a complaint, it's that it's not that receptive to downshifts at upper rpm. She downshifts fine at lower rpm used for most street cruising but If I do a big bonzai then want to slow the car down with the tranny, it can grind on me.

Let me know if you encounter this.

But make no mistake,..I'm extrememly happy with the tranny,..I'd give it an A-.

Is your clutch adjusted properly? Did you have your bellhousing checked for concentric & parrallel alignment?

As you downshift, the synchronizers have to work harder for gear engagement. The above items could be causing your grinding on downshifting. A properly setup driveline with an M22W or any street manual transmission should not do this if everything else checks out.

Autogear has two available synchronizers for the Muncie with the narrow hubs. The 14A has a softer/smoother feel but, will wear out much quicker. The 14A is the most common and you will find those in the lower end rebuild kits. The 14D will have a more harder/notchy feel but, will take a lot more speed shifting and abuse. A 14D likes to be downshifted at higher RPMs than the 14A.

The 14Ds are almost double in price than the 14As. We only use the 14D in our Muncies unless a person requests the 14A. The people that request 14As are usually very mature and not abusive!

Do you know what synchros are in your M22W?

 

Big Jody,..I ordered this particular tranny from a highly recommended builder in CA (John's 4-Speeds in Anaheim). I don't know which synchros were installed, though no expense was spared,..cast-iron midplate, the Italian gear-set (can't ever remember the name of the vendor,..you probably know), and of course the Super-case and the larger input bearing with the 26 spline input shaft, etc.

As far as alignment, this is a street car with the original 621 bellhousing,..so not aligned as a scattershield would be.

Clutch adjustment is fine,..has about 1/2" to 3/4" play,..and she shifts smooth as silk otherwise.

It is a fairly new tranny,..about 750 miles.

 

Big Jody,..I ordered this particular tranny from a highly recommended builder in CA (John's 4-Speeds in Anaheim). I don't know which synchros were installed, though no expense was spared,..cast-iron midplate, the Italian gear-set (can't ever remember the name of the vendor,..you probably know), and of course the Super-case and the larger input bearing with the 26 spline input shaft, etc.

As far as alignment, this is a street car with the original 621 bellhousing,..so not aligned as a scattershield would be.

Clutch adjustment is fine,..has about 1/2" to 3/4" play,..and she shifts smooth as silk otherwise.

It is a fairly new tranny,..about 750 miles.

My original 621 bellhousing was out of parrallel by .014". We check every bellhousing to remove and eliminate doubt.

What pedal height does your clutch engage off your floor? Do you have a reverse gear crunch while engaging reverse from neutral?

 

Do you have a reverse gear crunch while engaging reverse from neutral?

Suggestion: When shifting to reverse from neutral, select 4th gear, then reverse.

This action stops the clustershaft and reverse idler from spinning so the gears will engage quietly. Remember, reverse is a non-synchro gear. Works for all manual transmissions, 3-spd included.

 

My clutch pedal height is the same as my other two 69 Camaros with Munices,..about 2" higher than the brake pedal.

Shifting into reverse is easy,..no problems.

Any chance the synchros haven't worn in?

Any chance the use of Amsoil gear oil could prevent synchro function?...(my other three Muncie's, the third a 73 Vette, all use conventional 80-90 lube).

 

my m22 does that crunch. also how the heck do you adjust the clutch linkage! my clutch engages way late. i would like it to engage about an inch off the floor. im using speed direct adjustable linkage. any ideas?

 

Personaly, i hate synthetic oil in muncies, it causes leaks and also stops the syncro rings from doing their job correctly IMO. I have seen lots of Muncies do the crunching when synthetic was used.
Dont get me wrong, Amsoil is a great product, my race car picked up 2-3 mph when i changed the diff oil to amsoil, plus it almost doubled the gear life.
I use and recomend to my customers nothing but 85/90 in Muncies and Borg ST10.
My thoughts not yours.

 

When I bought my Autogear M22 this year, I was instructed to use nothing but Valvoline 30W or it would void the warranty. Changed it @ 100 miles, than 200. It is perfect. Haven't tried any high RPM downshifts.

 

Valvoline 30w? I was told valvoline 80/90w or maybe it was 75/90. I now have 2k miles on the trans and shifts perfectly. It drips slightly out the bottom bolt of the tail housing or dribbles out the vent I'm not sure which. But it has about 50 drag stip passes on it and shifts great.

 

Mine was a bit notchy for the first few hundred miles. Now it's sooo smoth. I use Amsoil in it and downshift is not a problem at all.

 

Sorry, it was Valvoline 50W.

 

Hi Dave, Jody & all--- Charlie here from Seattle. Just trying to understand why you went to an M22 instead of a five speed????? I have a 69 with a 350, M21 and a limited slip 12 bolt 3.55 rear end. I don't care for the close ratio shifting and it's definately not fun at the high rpm on the freeway. What would you do if you had my setup? Thanks, Charlie

 

Charlie- There were several reasons why I went with the m-22 over the 5 speed. The main reason was cost since I had just put a rebuilt m-21 inthe year before. I had everything new and dialed in for a muncie. When I added it up it was going to be about 1k more to do the five speed. I was considering selling the car at the time and couldn't see putting anymore money into thatn I had to. If you drive on the highway alot and have the extra money go for the 5 speed. The m-22 is a great trans but overdirve would be nice.

 

I don't get this crap about highway rpm's above 3050 rpm at 70 mph or so in high gear b/c our cars are designed to do it for years and years! Gas mileage wasn't part of this back then b/c I paid 26 cents/gallon for good leaded regular!!

If I got bored with my engine's rpm sound, I either slowed down or sped up AND it was usually up to about 3500 in high gear with my M-20, 3.31's and anywhere from 25.5" to 29.5" tall tires back then!!

And that was the way I drove her out between the small country towns late at night and way early in the morning commuting back and forth to work on the RR. ON all roads, concrete highway or gravel!!

pdq67

 

Sounds like thunder road , where the moon comes over the mountain in gallon jugs...

 

ill have to try that next time.

 

I put mine in 1st or 2nd before going into reverse or it will crunch. Goes smooth as silk when I first go into a forward gear.