20 Questions (or less)

[hotrodmtodd]

I've been letting these build up.
1. Are automatic and 3-speed manual columns the same? My Cali truck was 3 on tree from factory. Looks like PO just put a PRNDL indicator on it and converted it to TH400. Is this POSSIBLE or did he more likely just swap columns?
2. I want to make my 72 Blazer 3 on tree, I have the CORRECT column from a 69. Can I do this swap fairly simply, or will it be a WIRING nightmare?
3. Thinking HARD about Big-blocking the 70 Burb 4X4 4-speed. Anybody want to talk me out of it, or give me advice on the BIGGEST obstacles to overcome? The thing really NEEDS to be BBC powered, if for NO other reason because of its sheer WEIGHT!
4. Can you use 73-up bellhousings with 72-back clutch forks?
5. I know that they are both EXTERNALLY balanced, but are SBC 400 & BBC454 flywheels REALLY interchangeable like I have always heard?
6. Is it the type of clutch, (ie: diaphram, Borg & Beck etc) or the type of fork
that dictates which throwout bearing to use? (long or short)
7. I hear a lot of talk about different truck 4-speeds (SM 420, SM465 etc) but how can I tell them apart? (visually) Some of mine have the reverse on the right, some on the left. I have noticed the ones on the left are GRANNYS. Do they take different PTO set-ups? Do the shifters swap out?

I better stop at 7 before I make anybodys head EXPLODE! Thanks, Mike