1966 longbed trans swap

[1966chevytrucks]

Trying to get the old long bed back on the road and found a few leaks. The oil pan is off and will be back on soon. The trans is a powerglide and is leaking bad. So to rebuild or to swap is the question. What has everyone done 200r4 or 350? what is the easiest and which is the best?

[jonzcustomshop]

if you go with a 200 4r you will need to get a lock up kit for it, since you truck probably dosen't have a computer!

the 200 4r and turbo 350 are excatly the same size/use the same mount and drive shaft.

I put a pontiac 455 witha th350 in my wifes 63 longbed, the drive shaft that was for the 3 speed on the column was the right length, (I think is the same length as a pg shaft), so all I had to do was switch out the end for the one for the th350.
I used a transmission x member out of a 70-81 camaro/firebird/trans am, it was just the right width to fit in the frame rails.

[Snowbound]

What is your gear ratio? you are gonna want at least a 3:73 to run the OD without it feeling boggy.

I swapped a 200r4 into my Buick and the costs do start to add up. I think I had about $2k into my swap all said and done.

I used a trans from an '87 Grand National, TV cable kit and finned aluminum pan from Bowtie Overdrives, wired the lockup with a vacuum switch and through a brake light switch to kill the lockup when accellerating or braking.

Was a pretty easy bolt in. Just watch the trans mount thickness. They sit about an inch lower than most older transmissions, and it caused a driveline vibration until I spaced it up.

Sure make those highway trips better!

Brian