After overhauling my 1962 fairlane 221 V-8, I made the mistake of using the 2.77 3 spd. standard transmission that was in it. No low gear synchro, slow shifting and sloppy. Turns out Ford built a better 3 spd in `63`. , the 3.03. Does anyone out there know of a better 3 , 4 , or even 5 spd. that would match up to my bell bolt pattern, 23 spline, or a different bellhousing that would match 5 bolt pattern of the 221?. This topic was already addressed on h.a.m.b. before but didn`t quite solve my problem. Any further help would be much appreciated.
You can use a T-5 but will need a adapter,I think the newer 3 speeds have both bolt patterns as do the toploader and T10s.
S10 T5, with a simple adapter. This, a clutch disc with splines to match the input, and an S10 T5, with the 3.76 gearset (many lists on line show the part number, like 1352-145): http://www.speedwaymotors.com/GM-Manual-Trans-to-1949-64-Ford-Bellhousing-Adapter,20628.html Bolts to the stock bellhousing. Uses the stock clutch linkage-n-stuff. You'd have to fashion a crossmember, but that should not be too bad. "CORE" shifters on eBay makes replica Hurst shifter bases. They work well. I run one. You can get one set up for a tall stick, to the travel is not huge. Stick is up to you. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Core-Hurst-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f412d9114&vxp=mtr I used a Chevy truck 4-speed forged stick, cut off the tower, with the end heated, flattened and drilled for the Hurst pattern. I topped that with a ball that matched the dashboard knobs. It looks like an OEM piece, that plausibly could have came that way.
Everything after 1964 has a different belhousing pattern. If you are going to have to pony-up for an adapter, you might as well get a lower first gear, a better gear spread, and an overdrive. The single biggest thing, aside from fuel injection, that modern cars have, in terms of efficiency are the gears. More gears = more efficient use of the available power. You will get the power you have to the road better. Performance AND mileage will be better.
a big THANKS to you. I didn`t realize Speedway had that specific adaptor. Now I`ll start hittin` the junkyards for a T5.
Also, I think you have a 10.4" clutch. I am hoping that someone can verify this. Some materials say that it is a 10". You will need a clutch disc that has that diameter, and has the S10 T5 splines, which are 1"-14 teeth. If 10.4" is the clutch size, then this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ctf-382114/overview/ If it is a 10", it will take some digging, but there must be something. Or the equivalent, will get you going. You will also need a Ford to GM pilot bushing, which is: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcl-8-1380-1 Or the equivalent.
Okay, scratch the digging, that's a Flathead T5 conversion clutch disc: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Flath...ch-14-Spline-S-10-T-5-Transmission,25137.html
The bellhousing adapter plate @ Speedway includes an adapter sleeve for the pilot bushing. As far as the clutch size, I recall it being a 10 inch. Hope I can find one with a T-5 spline.
I have that adapter. It came with no sleeve. The only variable I can think of now is the diameter of the collar where the throwout bearing rides. I think the S10 T5 might be smaller. This can be swapped for a Ford one.
I'll check back with Speedway on the 10 inch clutch disc because I should use a new one. There 's a swap meet coming up near here in Febuary. That will be a good place to try to locate the rest of the parts. Thanks again.
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