I have a '54 Chevy with the original 6 cylinder and 3 speed. I also have a Borg Warner Overdrive on a '62 trans with the rear mounting pad. Does anyone know if this would be a bolt in? I do realize I would have to ditch the torque tube, but that's something I want to do anyways.
Have to change bell housing to don't you ? As i remember the 54 trans has a smaller bolt pattern. Think maybe you will need a 6 chevy truck bell housing.
You might have to swap arms around or do a bit of fabricating but you should be able to make it work. It isn't a hard swap but you do have to pull the clutch and fly wheel off to get the bellhousing off.
The '62 bellhousing will fit, the '54 one will not. It's not the engine bolt pattern that's different, it's the pattern on the transmission side.
I have a 58 3 spd borg warner od unit in my 54 behind my 235 and here is what I found out. 47-59 truck is a definite bolt in swap, I know some of the 60-62 had a slave cylinder and that kinda screws things up a little the truck bell housing bolts right up to your 235 as for your k member, I notched mine a little and cut a rectangle hole in the bottom and welded in a plate in the top so I could drill out the plate and bolt my trans in. MAKE SURE YOU GET A 2 BOLT MOUNT! the single bolt mounts **** and strip out. as for your linkage, it will work with some minor tweaking. do yourself a favor though and either find some nos parts to replace your old worn out shifter bushings or make some new ones with thin 1/2 tubing that acts as a bushing with a nylon ring on the outside. It will make a world of difference I promise! things to look out for: make sure your angle on your trans is good make sure your brake pedal clearances the clutch fork and adjuster (if not clearance the pedal 1/4") watch out for your linkage hitting your firewall and make sure you regrease your shifter selector box on the column.
Thanks! I think there's a bellhousing in a '58 truck at the local pick a part. I'll have to check it out. Thanks again!