OK. I borrowed this out of another one of my posts about the Ford/Merc Y, 'cause I'm too lazy to retype it, but it still applies. Hopefully this sheds some light. These are for Ford Y bells, but the transmission dimensions are the same. "The car bell through '64 has a bearing retainer hole of 4.675" & the trans bolt pattern of '49-'64 car transmissions (sometimes called "high & narrow"). The input shaft length should be 6 1/2" for this bell. The truck bellhousings for the light duty T-85 (car-derived) & medium duty T-89 truck trans, & the T-86 3 speed OD all have a bearing retainer hole of 4.675" & the same bolt pattern as '49-'64 car transmissions. The input shaft on the trans needs to be 7 1/8" for the LD/MD/OD bell. This is the same bell that is modified for the Mustang T-5 swap; this T-5 has the 7 1/8" input shaft, & a different bolt pattern. The HD 3-speed T-87 /4-speed T-98 bell have a bearing retainer hole of 5 1/8", a larger bolt pattern (wide & short) w/bigger bolts, & an input shaft of 7 1/8" ('64-earlier). I believe the Clark 5-speed uses this same bell. 12/6/06 note: it does. '65-later bells, not including the various 5 -speeds, have (need) input shafts of 6 1/2" & a bearing retainer hole of 4.85...& don't come in the Y block pattern." As you can see, the Lincoln truck bellhousing has the HD 3-speed/4-speed/5-speed trans dimensions. I could be mistaken, but I don't believe the HD trucks (like the F-700 & so forth that used the Lincoln Y) ever were equipped with the lighter-duty transmissions- my shop manuals say no, at any rate- & I've never seen one- & therefore there is no Lincoln truck bell that can use the OD 3-speed. Further, so far as I can tell, all the Lincolns (cars, that is) from '53-'57 used either the Hydramatic or the Lincoln version of the Ford-O, so no hope there. I'm not certain about the '52 Lincolns. The one car that probably used the p***enger 3-speed, or the OD, was the '57 Mercury with the 368, the Turnpike Cruiser. Other Mercs MAY have had the 368 as an option, I don't know, but I don't think so. You would need an reducer ring, and the different bolt pattern on the truck bell to make it work. I'm not certain that the bell has enough meat on the top to do that...but perhaps bosses could be welded on. I've heard rumors that this has been done, but no one's ever given specifics. Might be easier than finding a 368 Merc bell, though...
Thanks. I talked with a guy that adapted a 64 top loader to the truck bellhousing. I know he used a ring but I don't know about the bolt pattern. This is a big help.
I'm glad you brought this thread back up- I need to add some additional info. Rob already saw this elsewhere, but others might find it useful. According to a guy who has worked with Lincoln Ys for some time, there are a couple of other options. There were some aftermarket bells from Cragar. I have never seen one in years of (half-***) looking, but he has. Offy also made an adapter that goes from Lincoln Y to the early '32-'48 flathead trans. If you use it, you then can use any adapter that goes from early flathead to whatever. He says that he has a T-5 5-speed hooked up this way. You are totally on your own, of course, so far as clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing (hyd. would be easiest by far), & input shaft length. Same thing as any other swap, really. I have seen the Offy adapter, once, on eBay. HEATHEN might be able to look for one in his searches. The Lincoln guy also says that the truck flywheel is pretty much a given, as he has only run across two aftermarket flywheels in his years. You could always have Hays make a custom...it WILL cost $$$, likely the better part of a grand. As I mentioned, & he confirms, the '57 Merc 368-powered Turnpike Cruiser was produced in very small quan***ies with a bell & T-85. I just read somewhere that TOTAL production of the 'Cruiser, auto & stick, was something like 200 cars. No idea if this is true or not. It certainly wasn't very high. Someone else claims that the '56 FORD had the 368 as the S-code option. I have NEVER heard this, & neither has the Lincoln Y guru...but as he said, anything's possible with FoMoCo. If you can find this bell, an early Ford T-10 will work with it as well. Now to the good stuff. According to him, a Saginaw 3-speed will bolt up to the truck bellhousing with some very minor hole drilling/enlarging. The truck throwout bearing will need to be sleeved to work with the Sag bearing retainer. The Sag 4-speed will also work. He says this is the easiest trans swap. In questioning him on this swap, & doing a little research, I found that this is the Saginaw 3-speed made from '66-'80 (or later). It has the seven bolt side cover. This is a pretty decent trans, used in a lot of local/claimer stock car cl***es...you can get Hurst shifters, different ratios, rebuid kits, & so on. It is a huge improvement, shifting wise, over the HD 3-speed, T-98 4-speed, or Clark 5-speed (which is huge & has a parking brake on the output shaft...in case anyone has ideas. ) It is NOT the early Sag made from the mid '50s to '65 (cars) & '67-'68 (trucks), which is a pile of ****. The Sag 4-speed isn't my choice, but it would hold up OK behind a mild to moderate Lincoln Y. FWIW, these Sags should work behind the Ford Y-block HD bell too...though it would be easier just to use one of the other options for a Ford Y.
Just found this thread some good information. Bump! The truck bellhousings for the light duty T-85 (car-derived) & medium duty T-89 truck trans, & the T-86 3 speed OD all have a bearing retainer hole of 4.675" & the same bolt pattern as '49-'64 car transmissions. The input shaft on the trans needs to be 7 1/8" for the LD/MD/OD bell. This is the same bell that is modified for the Mustang T-5 swap; this T-5 has the 7 1/8" input shaft, & a different bolt pattern.
Good stuff for sure! I'd like to know how many miles Rob has put on that Lincoln of his. He drives it all over the place. Hi Rob!
Here is a 332 yblock out a '58 F-800 and it is now doing another ***ignment and runs real strong. Normbc9
I would not grant him that much dignity. With out an *** hole you would die, so every body has to have one and an *** hole has no choice about what it is. I could live just fine with out folks like this though.
Mine has been on the road 3 summers now,I hardly get out of the fast lane The ol lincoln has never let me down! Catch me at the HAMB drags if ya can.... Later, Rob
Does anyone know if there is a difference in the distributors between the Yblock and the Lincoln. I have the distributor and factory tach out of an early 60's cabover that had the Lincoln in it. I would like to use it in my 59 Four door pickup with the yblock.
Man did Rob and I have a blast at the KKOA Salina drags, those sbc's were gettin chewed up by the ol Hot Rod Lincoln. Rusty the Ranch Wagon had a great time winning a 2 out of 3 against a German sports car (V.W. rag top) the trusty six shooter was cookin!Henry Ford was smilin down on us. ~sololobo~
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