I have a 53 Pontiac body and I am trying to install a 55 Pontiac 287 but ran into some real clearance problems. The clutch linkage hits the side of the starter, and the column shifter hits the exhaust manifold as well as the cross over pipe hits the steering box. I think I can cut, shorten and reweld the clutch linkage that is attached to the frame, modify the exhaust flange on the cross over pipe but the column shifter is a real problem. Does anyone know of a shifter that will work with the 53 Pontiac 3 speed trans (same as Olds or Pontiac 49 to 55) or will I need to find an automatic from a 55 to 60 Pontiac to make this work.
That's a selector three speed, and no one currently makes a floor shift conversion for it. Drag Fast and Ansen once did, many years ago.
Another option for a floor shift would be to find a 37-38 Pontiac, it uses the same 3 speed trans (37-55) but floor shift. Need at least the top cover for the swap and whatever else on the top end. If you find more than one, let me know, i'm still looking to convert my 41 over to floor shift. This only applies to the 5 bolt top cover light duty transmissions like in the 55 trans. Not the 6 bolt top cover HD trans that was used later.
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