The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop T-85 one more time

ok,more stupid questions I haven't seen asked/answered about this swap yet,,

1) will the T-85 bolt up to a 216? or does it require a 235 and specific year bell housing?

2) I really don't want to swap rear ends, so is it possible / reasonable to have a new driveline fabbed ie: fit T-85 (open I assume) up front to mate stock torquetube differential?

what about the same 2 issues for a 700R?

I know this wont be cheap, but I'd like to keep as much original as possible, butcher as little as possible, but achieve 70+ mph cruise.

I fell in love with tranny in a 65/283 el camino i had that tragically burned. had I only known then,,,

I think you'll need a 235 bell housing, and there is an adapter to make the 700r work.

I've seen the adapter for the 700R, but haven't read anything definitive about driveshaft, just "went to open driveline",, etc,,

I'm still novice enuff to ask can i have a line fabbed open to mate 700 etc,, to mate to my old original torque tube rear end,,,,

You cannot have a open drive transmission with a torque tube rear end unless you fab a torque tube adapter for the transmission or have a split driveline with open drive to the center bearing and torque tube from the center bearing, just backwards from early 3/4 tons.

I didn't know there was a difference between 216 and 235 bell housings except the way the motor mounts attach. I think you could use the 216. I'm thinking I use one with my t-5 but it's been a while.

As far as the driveline, the touque tube keeps the rear end from winding up or rotating. Back when I used to care how close to stock my truck was I replaced the toruqe tube with a drivehaft and meatball from a 55-60 truck so I could run my three speed overdrive. You will either need to weld up the rear end pivots or replace them with regular spring mounts. While I suppose one could support and modify the torque tube to use it with open driveline it might be easier to just unbolt it and put it in storage in case you ever want to go back.

Yikes, was hoping to avoid all that rea end mess, welding and sorting out what will/wont fit the Panel frame. Looks like I'll suffer thru it till I can scrounge up a rear end already welded up with spring/shock mounts. Mebbe when the "rodders" come out this spring out here i can see what I can find.

Thanx tons for the info, I'm still learnin. My '51 pu i kept as i got it and just ran it till it ran no mo', this time I'm out for a little more ridability.

Is a T-85 different from a T-5? If so, how?
Thanks!
Colin