HEY GUYS, IVE GOT A 66 CHEVY FLEETSIDE LONG BED WITH ORIGANAL V8 AND 4 SPEED TRANNY, IM TRYING TO CONVERT TO 350, WITH 350TH TRANNY, DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE TRANNY CROSSMEMBER? I KNOW THE DRIVELINE WILL BE SHORTENED IM JUST NOT SURE IF ILL HAVE TO REMOVE THE CROSSMEMBER OR JUST FABRICATE SOMETHING ON IT TO MAKE IT WORK....PLEASE HELP!!!!
[updated:LAST EDITED ON Feb-09-03 AT 01:21 PM (CST)]Well, if it's like my 64 panel, there is no crossmember for the 4 speed Granny transmission. There is a e-brake cable mount. You will need a crossmember to support the new th350. There are a number of suppliers that sell replacement bolt-in crossmembers. You will probably find that when putting the new crossmember up, there are rivits or existing holes where the new crossmember needs to go. Chisle out those rivits and it should all go in with little trouble. That e-brake mount "may" need to come out ( I know it won't clear a 700R4) so a replacement method needs to be figured out. DValentine Oh yea, On the drive shaft, Measure Yoke to yoke, and have your's shorthened and balanced by a shop that knows what they are doing. You should also have them install a new yoke that will match the TH350 output shaft yoke. It should be between $80 - $100 but will eliminate all problems with vibration and premature universal joint failure.
THANKS FOR THE INFO, I APRICIATE YOUR HELP!!!! DO YOU KNOW WERE I CAN GET A CROSSMEMBER? CHEVY DUTY SAID THAT THEY DONT SELL THEM ANYMORE, IM NOT TO SURE WERE TO START LOOKING. DOES THE E BRAKE MOUNT GO ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FRAME? I HAVE A MOUNT OR CROSSMEMBER THAT GOES ALL THE WAY ACROSS AND HAS TWO HOLES, ONE ON EACH SIDE, AT AN ANGLE TO MOUNT THE GRANNY 4SPD AND ITS RIVITED IN. IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN BY E BRAKE MOUNT?? THANKS AGAIN!!!!
That 4 speed is mounted by 4 bolts on the bellhousing. That e-barke mount is between the frame rails as you described and has two rivits, per side. Under the bellhousing is the rear motor mounts and crossmamber. That crossmember will also need to be removed to make way for the th350. There are no rear motor mounts on an automatic which is the reason you now need a trans mount and crossmember there. Try these guys for a crossmember http://www.earlyclassic.com Dval
