Transmission mounting problem
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Transmission mounting problem
I just pulled out my old t18 transmission from behind my 351w yesterday in hopes of installing a toploader 4 speed I had gotten about a year ago. Everything was going fine during the swap untill I decided to compare the input shafts on the 2 transmissions. Seems that the toplader input shaft is shorter. I decided to measure from the back of the bellhousing to the pilot bearing. To make a long story short if i put the transmission in there, the toploader that is, it will only be about 1/8 of an inch inside the pilot bearing. Doing a little research I have found that i have a toploader from a 390 car. And apparently the 390 version of the toploader has an input shaft thats shorter than all the other toploaders.......... I can do 1 of 2 things. 1) have another input installed which is kinda expensive, or 2) change pilot bearings. Some one, i have heard, makes a pilot bearing for a 351w that is a little longer so i can do this swap. does anyone know where i can find this part? I have talked to transmission and clutch places and they dont know. Or is there any other ideas from anyone else?
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Upstate NY
I ran into the same problem when I installed a 3 speed w/OD tranny in my '75 F-100 with the 300 six. Find a good machine shop and have them machine a longer bearing from "Oillite" bronze stock. It should be about 3/8" longer than the stock one as I recall. Actually, when I put the 1st tranny in, I cut 3/8" off a 2nd bearing and then drilled and tapped the original and screwed this one to it using 4 small machine screws. I drove it this way for about 75M miles w/o any problems but when I replaced the tranny I discovered that one of the small bolts had broken. I decided a solid bearing would be better. It seems that I recall that there is an outfit that makes this extended bearing now but Da^^ed if I can remember where I saw it.
Brian G. NY
Brian G. NY
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Thank you very much for your post. I appriciate any help I can get on this. It seems that several people have ran into the problem and mention having a new bearing made or buying one. Only problem is I can't find anyone online who sells them. I emailed a man ealier today that rebuilds toploaders. I hope that maybe he sells them. Again thanks for you help. As for the old t18 Ill be keeping it around. My father wants it. I dunno what he will put it in but he has first grabs at it.
Last edited by Dodge41; Jan 5, 2004 at 09:18 PM.
