Wow. Thanks again folks for all the great advice. Uncle Scoot you make me feel like I've gone to college again and I'm listening to my professor. Your response is an education in itself. And v6Jimmy , at the expense of sounding like a total retard, I don't know the eng./tranny combo. on my 71 chevy c20. I do know the eng. is the original 350 v8 and the transmission is the original that came with the truck, but the type transmission I'm not sure. The shop manual (which I can't find right now) lists it as a turbo, hydra-matic.
Anyway, thanks for all the help. And any further info. will be much appreciated. It looks like I'll be going for the OD transmission.
Dan