Transmission Options....

[farside847]

I know this topic is probably one that has been beaten to death, but I
am a relative virgin when it comes to trannys and I didnt see any real
write ups. So, be gentle Right now I have a stock 3sp with the column
shift. The engine is a mild 307 with a 2b carb and dual exhaust. Nice driver,
but its not a hot rod - and I dont want it to be. What would it take to convert it to auto? And maybe an OD auto at that?

Obviously I will need a new tranny, but what ones fit with the minimal mess?

Would I need a new driveshaft? Its not a big deal if it does, but it would add
to the cost.

Pluss a new auto column. But is there anything else I would need to do
this conversion? Special shift linkage/cable? Speedo set up? Backup lights?
A kickdown so when I stomp on it the tranny will downshift?

Im trying to put this in my mind to decide if this is something I want to do. I
have always wanted to keep it stock in the past and the 3-on-the-tree has
always been a neato feature in my mind. But, the bennefits of an auto seem
almost too good. (easy to drive, overdrive, increased mpg, a more engine
friendly rpm)

I push 14mpg now, think I would see an increase?

Thanks guys for your help!

[67ChevyRedneck]

What rear end gear do you have? Sounds like a 3.08? That's almost too high of a gear for an OD tranny. My 67 has a 350/700R4/3.73 rear gear. I get like 13 mpg city and about 16 hwy. Not a big increase over what you've got. I used a shifter from Lokar. It has a reverse light switch you hook up. Kinda neat. As far as a 700R4 or 200R4 or whatever you really need to set them up properly. You need a torque converter lock-up kit that works with your brake lights so the converter will unlock when you hit the brakes. I had one that didnt work with the brakes and a car pulled out in front of me. I hit the brakes too hard the engine stalled and I had not brakes! (power disks) that was a scary stop. You will also need a TV kit (I hear the one from bowtie overdrives works well) so that it shifts proper. If the TV cable is not set up properly the trans will burn up in a few months. I would also recommend an external trans cooler. You'll also need an auto trans cross member, an auto yoke, and you may have to shorten your driveshaft.

[farside847]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

What rear end gear do you have? SOunds like a 3.08? That's almost too high of a gear for an OD tranny. My 67 has a 350/700R4/3.73 rear gear. I get like 13 mpg city and about 16 hwy. Not a big increase over what you've got. I used a shifter from Lokar. It has a reverse light switch you hook up. Kinda neat. As far as a 700R4 or 200R4 or whatever you really need to set them up properly. You need a lock-up kit that works with your brake lights so the converter will unlock when you hit the brakes. I had one that didnt work with the brakes and a car pulled out in front of me. I hit the brakes to hard the engine stalled and I had not brakes! (power disks) that was a scary stop. You will also need a TV kit (I hear the one from bowtie overdrives works well) so that it shifts proper. If the TV cable is not set up properly the trans will burn up in a few months. I would also recommend an external trans cooler.

I have a 3.73 rear now. The shifter you used, was it a floor shifter then? Id like it to look stock if possible. What did they use if your truck came with an
auto? (stupid question) What is a TV kit? (end stupid question)

thanks!

[67ChevyRedneck]

Throttle V...something..... (AKA "kick-down cable). Not a stupid question, two years ago I didn't know what it was or did either. Yup, lokar floor shift. GM had an auto column (with a gear shift indicator), a 3 spd column, and a column with nothing on it (4 speed floor shift trucks). I put in a column with nothing on it and the lokar floor shift.

I edited my earlier post and added some more info at the end.

[VetteVet]

Originally Posted by farside847

I have a 3.73 rear now. The shifter you used, was it a floor shifter then? Id like it to look stock if possible. What did they use if your truck came with an
auto? (stupid question) What is a TV kit? (end stupid question)thanks!

Here is the best explanation of a tv cable I have found yet.

http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.html

[farside847]

Whats better, a 700R4 or 200R4?

[SLIMJIM]

Neither is really better, it just depends on which you prefer. The 700 is geared lower in first and second. The 200 is more of a "driver "friendly tranny, because it is evenly geared. If you want breakneck takeoffs from the stoplight, the 700 is the way to go. If you want to cruise and arent worried about racing, go with the 200. If I switch from a manual to auto with my 2wd blazer, I'm going with the 200. Good luck.

SLIMJIM

[farside847]

Ok, here is my checklist:
- tranny (probably 700r4)
- aftermarket crossmember to mount tranny
- TV kit, cable, bracket etc
- Lockup kit (TCC lockup)
- auto yoke
- new driveshaft
- new auto column

More questions:

- Will an auto column bolt right in where the manual colum was? Or will I
need new mounting stuff, or rag joints, or...

- What is the "auto yoke". Is it really needed? I could not find one on the
Bowtie Overdrive site. (nice site by the way). Is it a idle adjustment to
the carb? If so, is there one to bolt onto a stock 2b carb?

- Has anyone hooked up the TV kit to a stock 2b? They have a bunch of
carbs listed but not this one....

[VetteVet]

Here is a site that will answer a lot of 700r4 Qs for you and they show a universal bracket for the TV cable but I don't know if it is for a two barrel
carb. You would have to contact them. I think the forward end of the manual tranny driveshaft is splined different from the outomotive. Don't quote me on that it's been a while since I worked on a stick.

http://www.transmissionhead.com/

[67ChevyRedneck]

Yeah, the yoke is the front end of the driveshaft. I know they are different because I had a stock 3sp and went to auto and mine wouldnt work. I think the autos have either a 28 or 30 splined shaft? I went to a junkyard and got one off of another truck. Might be easier to find a complete auto driveshaft? If I remember correctly 700R4 was used from around 82 or so to 92 or so and I think after year 19XX they changed the spline on the tailshaft.

[farside847]

Ah, it is becoming more clear.

Since I would like the final product to look pretty stock, I would like to use
a stock auto column, how does the stock linkage attach to the column and
the new 200r4? Easy? Or does it need a custom piece.

thanks!

[72MARIO]

Again the LOKAR company has a shift linkage that will work with a stock coloum. It's easy to use all the pieces are in the package. Better idea than trying to get all the stock linkage. The LOKAR linkage works better too.

You can get a stock coloum from a 67-72 truck if you dont have tilt now and it's not a big deal to have it. A non tilt coloum can be had cheep as there really is not a big market for them.

A T350 uses the same yoke as the 700R. Glad to see you have 3:73's thats a great gear for these trannys to work with.

[VetteVet]

So you want to know about 200 4rs.

http://members.aol.com/powerrslid/thm2004r.html

[farside847]

Originally Posted by 72MARIO

Again the LOKAR company has a shift linkage that will work with a stock coloum. It's easy to use all the pieces are in the package. Better idea than trying to get all the stock linkage. The LOKAR linkage works better too.

Supercool. What type did you use? The cable kind or the one with the solid
bar? I checked out their site and it doesnt say what one works best with our
trucks.

Did you use their backup light switch kit too?

thanks!