Welp, I finished up the big work on my auto tranny to toploader swap and the 69 actually moves forward, backwards and shifts gears like a real car. Still need to install the hood, dash pad and center console top insert. Took her out for a few miles test drive without any odd noises or whining from the jenner or newly installed 3.25 traction lok rear gears. She shifts real nice. I'm flummoxed, and relieved.
It was a bigger job than I'd expected. This toploader is an odd duck that I'd not heard of till about a year ago. It's an SMOD, 4 speed with 4th being .78 OD. They were offered on 1977-78 trucks and vans with a 300 ci six, or 351W. A lot of guys don't like them as 4th gear isn't normal toploader tough, and it takes a bit of work to get them to fit anything other than the vehicle they came on. The tailhousing shifter bosses don't accept a quality shifter, so I made one to accept a Hurst Comp Plus. The 3-4 shifter rod lever needs to be flipped 180° so a normal 1 thru 4 shift is in the correct order.
The shifter rods aren't my favorite anodized color, but who's gonna see them?
I found my tranny on craigslist over in Ojai, a few miles from Santa Barbara for $300. All the parts I could see thru the top looked to be in pristine condition. So I decided to run it as is after cleaning it thoroughly.
I really wanted to use a cable clutch, but gave up on it because of LOFT, lack of flipping talent. I ended up using a MDL set up with Wilwood master cylinder and Tilton hydraulic release bearing. The master uses a bell crank and bracket that mounts to the interior firewall where the stock Z bar clutch rod goes thru the firewall. Getting it mounted properly is a major pita. The bracket has to be clearanced to fit a small flat vertical area that is next to the fuse box, and uneven areas of the firewall. This took many tries of grinding and checking the fit, which for me was back breaking work. Not fun.
My clutch pedal was way off in alignment to the brake pedal, which I thought would be an easy fix. I ended up making a fixture with the brake pedal to get the clutch pedal aligned pretty close.
I picked up a manual brake pedal hanger and figured I might as well do the MS bearing mod. I turned a piece of scrap rod to keep the shaft bearing retainer centered and flush with the existing hanger hole while tack welding the retainer. Later I learned from MS that if you use 2 of them connected to a rod or threaded rod, it keeps both bearing retainers parallel. What a nice kit. I'm sure I won't be the last person to recommend this mod.
To fit the shifter in the tunnel hole laterally I needed a stick with a 2" offset, along with the correct height and length to the rear. Finding one didn't happen. Luckily i had my brother's 69 M1 with Hurst shifter to go off to make one that fit.
I went with a McLeod pressure plate and a Centerforce clutch disc.
I seriously thought I'd get this winter party project completed in 2-3 weeks. Ya, well, wishful thinking.
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Bullet Bob wrote:
