Auto conversion from 3 speed saginaw

[dgaskins21]

If I took an th350 off a 70's to early 80's truck what all would I need to do to get the bell housing tranny and drive shaft to fit my 68 C10 250cui?
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks Dan

[davepl]

The Chevy bellhousing bolt pattern has been standard since at -least- 1955, maybe before that.

You'd need a flexplate that matches your starter (same number of teeth as your current flywheel, unless your starter is modern enough to handle both).

You'd need the converter for the TH350.

You'll need some kind of shifter, either a column and linkage from an auto truck or you could use a cable-driven floor mount shifter.

Sorry, don't know the difference in lengths.

[culp7]

just my $.02 but i'd keep the 3-speed, they are getting harder and harder to find everyday and i personally love the uniqueness

[dgaskins21]

Are you stating that a th350 will bolt to my current bell housing?
And all I need is to match up the starter teeth to the flex plate? Also a torque converter a cross member and a drive shaft?

[capev86]

my 72 burb has the saginaw and i'm keeping it. gonna put a 406sbc in front of it and hopefully add the OD unit that was available. personally, if i was going to the trouble of changing over, i'd get a 200-4r or 700-r4 for the overdrive. the 350 is a good trans, but it sounds like you are losing the "fun factor" and not gaining any advantages, unless you do a lot of towing....which i plan to do with my truck with the saginaw.

[Tx Firefighter]

The TH350 has a built in bellhousing. You will need to remove your existing trans and it's bellhousing.

You will need to swap starter nosecones or buy a different starter too. Your current starter bolts to the bellhousing with 3 bolts. The automatic trans does not have this provision and the starter is therefore bolted to the block with two bolts. The nosecones interchange if you like to keep your current starter and avoid buying another whole starter instead.

You will need the auto trans flexplate (flywheel).

You will need to remove the existing trans crossmember (it's riveted into place) and install an auto trans type of crossmember beneath the tail of the auto trans.

Need shifter and cooler for trans.

[dgaskins21]

If I could find a 700-R4 I would use it. My next question is about the drive shaft. Is there a difference in length or can I just bolt on the drive shaft I get with the new auto?

[dgaskins21]

I went ahead and did a floor shifter conversion for my 3 speed works great I need to find a better frame though mine is rotted out in the rear cab is in great shape for a northern truck all repairable and so is the dog house thanks for all the help guys