I am just so ready to get my *** ripped by a bunch of hot rodders. But I figure you guys have more ingenuity then the guys from around my area. I am building up a custom truck. (Here is where you get your rocks ready) I am building a 1978 F100 2WD LWB truck. I have a 460 I am building for some mild power. The transmission in the truck is a Clarks OD 4spd. Well I want to get rid of that paper weight and put a better transmission in its place. Well a family friend, has a Saginaw 4spd w/ Hurst Shifter he will sell me for 200 dollars. The bellhousing I have is for a 351/400M which is same as a 429/460. I want to know if I can bolt up the Saginaw 4spd to the Ford bellhousing. Now I know there are going to be a few guys say 'Well why dont you save your money and get a Muncie M22" or some **** like that. Why you ask? Cause I am a young man, running my own speed shop, and I dont have the money for it. And frankly I need the truck to get up and go by the end of summer. With that said. Would the Saginaw 4spd bolt up? I appreciate you guys who will help me.
Not only don't they fit, they can't handle the brutal torque of a big block! Or even a high strung small block! So, fa-get about it!!
Thank you guys. Problem I have is trying to find a transmission localy. The are I live in people junk stuff all the time. I will try and get ahold of a few junk yards local to find a Toploader.
It's been done for years, "the other way around"; a Chevrolet engine in front of a toploader Ford. Two ways: an after market ****tershield with multiple trans mount patterns or an adapter. Turn the adapter around! Most ****tershields now are made to fit several different blocks, and I would imagine transmissions also. The Saginaw will be weak, but IF you down't beat it, it will last. There are guys running them behind BBC engines. The other easy option would be to swap to an automatic. Towing yard auctions are your friend when it comes to engines, trans, rear ends, and other usable parts. Take what you need, hulk out what you don't. But with the price of s**** going up again, they are'nt as cheap as they used to be (they can make more money hulking them out than selling them at auction). The Ford to GM ****tershields are in both Jegs (620-15205 351W block)and Summit catalogs. NOW, I'm NOT a FORD GUY so if I'm wrong don't come reach crirical m*** and have a meltdown). Can you redrill your Ford bellhousing to the GM pattern. You'd have to probably machine the throw out bearing collar or fab up a spacer ring. He asked the question, here's "my" answer; it may NOT be what you or I would do but.........Butch/56sedandelivery. E-Bay item # 130505236013 Ford to GM manual trans adapter- NOW, I don't know Fords, the differences in the years, or IF this will work. You'd need to use a pilot bushing machined to fit, a GM course spline disc, a Ford pressure plate, the throwout bearing that fits the collar. But, I think anyone with a little mechanical ap***ude could make it work. Glad I did an E-Bay search for this, I found something else I'm interested in. Butch/56sedandelivery.
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