Advice on crossmembers, column, shifter for new engine and trans swap

[rechinca]

Originally Posted by Duncan_s

Good deal, Sounds like you found a good powerplant at a great price! My truck was a 3 on the tree as well. ive grown tired of it and made the swap to a tkx. Im planing on just punching out the roll pin on the shifter handle and running the same column. these trucks came with turbo 350s from the factory, i dont exactly know what transmissions youre going with id imagine you could modify a turbo 350 crossmember to work. considering the popularity of these trucks cant imagine a whole kit to put an auto wouldnt be hard to find. One thing i would be make sure to watch out for is your 3.08 rear end. its a good rear end to run and they hold up to abuse pretty well, and posi units can be bought for it. but i would be careful on the fact that it is a SERIES 3 carrier not a 4. factory 3.73 and higher rear ends were a series 4 carrier not a 3. distinct difference and a 4 cant go into a 3. You can buy a series 3 3.73 ring and pinion plus a posi unit and swap that into your rear end. my truck is a factory 3.08 posi unit, i am changing out the ring and pinion to 3.73's. Good luck!

Yeah the jury has been out on mine, as it’s not the original rear end. Someone swapped in a leaf spring style 12-bolt (no ear on the top of the housing for the track bar) and I can’t find the stamping for more info on it. Since it worked I haven’t paid attention to guts when I changed the fluid other than to get the ring gear info.