The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 3 speed swap to 700r4 with 235?

Hey I was thinking about takeing my old 3 speed out of my 55 1st series truck and putting a 700 r4 in. I was wanting to know if anyone on this page could tell me if they had ever done anything like this before? Any if so what to look for what will work and what will not, and do any of you guys think that a 350 turbo might be the way to go, I have already put a 79 carmero 3:75 gear rear axle under my pickup but I want to stay with the 235 stovebolt and also I have not subframed! any help you guys can give will help me. Thank for looking.

Actually a 200R4 is an easier fit in length and is capable of withstanding the horsepower and torque of most any 235.

Hy justjosh, any automatic, other than an early powerglide or hydramatic, will require an adapter plate, flywheel adapter, and rear of engine mounts to be fabricated, also some kind of throttle valve/kickdown linkage will have to be fabricated, there may be kits available to do the swap. I would use a 700R4 or a 2004R, for the overdrive

Using an OD transmission with a 235 in a 55 with a standard rear of 3.90 would be unsatisfactory as you'd end up with and effective 2:73 or so. Too high for the old girl and when up to highway cruising speed you'd still need to stop so now better brakes become important.

My advice would be to stick with a TH350 and stock rear if it's an AT you want. Cheaper to do also.

just trying to finish up doing the same thing.
all the advice given before is on the money. i chose the 700r4 and an early c10 rear end with 344 gears. there is some fabrication needed(linkage/foot starter/remove existing tranny mount reroute brake lines and mabey exaust) and a little more.
any way these link might help with some of the parts.
adapter plate. not cheap but fits like a glove.
http://www.transmissionadapters.com/
new mounts. bolted rite on.
http://www.scribd.com/full/9744366?access_key=key-2jisr1kyee11tc4b2rh6
look at page 75 and 76 all the mounts you need should be on those two pages.
good luck
Dad

Thanks guys I'm thing'n about going with the 200R4 with my gears with the caremo rear end I can change the gears to just about what ever ratio I need but I believe the overdrive will be the way to go for me... But I had a guy the other night send me a few pages on how to change the frount to disk breaks and put a power booster on it.. when I have finished the breaks and the trans.. I'm going to look into a bunch of up grades to my 235.. There was a guy around here years ago that had a truck like mine, and I saw a 235 with the fuel injection off of some kind of Ford car on it the truck was great had a auto trans different gears and would run (with the motor built) a 9 something in the 1/4 mile.. But I would just like to get mine done and take in on a few rod runs and out to eat somewhere nice on a SAT. night..