61 Transmission swap??

[rberhorst]

Looking for guidance...I have a 61 chevy 1 ton dually that had a wooden flatbed. I rebuilt the 235 motor and would like to swap the trannie with a more modern 5 speed for highway purposes. But I don't want to give up the power at low speed and durability. Will it work? Anything I should know before looking for a transmission?

 

[MikeD]

Get a 4l80e with a stand alone controller. Jet Performance Inc can take care of that. Get your driveshaft cut down with the right yoke to match the output shaft of the 4l80e. Depending on your crossmember, you may have to find a 71-72 rear frame mount tranny crossmember, and drill new holes to properly mount it. Use an aftermarket floorshifter, for a 4-speed automatic and run cooler lines ran to an aux cooler mounted on the front of the radiator. Wire in the controller per instructions, fill up with fluid and there you have it. This tranny is intended for heavy trucks and can handle up to 500 ft/lbs of torque.