The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop How to upgrade to a V8 with 3 on the tree

1952 1/2 ton. V8 upgrade to a 350 but I want to retain 3 on the tree. I'm having a troubles. I found a '54 bell housing crossmember and bell housing from a 66 truck. I have a Saginaw full syncro 3 speed with overdrive. Mustang II front end. Power brake booster under the floor. I cut my steering column just below the shifter box on the column. Now the troubles begin. The shift linkage hits the valve covers. The brake pedal was hitting the exhaust manifold until I moved the engine forward a couple of inches. I'm waiting on a new radiator with electric fan, so I know how far forward I can mount the engine. Has anyone done all of this before. 3 steps forward and 2 steps back.....frustrating. thanks in advance....

Chris, try asking in the HiPo shop, lots of modifications explained there.

The shifter arms for this application in Task Force trucks were bent backwards to clear the V-8.

Can I change shift rods from a newer truck? Or do I still need the intermediate shifting pivot that was originally on the bell housing? I would like to see the bent backwards photos.....thanks.

train, it's "arms", not "rods" - like on the 57-59 shift box in this pic - might help with clearance, as you can see on this 58

Bill

On the '52 it has an intermediate pivot point on the bell housing......can that pivot point be eliminated.

that will depend on if you have clearance to the toe/floor board and if you can find rods that will work from the shift box arms to the trans arms, but I didn't think the 66 had that intermediate point, it was an earlier thing

Bill

the '66 didn't have that intermediate point. I will have to fabricate a pivot point that bolts on the bell housing. Or.........eliminate that factor and use a set of shift rods from a newer year and connect direct......

I bet the Shift Box Arm's Rubber Gromet did not like being roasted like that.

Brass Bushing woiuld likely be the way to go there I would imagine.

I would forget about the pivot, that was a 6 cyl operation prior to 56. None of those parts are going to line up with the Saganaw side cover which has a complete different configuration. Locate a 2-3 shift rod from a TF truck as well as the shifter box mentioned previously. It will likely have to be bent to fit as well as the 1-R shift rod. It can be worked out, it will just require some "modifications".
Fred

Thriftmaster, the bronze bushings are the way to go anytime, on both ends of the linkage rods

Bill

I'm figuring out that the first V8 in the '55 truck used the bent shift arm to clear the exhaust manifold. I will be happy to eliminate the intermediate pivot arm that was used on the 235. Where do I find brass linkage bushings?......sounds better that the rubber ones. Now I just need to find a '55-58 complete column. Not only for the newer shifter box, but also for the factory turn signal assembly. thanks for all of the suggestions....pictures say it all..

train, check the HELP! rack for #38374 hinge pin bushings

Bill

HELP! rack at Autozone.....thanks Bill.....found them.

You cannot use a TF column in a AD truck. The column on both series is part of the steering box assy which are different.
You can however, use the shifter box from a 55-59 V-8 truck and/or 56-59 6 cylinder.
The turn signal housings used on TF trucks are the same as the units used on 53-54 cars. You may be able to adapt one to a AD column.
Fred

Fred, I was thinking the car signal unit might work, but I had to go back and look at the setup, he's already chopped the column at the shift box and has an M2 front just the upper column from a TF should be OK, if a bit haywire

Bill

I think a '56 column will work. Has the turn signals and the shift box with the lower bent shift arm. I will cut the column just below the shift box allowing room for a 'Column Saver' at the bottom of the housing. Then grind the shaft to a double 'D' and connect with 'U' joints to the rack and pinion. I may have to stay with the '56 steering wheel. I'll let you know how it turns out.

train, '56 uses the same wheel as 54, so the splines will be the same, if the bottom of yours mates well with the signal cup, or not

Bill

not panning out very well......can't find a 54-56 column with turn signals. I may have to settle for an aftermarket turn signal switch.....

train, the 55-59 turn signal unit is reproduced, and the parts for it if you can find a used unit somewhere to go with a 55-59 column - and note that the 55.2 and 56 columns that used a 'flat' steering wheel are slightly longer than the 57-59s that used the deep dished wheel

Bill

I found the turn signal hub....seems to be the same as a 53 sedan. Thinking that the '52 wheel and a nice old aftermarket turn signal may be just fine. There are so many aftermarket turn signals.

things are looking up.....found a '54 column with turn signals and wheel. It will work.