I apologize if this has been discussed already, but haven't been able to find exact info... I have a 57 Chevy sedan with the original side mounts on the bellhousing. I'd like to adapt a Ford Toploader into the car. I've read about using a Jeep bellhousing but that doesn't help when I need the side mounts. Has anyone adapted the trans to a tri-five bellhousing? I have a lathe so not worried about t******* the input retainer, etc. Just wondering how it will mount to the bellhousing. Thanks!
Something sticks in my mind about re-drilling the mounting flange on the top loader to match the GM pattern. I could be wrong, though. I'm sure others will chime in with more and better info.
Is your bell housing out of a p***enger car or a truck? I believe the hole in the truck bell housing is larger. The p***enger car housing is the one you need. When we were racing roundy rounds in California, my friend Bob Taylor, was running a 327 powered 57 Chevy with an early small input Ford toploader. Seems to me that the hole in the Chevy bellhousing matched up with the toploader front retainer cover exactly and Bob either drilled and tapped the bell housing for the top bolts or the top bolt pattern matched. If I remember correctly, he drilled the bottom bolt holes and ran the bolts through the bell housing from the inside.
It's the p***enger car bellhousing, I have the factory 3 speed in it right now. When I first put the drivetrain in the car I learned about the truck bell differences the hard way LOL. I'll see if I can mock something up and figure out how far apart the mounting patterns are. Just don't have any chevy bellhousings other than what's installed in the car at the moment. Sounds like it should be reasonably straight forward, I hope!
Take a minute and look at engine mounts. Most modern engines have two (wide) as side mount and a single center rear mount. Early chevy had wide at bellhousing and narrow at front.
Unless you have an early toploader it's drilled for both the wide and narrow Ford mounting pattern. Some Chevy factory bellhousings have enough room to redrill. It usually involves plugging some of the original holes first and the new holes usually need a backer installed inside to get enough thread depth. Don't redrill an aluminium OEM housing for this. If you use an aftermarket housing you can get one for a tri-five with side mount provisions or a generic Chevy to Ford housing and buy bolt on side mount kits. If you are installing the toploader because you want to thrash it, consider side engine mounts and a rear transmission mount. And if you are really going to thrash it, get an SFI aftermarket housing.
I am using a cast iron bell housing with the side mounts. I have an Offenhauser adapter between it and the Ford transmission. The adapter only has the narrow Ford pattern so I drilled it for the other pattern.
This is a McLeod unit, Chevy engine to both Ford and Chevy trans. It uses the small pattern on the Ford trans, and has a reducer ring for the pilot, that you use or not depending on the trans. It also has threaded holes for the tri-5 Chevy mounts.
Toploader Transmission Overview Type 3 or 4-speed manual Manufacturer Ford Motor Company Also called Ford Design 4-Speed 3.03 Top Loader Production 1964–1973 Chronology Predecessor Borg-Warner T-10 Dagenham 4-speed
Here is an adapter that I think is from Speed Gems as it has a model number on it of SG147. I cannot find that in the current catalog naturally but if someone has an older catalog they might be able to ascertain what the real fitment was. I have taken measurements and pics for reference. Looks like one side is for Chevy and the other for a Ford. It is 3/4 inch thick. ....
The Jalopy Journal
